MovieChat Forums > Sherlock Jr. (1924) Discussion > Crossing the train tracks

Crossing the train tracks

posted 17 years ago by mjd13076
10 replies | jump to latest

Does anyone or has anyone ever heard or figured out how they did the shot of Buster crossing the train tracks? It almost looks as if they shot that with rear projection. Any thoughts from anyone?

[–] ac427dc 17 years ago

I thought it looked like Buster was riding on the motorcycle and they actually raced a train across the track (it wouldn't seem too out of place - Keaton certainly seems like quite a daredevil). The motorcycle looked as if it may have been attached or mounted to a car that was driving alongside.

It would essentially be the same effect as rear projection (the motorcycle not being under its own power as Keaton sat along for a ride) but it would have been more authentic

[–] mangoloid 17 years ago

I highly suspect it was done with stop-motion. If that is the case, it blows me away.

I proclaim ignorance.

[–] eyan_eyan2001 17 years ago

BK fan from Japan. Interesting post.
I was wondering the same thing.

>I highly suspect it was done with stop-motion

I suspect that too. BK's movement looks almost like animation.
But if so, what about the scenery?
I also thought they might have shot it with screen process,
but obviously Buster is running outside, not in a sound stage.

[–] lubin-freddy 17 years ago

It always seemed to me to be back projection.

[–] k_ceru 17 years ago

Guys, guys. You don't have to be Sherlock Jr. to figure this one out. It wasn't back projection or stop-motion.
First, the motorcycle stays firmly put in the frame, so it was attached to another vehicle. Second, the reason for it to be attached was because it was filmed backwards- and you couldn't steer a motorcycle like that (handlebars and backwards) even if it had a reverse gear. Note that Buster's hair was swept to the front even though he seemed to be riding forwards. It's also much easier to have a train pull into reverse as you go by than narrowly escape one moving towards you. Third, it was under-cranked so it looks faster than it was when filmed.

-Kristin

[–] Chrissie 15 years ago

Now I'll have to rent it and watch it in slow-mo, since you can't do that on YouTube!

[–] Chrissie 15 years ago

I watched it forward and backward in slo-mo and I think you're absolutely right. This is especially clear if you're paying attention to Buster's hair in this shot as compared to other shots. It's clearly being blown up against the back of his head.

He bounces too much going over RR tracks for this to have been back-projection.

[–] cmashieldscapting 13 years ago

I wondered this, too! The train looked too "there" to be back projection but I wondered if they'd have really done this with the train moving towards him. Very clever!

[–] john-158-352579 13 years ago

As I explain in my Buster Keaton film location book Silent Echoes, the train crossing scene was filmed, backwards, near what was the Atwood train station in Orange County. The tracks are still in use, and the dirt road he crossed is now Orangethorpe Avenue.

You can find several Sherlock Jr. locations in my Silent Locations blog, including this new discovery.

http://silentlocations.wordpress.com/2012/08/05/keatons-sherlock-jr-ho llywood-vault-with-harold-lloyd-too/

[–] 13 years ago

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