Kelly DennisTopics in Film StudiesDecember 16, 2013

Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon in the 1950sI am choosing to re-imagine Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon,

which originally had a budget of $195 million, in the 1950’s, by Columbia

Pictures with a budget of about $300,000 to $400,000. This film would

travel back in time well due to the large market for exploitive and action

packed films; the film features alien robots from outer space attacking earth

for power over the Autobots. Transformers, due to the extensive amount of

special effects, would require a larger budget than other B-films and thus be

classified as a high end B-film. Columbia Pictures during the 1950’s, one of

the few Hollywood studios, did a lot of these types of films in which the bud-

get would be between $300,000 and $500,000. (Davis). The director for

this film is Nathan Juran, a science fiction director known for his work with

Ray Harryhausen, an american special effects artists specializing in stop-

motion animation, (Westfahl). For the leading role of Sam Witwicky, I

casted Peter Graves. Although his career did not truly spark until the 1960’s

with Mission Impossible, Graves appeared in many 1950’s science-fiction

films as a tentative, youthful science fiction hero, (Westfahl). In other

words, Graves appeared as an unexpected hero, one that encompasses the

nerdy character of Witwicky; a scrawny boy who discovers and befriends

the Autobots. Finally, our damsel in distress, Carly Spencer, will be por-

trayed by Marguerite Chapman, a former model, who with her looks, can

bring in a teenage audience.

The scene that I will be creating is the Decepticon’s attack on the city

of Chicago. This is probably one of the most expensive scenes in the movie,

as the scene depicts giant flying robots opening fire on the city of Chicago.

In the 2011 film, the crew spent a few days filming in the city while the rest

of the work was done by computerized special effects. Obviously, to recre-

ate this in the 1950’s, a different tactic must be used. It would be both out

of the budget and difficult for the time period to film various explosions and

to achieve the special effects needed to depict giant robots destroying the

city.

To show the city of Chicago before the attack of the Decepticons, the

film could use stock footage from media outlets located in Chicago. This

method could also be used for the destruction of the city enabling the use of

stock footage from a war, most recently WWII. Although the physical build-

ings would not be those located in Chicago, filmmakers could use footage of

a standard building that are commonly seen in most cities being destroyed.

Because the older adaption of the film has a higher budget than other B-

films of the time, more time and effort could be spent on the transitions be-

tween stock footage and original content made by the film, (Davis).This tac-

tic of reused footage would save money for the film and enable them to use

their larger budgets for other special effects.

The most expensive special effect, and perhaps the most necessary, is

stop-motion animation. This is where the work of Ray Harryhausen comes

into play. In Earth vs. the Flying Saucer, Harryhausen uses this effect to de-

pict a flying saucer attack on Washington’s most famous monuments where

“miniature models are shot one frame at a time with slight variations of po-

sition between frames,” (Davis 2524). In the adaptation of Transformers,

Harryhausen would have to had crafted a miniature city of Chicago, and a

robot, that would then be suspended in the air. Not only was this an expen-

sive technique, but it was also very time consuming. If a mistake were to be

made in the process, miniatures might have needed to be recreated, caus-

ing more time and money to be used in the process. (Davis)

REVIEWS:

A comedic, thrilling drama whose special effects will have

you question whether or not what you are watching is fic-

tion or reality. In the year 2011, Sam Witwicky (Peter Graves) befriends a species of

robots called the Autobots. Little does he know that these Autobots have en-

emies, and that they have brought their enemies to earth with them! Trans-

formers: Dark Side of the Moon depicts the war of two robot races; one that

wants to take over the world and make man kind their slaves (Decepticons),

and the other who defend man kind and their freedom (Autobots).

Directed by the science fiction veteran Nathan Juran, Transformers is

a refreshing take on an alien invasion coming to Earth. The storyline, al-

though at times too complex to grasp, is takes thrilling turns throughout the

film. Will all humans fight for their freedom, or will some men fall to the De-

cepticons to save their own life?

Sam Witwicky (Graves) and his girlfriend Carly (Marguerite Chap-

man) befriend the Autobots to fight the evil Decepticons and to prevent

them from taking over the earth. Graves provides a refreshing spin to a

hero; one who must rely on his brains rather than his muscles to achieve

what is necessary. Chapman and Graves have undeniable chemistry which

forward the plot even when the writing lacks.

The special effects for Transformers are incredible and truly bring the

robots to life. Scenes of the destruction of Chicago were done by the expert

hands of Ray Harryhausen, depicting the city at the mercy of the Decepti-

cons. This film is the start of a new era in special effects, where the plot of a

film will no longer hold back what is seen in the end product!

-Variety, Doug Gandalf

Juran makes yet another film with fantastic special ef-

fects, but accompanied by a plot that is just plain confus-

ing!

Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon, is yet another science fiction film

that will please those who go to the theaters to watch the leading edge of

special effects. Although strong in this sense, the film does not bring much

more. Sam Witwicky (Peter Graves), is a petite young man who acquires a

new GM Firebird III, little does he know that his new car is also a robot

from outer space called an Autobot. This Autobot not only brings his friends,

but his enemies as well who threaten to take Earth hostage and use humans

as their own personal slaves. Witwicky and his girlfriend (Marguerite Chap-

man) are the only humans who the the Autobots trust and must fight the evil

robots (Decepticons) for the right to their freedom.

Unfortunately for the film, Graves seems insufficient as the hero of the

film, acting more like an old actor than a refreshing face in the scene. Chap-

man provides no more to the film than to be Graves’ arm candy.

Given that this film’s special effects done by Ray Harryhausen is a pio-

neering work of art in the science-fiction film genre, the rest of the film is

an assortment of old plot points from other alien invasion films of the past.

Nathan Juran, the director of Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon, although

a titan of the science fiction field of directing, lacks energy in the work and

turns a film with a promising edge, into another War of the Worlds.

- Hollywood Reporter, Richard Dumbledore

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Davis, Blair. The Battle for the Bs: 1950s Hollywood and the Rebirth of Low-budget Cinema.

New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers UP, 2012. Print.

Westfahl, Gary. "Encyclopedia of Science Fiction Film." Introduction to Gary Westfahl's

Biographical Encyclopedia of Science Fiction Film. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2013.