Cinema's Biggest Movie Sets

Biggest CINEMA'S Marite Sets 100FT HIGH BY 5300 FT WIDE 1916 INTOLERANCE GREAT WALL OF BABYLON This $2.5 million replica grew at such a rate that the designed by Frank "Huck" Wortman director had the designer's office rebuilt on stilts, giving the designers an appropriate vantage point. The ancient world aesthetic was inspired by the 19th century and Walter L. Hall paintings of Lawrence Alma-Tadema. Only an elite group were aware that it was a single film, while an army of 3000 extras, elephant handlers, pyrotechnicians, etc. all believed that four films were being shot. 130FT HIGH BY 720FT WIDE 1923 TEN COMMANDMENTS PHARAOH'S CITY This $1m set was widely believed to have been destroyed after the making of the film. However, a team of archaeologists deciphered cryptic messages in DeMille's autobiography, which led to a 2012 discovery of the Sphinx's remains. designed by Arnold Friberg and Walter L. Hall 60,000 SQ FT APPROX 1927 METROPOLIS METROPOLIS CITY This German Expressionist film is set in the dystopian Metrolpolis City. Its style was inspired by the work of designed by Eric Kettelhut Futuristic architect Antonio Sant'Elia. The famous "Schufftan' process, developed on set, utilised mirrors to place the actors in scale against the miniature models. 2000FT LONG BY 65FT WIDE 1959 BEN HUR CHARIOT ARENA 1000 workers carved away at a rock quarry for over a year to create this arena, the design was based on a Jerusalem circus. 40,000 tons of white sand was Production design: Horning, Hunt, Carfagno & Valentini imported from Mexico for the track, before it was swarmed by 8000 extras. This scene alone cost $4m (1/5 of the entire budget). 1640 FT HIGH BY II15 FT WIDE 1963 CLEOPATRA FORUM OF ROME It stood at twice the size of the original forum, as the Production Design by John De Cuir original's dimensions were considered to be insufficiently dramatic. English rain damaged the Pinewood sets, so at a huge cost they were shipped out to Italy and rebuilt. The increasing budget nearly bankrupted 20th Century Fox. However, DeCuir bagged an Oscar and a new nickname: 'Hollywood's DaVinci'. XXXXXXX XIXIXI 1310 FT HIGH BY 754 FT WIDE 1964 FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE FORUM OF ROME Samuel Bronston's Spanish movie production Production Design by complex was abruptly shut down after the commercial failure of this movie, thus signalling an end to a series of Bronston epics. Various sets covered 55 acres, though a poor critical reception and a declining interest in historical epics meant that the studio couldn't recoup the vast budget. Veniero Colasanti & John Moore 三 = = == 30,000 SQ FT APPROX 1983 WARGAMES NORAD CENTER The film's director, John Badham, wasn't allowed to Production Design by Geoffrey Kirkland ccess the NORAD ntre for research, so he created his own version which he later described as 'NORAD's wet dream of itself'. NORAD insiders agreed that the $1m film set was far more impressive than its real-life counterpart, subsequently leaving visitors underwhelmed, which allegedly convinced NORAD officials to update their systems. 105 FT LONG 1985 THE GOONIES THE INFERNO One-Eyed Willie's ship was hidden from the young cast during construction, allowing their initial Production Design by J.Michael Riva wonderment to be filmed and included in the film. However, the youngsters let out a barrage of curses and wrecked the director's plan. The ship couldn't find a buyer after filming and was regrettably destroyed. 15BN 4.IM SQ FT APPROX 1989 BATMAN GOTHAM CITY 18 sound stages at Pinewood were transformed into Gotham. The film's oppressive spirals and menacing architecture even influenced the style of later comics. Anton Furst, famed for his Batmobile design, was Production Design by Anton Furst hired by DC comics to create an architectural scheme for Gotham City. VINK 7 MILLION GALLONS 1989 ABYSS WATER TANK Cameron originally wanted to shoot entirely in the ocean, but 2 specially constructed tanks were built on an abandoned nuclear plant, to allow precise control over the special effects. The 7m gallon tank was the world's largest fresh water tank. 20th Century Fox left the sets to rust, as dismantling costs were so high, which lured urban explorers before the sets were finally destroyed in 2007. Production Design by Leslie Dilley 30,000 SQ FT APPROX 1991 HOOK Spielberg hired John Napier as a visual consultant after being impressed with his work on the Broadway production of Cats. Wargames' NORAD Center had also been shot on Sony's Soundstage 27, with both sets filling the space on an unseen scale. Michael THE JOLLY ROGER AND PIRATE WHARF Production Design by Norman Garwood Jackson, Tom Cruise, Prince, and even the Queen Noor of Jordan headed to the set for a tour. 160,000 SQ. FT APPROX 1992 THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS FORT WILLIAM HENRY This reconstruction at Lake James State Park attempted to evoke the style of the time, even in the small details. Local craftspeople created period props Production Design by Wolf Kroeger including medicine jars and cooking pots. The $6m fort was said to be the largest-ever set built east of the Mississippi. 135,000 SQ. FT APPROX 1995 WATERWORLD THE ATOLL This 1000 tonne behemoth depleted all of Hawaiiís steel, requiring extra steel to be ordered from California. Widespread reports that the $22m atoll Production Design by Dennis Gassner sank were misleading, as it was actually a smaller set that sank. Hurricanes, seasickness, and a lack of toilets all added to the complexities of the shoot, which only inflated the huge budget. 800FT BY 90FT 1997 TITANIC 100 DAY STUDIO This replica ship was built at 90% scale. It was to0 Production Design by Peter Lamont large for any studio, so the bespoke '100 day studio was built on the Mexican coastline. Water was pumped in directly from the ocean, filling the 17m and 5m gallon tanks. The ship's interior was based on the Olympic, the sister ship, as there was more photographic evidence available. FIVE POINTS MISSION HE FIVE PAINTS MISSION 63 800FT BY 800FT 2002 GANGS OF NEW YORK PARADISE SQUARE Scorsese said that the sets on his production Production Design by Dante Ferretti represented a dying art, a sentiment famously confirmed by a visiting George Lucas. Production designer Ferretti said that 30% of the city seen on screen comprised of his work, with CGI artists hired to create the panoramic views. 7,920 FT L ONG 2003 THE MATRIX RELOADED THE FREEWAY This freeway was constructed at the Production Design by Owen Patterson decommissioned Alameda Naval Air Station, as it was felt that CGI wasn't sufficient for this car-chase scene. It took 3 months to shoot, longer than many film's entire schedules. 522,720 SQ FT APPROX. 2012 THE HНОВBІТ НОBBITON After LOTR's success, this location became a tourist Production Design by Dan Hennah attraction despite most of the sets being dismantled. The Hobbit's new sets have instead been built to last. 37 hobbit holes, a bridge, and an inn were all constructed. A 26-tonne oak tree was brought in and decorated with artificial leaves. wallpaperdirect WALLPAPERDIRECT.COM TM ll 000000