An inventor uses a wireless controlled flying torpedo to destroy enemy airships.An inventor uses a wireless controlled flying torpedo to destroy enemy airships.An inventor uses a wireless controlled flying torpedo to destroy enemy airships.
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Did you know
- TriviaReleased in the US as a split reel along with The Park of Caserta (1909).
- GoofsThe burning fuse of one of the explosions near the armored car can be seen on the ground, before we see the streak that is supposed to be the aerial bomb hitting the ground.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Cinema Europe: The Other Hollywood: Where It All Began (1995)
Featured review
Imaginative Zeppelin Invasion
This is an imaginative early film full of special effects--what film historians call a "trick film". None of the effects, including substitution splices, miniatures and pyrotechnics, were invented here; in fact, they'd been employed for countless movies made earlier, especially in the work of Georges Méliès. Additionally, as others have mentioned, they do appear primitive today, but must have remained impressive enough back then to be used in so many pictures. Nevertheless, the narrative of a Zeppelin invasion of England is unique and proved to be a precursor to Germany's use of Zeppelins against England during WWI about five years later. In recognition of this, the film was re-released in January 1915. In film, as in real life, however, these airships were more frightening and technologically impressive than they were effective in battle. The film also features a primitive tank and fighter biplanes, as well as a funky-looking surface-to-air missile.
Walter R. Booth was one of the best trick-film artists of early cinema to follow in the footsteps of Méliès. Before making this one, "The Airship Destroyer", and others for Charles Urban's company, he made trick films for R.W. Paul. The earliest that survives today appears to be "Upside Down, or the Human Flies" (from 1899). Some of the other interesting early films to feature trick effects that Booth and Paul collaborated on include "The Magic Sword", "Scrooge; or Marley's Ghost" (both from 1901) and "The '?' Motorist".
For another Booth-Urban trick film available on the web, see "Willie's Magic Wand" (1907).
Walter R. Booth was one of the best trick-film artists of early cinema to follow in the footsteps of Méliès. Before making this one, "The Airship Destroyer", and others for Charles Urban's company, he made trick films for R.W. Paul. The earliest that survives today appears to be "Upside Down, or the Human Flies" (from 1899). Some of the other interesting early films to feature trick effects that Booth and Paul collaborated on include "The Magic Sword", "Scrooge; or Marley's Ghost" (both from 1901) and "The '?' Motorist".
For another Booth-Urban trick film available on the web, see "Willie's Magic Wand" (1907).
helpful•30
- Cineanalyst
- Mar 8, 2012
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- Release date
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- Also known as
- The Airship Destroyer
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime20 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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Top Gap
By what name was The Battle in the Clouds (1909) officially released in Canada in English?
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