The Proteus in Miniature

Filming Miniatures

Owing to the nature of this project it was natural that a whole variety of miniatures would be built, both for special effects work and to use as props of the sub when miniaturized.  The smallest of these would be about 1 1/2 inches in length and would be used for the whirl pool scene and as a prop when the drastically miniaturized sub is transferred to a gigantic beaker which itself would be miniaturized to become the body of a serringe.  This tiny model would not survive the production but it would be for reasons that no one could have predicted.  It began when they were trying to decide how to shoot the whirl pool scene.  The effects men struck upon the idea of using a large bowl filled with red punch which they could then stir up into a miniature whirl pool.  They borrowed a huge punch bowl, which was know to be in the possession of Lucile Ball, filled it with red punch, dropped in a few handfuls of "Cheerios" to represent red corpuscles then stirred it up into a whirling mass and, as the camera was running, they tossed in the tiny model sub.  When this shooting was successfully completed it was about lunch time so a break was called.  The tiny model was retrieved, washed off and set into a window to dry.  It was while the crew were eating that one of them suddenly called out "look!" and pointed to the window.  Everybody froze as the saw a large black crow standing in the window eyeing the sub.  Just as they began to move towards it the huge crow grabbed its shiny new prize and flew off!  Fortunately the scene was "in the can" so the model would not be needed further.  But somewhere out there, sitting in a long abandoned birds nest, is a valuable collectors item waiting to be discovered...

The model seen above is one of the largest built and was probably used for the majority of the effects filming.  It is about 5 feet long and features fiberglass construction.  These photos were taken at a display of effects miniatures hosted by Hollywood model maker Greg Jien who also restored it to the condition we see it in here.  It had been neglected over the years and time had taken its toll when Mr. Jien arrived on the scene.  If not for his efforts it probably would have been disposed of via the garbage dump.
 

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