Mutiny 1952

The Special Photographic Effects are by Jack Cosgrove who's best model ship work can be found in Action in the North Atlantic 1943.

The film set during America's war of independence from England, features a model of an early submersible which deposits a charge on a British warship. The effects are competently staged though it may have been improved by a slight lowering of the height of the camera, so you look more up at the models rather than slightly down on them. One interesting feature to note is that the horizon is extended by painting the most distant sea on the scenic backing. You can sometimes make out the demarcation line between where the water and waves overflow the weir at the rear of the tank and the painted portion of the sea. It is readily apparent in the black and white still photo above where the still camera is relatively high up looking down on the model.

This film is unfortunately only seems to be available in a print with a bad colour balance and a scratched print and can be found on Youtube.

Barnacle Bill 1957

AKA All At Sea (American Title)

Thanks to a reader Andy, who suggested this film might be the subject of the Mystery photographs No: 5 post, I sought out and located a copy to have a look. While none of the scenes in Barnacle Bill match the mystery photos it is an interesting subject none the less as it has some very fine model ship shots in it and it is a title that I was not aware of.

There is a miniature pier which is modeled upon the one which was at Hunstanton in Norfolk where all the daylight exterior live action shots were staged. The real pier was unfortunately destroyed by a storm in 1978.

Along with the pier miniature there is a miniature steam dredger with a working grab. The villains of the movie use the dredger to weaken the pier supports. This results in the front end of the miniature pier splitting off, collapsing and ultimately floating across the channel to France.  All of the miniature sequences are very well staged in an indoor studio tank. The lighting of the night scenes is particularly good and the scenic art backgrounds are also very nicely realised.

Unfortunately I can find no credits for the miniature work.

Miniature figure on a model pedal operated stern paddle wheeled catamaran.

The figure gets a load of dredging mud dumped on him.

All that is left; a miniature axe hanging from the tow line.