Watch Ray Harryhausen's Awesome Early Test Footage For WAR OF THE WORLDS
Before CGI took over the special effects in all the movies in Hollywood, there was a master VFX legend named Ray Harryhausen. He helped create and develop some of the greatest classic sci-fi, horror, and fantasy films with creature designs and stop-motion animation. Some of the film he worked on included The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms, Jason and the Argonauts and Clash of the Titans, and more.
I recently came across this amazing video at Den of Geek, that shows us a full special effects test that Harryhausen created in 1949 to help pitch an adaptation of H.G. Wells' World of the Worlds to the studios. It's extremely cool! I always loved Harryhausen's style and seeing that style to bring to life certain scenes from War of the Worlds is so damn cool!
Unfortunately, Harryhausen didn't land the gig, which just seems crazy. Here's the note that came with the video.
The complete test footage Ray Harryhausen made in the late 1940's for his unmade War of the World's film, along with his drawings. Audio is from the 1938 radio broadcast of War of the Worlds.
Anyone that has a true love for film and the history of VFX work will appriciate this.