This film is part of Free

Warships at Sunset
A stunning shot of ships at sea - with a little help from some creative ingenuity
Overview
There's no doubting the beauty of this single-shot film showing a fleet of warships in the open sea. But something doesn't feel quite right. The natural bobbing of the lead ship means the horizon won't stay still, so why isn't the sky moving too? The answer is that it has been superimposed from another sequence, presumably because the original lacked the drama the filmmaker was after. For all its slightly queasy effect, the trickery is pretty impressive, until the sun suddenly appears *in front of* the mast of the following ship.
Related

Lord Roberts Presenting Medals to Boer War Volunteers in Liverpool (1901) Lord Roberts Presenting Medals to Boer War Volunteers in Liverpool (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 9 mins Silent Location: Liverpool
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces recognises war heroes old and new in front of crowds on a wet day in Edwardian Liverpool.

Royal Scots Regiment at Edinburgh Castle (1901) Royal Scots Regiment at Edinburgh Castle (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 5 mins Silent Location: Edinburgh Castle
Troops play up for the camera in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle.

Ambulance Crossing the Modder Ambulance Crossing the Modder
Non-Fiction 1899 1 mins Silent
A surprisingly languid scene shot far from the Boer War battlefields.

H.M.S. "Powerful" Arriving in Portsmouth Harbour H.M.S. "Powerful" Arriving in Portsmouth Harbour
Non-Fiction 1900 1 mins Silent Location: Portsmouth
A mighty naval cruiser returns home to Britain, covered in glory - and Nelson's ship is there to welcome it

Wooden Walls of Old England Wooden Walls of Old England
Non-Fiction 1899 1 mins
Panorama of two wooden battleships, both by this time used as training ships for naval cadets

Coldstream Guards Embarking on Troopship Gascon Coldstream Guards Embarking on Troopship Gascon
Non-Fiction 1899 1 mins Silent Location: Southampton
This close view of departing troops gets up close and personal with soldiers off to the Boer War.

Afrika Bambaataa on Afrofuturism (Q&A) Afrika Bambaataa on Afrofuturism (Q&A)
Inside Film 2014 45 mins
Afrika Bambaataa and DJ, musician and filmmaker Don Letts discuss the development of Afrofuturism and its key artists.

Alexandre Desplat (Masterclass) Alexandre Desplat (Masterclass)
Inside Film 2011 33 mins
Over 30 years and 150 projects, the composer shares, with humour and passion, the intricacies of making film music.

Ian Neil (Masterclass) Ian Neil (Masterclass)
Inside Film 2012 74 mins
Neil selected soundtracks for 127 Hours, Shame, Kick Ass, Control and many more. He discusses the job and its complexities, referencing his own work.

Screenwriters' Lecture: Peter Straughan Screenwriters' Lecture: Peter Straughan
Inside Film 2012 mins
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy's adapter reveals his quest for "the poem of the book" and the importance of simplicity: 'Drain the pond to find the fish'.

Gabriel Yared on composing for film Gabriel Yared on composing for film
Inside Film 2013 11 mins
Composer of The Lives of Others, The English Patient and Betty Blue on intimacy and experimentation.

Lois Burwell on movie makeup Lois Burwell on movie makeup
Inside Film 2013 17 mins
Lincoln, Braveheart and Magnolia make-up artist Lois Burwell explains how she created some of her most iconic looks, as part of a BAFTA Masterclass.