Day 4 – Let’s Reverse …
Editing magic from the 80s!
It took us a while to understand what we were watching today but it was so interesting!
We also had a look at some “special effects” of the 20s and spoke about some similar (but much less elaborate) effects we have used in our own videos.
A scene from the movie “Top Secret!”.
Here’s the link to it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHyS7TML_7U
The second video we watched – “How Silent Movie Special Effects Were Done”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBSpuZDKaKI
Who here has seen the full “Top Secret!” movie. Is it worth a watch?
Already looking forward to what’s in store for us tomorrow!
Mona & Lisa
You guys may not be on the level of Charlie Chaplin yet… but you are making great videos to go with your music now. After seeing that clip of “birds that well” Ill have to pay closer attention to all of your music videos now !
Hi there,
That was a fun video today. Very interesting.
I have never seen nor heard of Top Secret. Maybe I will watch it one day.
As for New Year’s Resolutions – I never really ever made any. It does not mean that I don’t set goals for myself or think of things I might want to do or accomplish, but I tend to do that at any time during the year.
Until next time,
Bobby S.
Very nice find David H. Interesting comments Michael .
Cheers
Now i have to watch Top Secret.
Amazing, I just watched Top Secret for the first-time last week. Also, if you want to see a backwards scene reversed taken to the extreme, you must check out the TV series Twin Peaks.
The excerpt from the motion picture, Top Secret, got me thinking about how well The Beatles integrated snippets of reverse tapes into their songs, like Rain, or the piano at the beginning of Revolution 9. They kept it going for a few years, they didn’t overdo it, which kept it interesting. Some musical constructions can play backward and forward equally well. There can be a symmetry involved in certain musical sounds and/or lyrics. Here is an example of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds played in reverse that seems to work as a new song, not necessarily recognizable, but no less consonance than when played forward. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwuKrQCg7tE That’s like hearing a new Beatles song.
Thank you, MLT Club for a thought-provoking exploration of flipping cause and effect as shown in Top Secret and perhaps insight into how it may apply to writing original music.
It all reminds me of the work of Carl Jung to explore the predestination paradox or the temporal causality loop where cause and effect are reversed in certain places or ways, and it seems to work when put back into the arrow of time. There was an entire Star Trek The Next Generation episode dedicated to Jung’s temporal causality loop that was inspiring, to say the least. I suspect this is what The Beatles were attempting to do by introducing magnetic tape played in reverse and mixed down, but I had not seen Top Secret until it was shown here on the MLT Club’s Advent Day 4 video.
I really enjoyed watching these early special effects videos. Most people these days have no clue what it took to create special effects before CGI. I recall hearing William Shatner talk about how they operated the cardboard doorways on the Starship Enterprise and how often they would actually fall over and require shooting the scene again. Many big box office movies now are little more than CGI extravaganzas with only mediocre storylines and acting. I guess you could say much the same about modern pop/rock music. So much of it is generated by computers that it has lost its “humanity”. Not so with MLT, they connect straight to your heart and soul.
Hmmm. Certainly was interesting. I would like to see it because Peter Cushing’s one of my favorite actors; his autobiography is a wonderful book. He kept working in films as long as he was able because he missed his wife terribly. Had a collection of handcrafted miniature soldiers as one of his hobbies. Ya know, your “making of” production videos are very cool. 🎶 You’re both looking great!
Loved learning about how the beginning of I Don’t Know Birds That Well was reversed. I didn’t notice the Ukelele jumping into Lisa’s hand. It all looked natural.
I also love the reverse effect at the end of Nothing Is In Vain, the way the light bulb comes together, and the sound effects too. It has a kind of everything going backwards to the light bulb before it explodes feel to it. It looks like the universe reversing back to the big bang. Nothing Is In Vain video has some amazing effects through out.
“Top Secret” was a hilarious send up of cold war spy films. If you liked the film “Airplane” or the “Naked Gun” films, you’ll love this one.
As a silent film buff, some of the stunts that they invented back then are still used today. If I had to pick a favorite of all your videos (and I love them all), it’s “Make Show.” My impression of “Make Show” is that it has many elements of the silent film genre – German expressionism i.e. the use of shadows, light/dark contrast, close ups, fade in out. Every time I view it I get chills. Anyway, to quote the American broadcaster Thomas Lowell, “So long until tomorrow.” Peace be
Hello everyone.
Another great selection to show us today.
The Harold Lloyd scene reminded me of my childhood, on Sundays I used to meet with my brothers to watch Harold short films on television, we laughed a lot. They were good times and good times.
Thank you Mona and Lisa.
Regarding the New Year’s resolutions, I can comment that I had not thought about it, but my goal will be to walk in the afternoons. (maybe it doesn’t).
I enjoyed that. I am amazed at how special effects were done in the days before the technology of the 1980s to now. What they did showed a bunch of creativity and imagination. Mike.
Never saw the movie, looks interesting though. Love the eye
Be cool if we could use that technology like a time machine for sure to change certain mistakes we have made.
Keep up the interesting video’s.
Michaela is doing a great job of picking out a vast variety !
One thing that has intrigued me about the I Don’t Know Birds That Well video, since I first saw it; how did you get the two pigeons to fly out of the stone chapel, right on cue, at the end of the song? they don’t appear to be flying backwards.
We had to pay them a good amount of money to get them to do that for us. This is the kind of stuff that MLT Club contributions go towards! 😉 (Actually, it was completely by chance and Lisa and I didn’t even realise it at the time. Noone was in the chapel!)
Hello Ladies,
Such an interesting day today. I love stuff like this. (Special effects and how it’s done) I could watch all day. It’s fascinating how things get done. I once saw how they got everything to dance and clean in Fantasia. (Movie by Disney) I think it’s still on YouTube. Really creative geniuses.
Thanks Ladies for a uniquely special day.
Rick
Back in the 1930’s that was probably considered “high tech” in the movie industry. Just look how far we’ve come. And walking backwards for that movie shot! Good fun! Another fun and interesting calendar day! Thanks!!
I agree with Rick regarding a song for the 23rd- and suggest ‘All I want Christmas to be’.
It’s a great song. 🎄🥰
It’s on the list! 🙂
New Years Resolution….uuuuuggghhh Ain’t happening…whatever it is it’s usually broken in about a minute….My Bad !
For your Christmas song selection how about your very own “All I Want Christmas To Be”🎄❤️🧡
That was great fun, such a funny movie to look back on. Cool that you used similar “tricks” yourselves too.
I thought that maybe Lisa was going to challenge Crystal Gayle in the hair length thing, but I guess not haha. Can’t imagine how much work that would be! Not to mention the strain on the neck and chance of getting it caught in the strings. Ouch!
See you tomorrow!
That looks like a crazy movie and I must watch it! Val Kilmer definitely not wearing 50s garb or hair. “Europe on Five Quaaludes a Day”??? Ha! And any movie with Peter Cushing is worth seeing. I like the bit with the dog as a nod to the audience that they had, indeed, been watching something in reverse. Great pick, David H. and great reactions, Mona and Lisa.
I never realized there was backwards video in “I Don’t Know Birds That Well,” but now I’ll never not notice the ukulele jumping off the grass and into Lisa’s hand. That’s one eager uke!
The Advent Calendar has been pure joy. I can’t wait until tomorrow’s installment!
That was interesting. I may have seen parts of this. I was a TV baby. A latch key child during the 60s. I actually watched quite a few silent films especially Charlie Chaplin. In the Chicago area, when my mother was a single mother until she met my step father, I watched everything. Of course I watched everything in black and white, only the rich people had color sets, I would start off my morning watching the Ray Rainer show with Diver Dan, Cucla Fran and Ollie( pardon my spelling) Romper Room etc. Then in afternoon Bozo the Clown live show. One of my most favorite shows were reruns of course of the Three Stooges (spl). I would laugh and laugh. In the 2nd grade my older sister was tormenting me. I took my bat and hit her on the head. My mother asked me why I hit her? I said it didn’t look like it hurt on the Three Stooges. Lol She banned it from me for a long time. What memories flow with a movie edit. Lol Everyone have a good day. It’s very cold in Spokane and just got done with a large snow storm. Going back to my truck on Tuesday in Idaho. Might not make it back for Christmas. So is life. Love you all.❤️🌹🤘https://linksharing.samsungcloud.com/b1tkwMx3VRGk
You ladies are too smart to fool with special effects. My favorite special effects are your smiles! They are truly special.
I haven’t put much thought into New Year’s resolution but I think it is imperative I start some sort of physical regimen. Probably some hiking and biking, we have a lot of pretty trails around here since we are in the foothills of the Appalachian Mts. I turn 64 in 4 weeks (will you still need me, will you still feed me).
The weather is cold here this morning, around 20F. But it will be in the 40’s most of the week. I am still like a little kid and look forward to snow. If it is going to be cold, it might as well be pretty.
Have a great Sunday. Me and the Mrs are attending a fancy dinner today with our local Bishop. It is all Slovak ethnic food traditionally eaten at Christmas.
Hey Tim,
Here is an early congrats on your upcoming 64th birthday. And we will always need you.
Feed you? I dunno? What do you like to eat, maybe I can ship you some food? lol.
Take care,
Bobby
Another fun, fun Advent Calendar vid! I do remember going to the theater to see “Top Secret!” in 1984, the year I graduated high school, with a friend. I can’t remember it having a sequel like it’s similarly-themed (silly, hysterical farce) sister films “Airplane” and “Naked Gun”. Kinda cool that the “Naked Gun” series featured Priscilla Presley as Leslie Nielsen’s love interest. A pre-infamous O.J. Simpson was also prominent in them, whether that’s good or bad I don’t know.🤔
I don’t plan any New Year’s resolutions, as I hate disappointing myself when I don’t tend to make it into the second week with them intact! It’s awesome that you used that effect ‘way back’ in “Birds”! I notice you sometimes employ reverse or mirror-imaging in your vids. Definitely in “’til There Was You” and I think in “Make Show”, and maybe others that don’t immediately come to mind. Mona’s side-switching beauty mark is a giveaway! Or…did she just stick it on the wrong side that morning…🤔. Thanks for the fun!
And I’ve enjoyed Day 4’s treat of Advent Calendar and enjoying your reactions, learning about stuff alongside too, that I wasn’t aware of , etc….. Looking forward to Day 5 ….
Whoops, half awake here, forgot to add, a belated how I love your new hair trim Lisa…..
And as a add on to my other comment just made now before this one…I stopped doing NYs Resolutions thing as I never follow up, do…. goes out the window, I just go ahead and do what I loke to do, not focusing specifically on things to accomplish but just go at my pace, way about life….
And I do find special effects fascinating on how it’s all done, even in the time of when Wizard of Oz movie was made ….Visual effects are most interesting …..🤘😊
Yes Jacki, I think Lisa’s hair looks great. I do not know if they were ever asked this before? But I was wondering if the ladies cut/trim their own hair, or maybe Michaela, or if they go to a shop/salon?
Bobby
Hi Jacki,
Funny thing, I am watching the Wizard of Oz film right now. It’s playing on a cable station this evening lol.
Bobby
What throws you off the scent here is that the sounds at the beginning (door opening and closing, throat clearing) are dubbed in as they should sound normally.
Fun fact: the bookstore owner is Peter Cushing, who played the head bad guy in the original Star Wars film.
Thanks for revealing the secret about the Birds video! I was always amazed at how Lisa was able to reach around and grab the uke without looking, and immediately start playing without taking a moment to position it. Now that I know, I can see that the uke actually bounces up a little just before she grabs it.
Peter Cushing was also a veteran Hammer Films player, usually opposite Christopher Lee. I think he played Van Helsing to Lee’s Dracula in one. Anyway, he’s in lots of those great 1960s Hammer horror films. As an aside, many also included a young Jack Nicholson. Some sort of family connection, I think.
Great video suggestion, David H. I’m really curious to see the whole film.
Yes David, Cushing & Lee were teamed up (I believe for the first time) in Horror of Dracula in 1958. Also, sometimes one or both were also teamed up with Vincent Price.
If you or anyone is interested – There is a 1983 British comedy, horror film with Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Vincent Price, and John Carradine. Wow, what a foursome. It is called “House of the Long Shadows”.
Desi Arnaz, Jr. (Lucille Ball’s son) is also in it.
Bobby
Thanks for the tip. That’s quite a lineup.
Hi David,
I am probably one of the few persons on this planet who never watched any of the Star Wars films (only seen snippets).
I remember Peter Cushing mostly from the horror films like Dracula and Frankenstein, Tales From the Crypt & Dr. Who. A fine actor.
Bobby
Hey, Bobby.
Never seen Star Wars? Get out of my galaxy!
You’ve reminded me of a comic strip I saw back in the day. There are these two really old guys in wheelchairs, and one says to the other, “Do you realize we’re probably the only two people on Earth who haven’t seen Star Wars?” And the second guy pulls out a pistol and shoots the first one, and says gleefully, “Now I’M the only one!”
Hey David,
Thanks for replying. That’s a great story/comic strip, thanks for sharing.
Now it reminded me of something. I was watching a very long documentary of Benjamin Franklin on Sunday, on PBS (Public Broadcasting Service). You probably know that there are hundreds or thousands of quotes from Franklin. Well I’m not totally certain if this was his, but it was said – “The only way to keep a secret amongst three people, is if two of them are dead”.
BTW, getting back to Star Wars. I was actually in a car, with someone, driving to a movie theatre to see the original Star Wars, but never got there. I will refrain from explaining the reason right now. Thanks.
Hey it’s almost one in the morning here. I do not know if you are also up late, as I do not know your location. But in any case, good night/morning for now. Nice chatting with you.
Bobby
I kind of remember of this movie but never had seen it…., at in my memory, I can’t…the 80s were my teen years, however I was into /still a fan of tge Star Wars movies with only Harrison/Carrie/Mark in them, not really a fan of tge Star Wars prequels but , tge special effects I do enjoy in the SW movies I like … Anither example of special effects in a movie I like is the Back To The Future Trilogy….lol… , and I like other stuff too….
This was a fun and informative video and another great pick.
I was impressed by how fast Mona recognized that they were speaking backwards, instead of in Swedish. I failed to figure it out until they played it backwards. The dog running backwards was an obvious clue for me, as was the fire pole and the book toss, but I never figured out it that the entire scene was filmed “backwards” in one shot.
I never had a clue that the opening seen of “I Don’t Know Birds That Well” was done the same way. I noticed that Lisa’s retrieval of the uke seemed a little off, but I never had a clue why.
You two are already planning your New Years resolutions – you are really planning ahead. I have no idea yet. Perhaps it will be to not make a New Years resolution.
I’m finally getting around to comment on Lisa cutting her hair. I figured she would want to cut it at some point, otherwise she would be tripping over it (just kidding). She acted like it wasn’t a big deal, but she hadn’t cut it for a long time, close to 15 years(?) – how long was it Lisa? I would think it wasn’t an easy decision. Of course it turned out great – both of you ladies have absolutely beautiful hair!
Hello Mona and Lisa, hello everyone,
like every year, the MLT advent calendar is a wonderful idea. It must have been 30 years since I last saw Top-Secret and of course I can’t remember the scene shown after all this time. But as always, the producers Zucker & Abrahams & Zucker manage to take us into their wacky world in an amusing and bizarre way. Into a world where people take phrases literally, don’t listen to each other or passionately talk past each other and things sometimes are not what they seem to be. Almost like in real life… .So it’s high time to dig out all this good stuff from the past and watch it again. Thanks David for your very entertaining post.
i took my future wife Suzanne to that movie when it came out and knew she was the one for me because she laugh at a very stupid but fun movie, 37 years later we still watch it once in a while and we still laugh. tell your stepmom great choice for today’s video
Fascinating clip. Val Kilmer (“I’m your Huckleberry” from the movie Tombstone) is one of my favorite actors and this is his first film. Directed by the same team that did Airplane and Naked Gun. Surprised I was not aware of this film this but it’s on my list now.
Day 4 of the Advent Calender has started this Sunday off very well.
Thanks David and the MLT Team!!
I have attached a link here to a lengthy review of this film
This scene is discussed starting around minute 21:45
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVC5n6hYTFY
Kudos to Mona and her sharp eyes for realizing the first part was filmed backwards! I was clueless! And I also did not know you also used those techniques. Very cool!
One day, while researching Beatles videos, I ran across the song I Don’t Know Birds That Well. This YouTube video was the very first time I ran across the MLTs. I knew the cinematographer was flying a drone with camera over a small church and doing a good job keeping it steady, with the twins playing ukulele on the front yard. That scene up front right there captivated me. It was beautiful countryside scenery reminiscent of a time when the world was still young and uncomplicated because it reminded me of when I was young, so I smiled thinking back. That initial impression of the MLTs literally etched itself into my memory.
As I remember, I played that YouTube video for less than a minute and did notice the clever Leonardo DaVinci name of this musical group, mostly that whoever decided that name took music and classical oil paintings seriously. I realized I became distracted by the MLTs, so I went back to what I was doing playing Beatles videos because I was searching for a deconstruction of Dear Prudence using various takes of that song that someone was working on.
It was later that day that the melody line of the MLT song stayed with me. That effect hadn’t happened to me since years or even decades of hearing the most unappealing popular music, so my reaction to it was an indication that there was something to the work of the MLTs. The only problem was I couldn’t find the group on a YouTube search! A couple of days later, that “Birds” song kept going with me, so I dropped everything to rediscover the song I had run across and see what it was about it. Finally, I found it, played it all the way through, subscribed to their YouTube channel.
Then I learned that the girls had written a song about one of their family members, and this was enough for me to become their newest fan. I ordered everything they had to include their CD When We’re Together and was delighted they wrote original songs. They were from Austria, where I would visit Mozart’s home town and get socks and shirts with musical notes on them because I was stationed in Oberammergau (poor me). The MLTs were what was missing in life all this time because I grew up in a musical family when these rock ‘n’ roll songs were coming out every couple of weeks on the radio. Relating this MLT effect to you, I’m amazed I’m even here today, and glad that I found this musical family. I like the MLT family just the way they are.
Thirteen years ago the extent of my on the ground experience in Austria was limited, but I saw this YouTube video one evening in Oberammergau and decided to head over to Salzburg to take a look, and it came to mind when I ran across the MLTs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaeUbIutMxQ
Then they move to the UK and I wrote to them in the middle of that move! What I want to say with it is this all came back to me just now watching the opening video again of I Don’t Know Birds That Well, and re-living it, so I looked it up again on YouTube and that came out November 1, 2013. I watched it the first time about the 2nd week of November, 2013.
Life is good,
Mike
!yvoorg yreV
This Advent calendar is so much fun! I look forward to what we’ll see every day and every day, it is a fun surprise. The variety of videos has been fascinating and I really enjoy seeing and hearing your reactions: Mona and Lisa, and everyone who comments as well! I’m also enjoying your added commentary/video clips of related material. Such a wonderful way to start each day!
I guess I’d better start thinking of my new year’s resolution. Hmmm…maybe to slow down and take time each day to pursue something creative. Mona and Lisa, your creativity kindles the creative urge in me too – I just don’t take the time to explore the possibilities.
Really fun to watch. We never know what is going to come up (the fire pole) during this year’s Advent!
Hi Sara,
Welcome to the Club. Next month will be my first anniversary here. It’s been fun.
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your son. That is a great photo of him with his hero.
Take good care
Bobby S,
Thanks for message
That was a great watch. Amazing how they planned all the movements in advance so that the final result is seamless. Good planning is key to these effects but the end result is fantastic and really fools the viewer the first time they see it. I have never seen Top Secret so it’s not a film that is familiar to me. Also never noticed that sneaky move on the Birds video. CGI has become boring so real effects are always the best for me. Happy weekend!
Backwards – hrm. German TV had a man in a show who could TALK backwards and such people is still around just try this guy he is amazing – like you are try to listen to him – but I don-t think you should sing like him – yes he is singing backwards https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SGAKl_02xU
Just watched the video of the “Backwards Man”. That is really impressive! I have a really hard time simply trying to understand how he must build up his sentences…
That’s amazing, Leif! I’ve always been fascinated by backward speech and music. As I kid I used to spin records around backwards (manually, without amplification) and study the sound. Then in college I took a phonetics class, learned how to write down the sequence of speech sounds in a sentence, and said them in reverse order while speaking into an audio tape recorder. I was able to reverse the recording by twisting the tape in the cassette so that the bottom side was on the top, and then I listened to it and gradually refined my pronunciation until it sounded about as good as the guy in this video. But I never dreamed of being able to do it all in my head!
Hey that Top Secret is a cool video effect. They filmed it backwards and then when played forward it still looks backwards, or did I miss it? It kind of reminds me of Ambigrams, that is symmetric even if reversed or flipped. Another fun fact, did you know when stressed, desserts help, because “stressed” spelled backward is “desserts”!
My new years resolution, is something I started this summer and that is to run around the neighbourhood every evening. So far I’ve kept it up about 50% of the time, and I got my blood pressure down into the solid normal range as it was creeping up into the border of being slightly high. So my new years resolution is to increase my running to 75% of the time and aim for 100% or every night. I don’t think I will ever get to do a marathon, but your marathon video inspired me to start running, feel so much better these days, thank you!
More ambigrams
Hey Jung!
SO interesting that a couple of days ago I was looking ambigrams up. With your pen skills I’m sure you’ve done one before? My names seems a bit difficult, but I’m sure there’s a way. Paul has his of course.
Tomas, I love these, Lisa and Paul McCartney ambigrams! Thanks!
Great choice David!!
My New Year’s resolution is to live in the moment and to let myself off the hook for any regrets.
Mona and Lisa,
I forgot to submit a song request for the 23rd. I would love to see you play ‘Any Other Day’. I’m sure you’ve read all the buzz about this song. It is one of the most beautiful songs that I’ve ever heard.
It would be great if they interpreted it on the 23
Top Secret is one of my favorite movies. I think it was Val Kilmer’s first (2 years later he was doing Top Gun with Tom Cruise). Omar Sharif (Lawrence of Arabia / Dr. Zhivago) does a little cameo. I remember laughing so loud, and loved the music scenes as well, Val could do the music! As we found out later when he embodied Jim Morrison.
That was a great video! I’m really enjoying watching, it leaves me in a happy mood! Thank you!