Why in older sci-fi shows and movies, when they show a spaceship?

Question

blowing up it looks totally stupid, almost like a firecracker going off or something looks totally fake?
Also, how are we (from point of reference in film) sposed to be hearing the space explosion if space is a vaccum (how do the sound waves travel???)

Answer 1

Old films and film makers did not have the technology that we have today for special effects, so they did the best they could, people back then appreciated it anyhow, even if it was a little hokey, it was entertainment and it still inspired imagination.

Space explosions are done because it adds more effect and drama than watching a ship blow up in silence, it's more exciting. Just like weapons fire and the like wouldn't be heard either. Just enjoy the show. :-)

Answer 2

Hi there.Those movies were made before digital special effects were invented.They had to use special trick photography and other photographic techniques which back then were quite remarkable.When you think of a film like The Birds made in 1963 there were over 400 special trick photography shots in the movie and they were really very good. As to the sound of explosions in space just look at the Star Wars movies They are full of sounds in space.Could you imagine how they would be if the space scenes were silent .No body would bother going to see the movies. The only movie about space where there we no sounds at all (except the music) was 2001:A Space Odyssey.

Answer 3

Of course it look totally stupid. But for them in those days, that was the state of the art special effect. Anyway, most people DO know that it was fake but enjoyed the movie anyway. Unlike we of today who expect everything to be so good that we end up complaining about spfx and forgetting the real reason why we go to see the movie in the first place - to enjoy a good STORY.

Yes, no sound in vacuum, but even today's sci-fi movies have sounds of explosion in space - and I am sure you enjoyed it as well. If EVERYTHING is true to reality - I would think no one will go and see the movie as it will end up be very boring. I mean.... would YOU go and watch Star Wars and Star Trek if half of the time in the movie there is absolutely no sound?

Food for thought
thanks for the two points.
Cheers

Answer 4

because back in the day, they didnt have the advanced special effects and cgi that we have now. And most people who watched the movies during that time didnt think that hard about the physics of sound in space. It was just somethin to briefly entertain themselves with.