Film Pioneers Still Amaze
Re “What’s Good, Bad Among Religious Epics” by Dennis Hunt, April 14: I found Hunt’s comments that the special effects for “The Ten Commandments” look “shoddy now” very irritating.
My father, Paul K. Lerpae, worked 18 hours a day, six (and sometimes seven) days a week for 1 1/2 years creating the visual effects for this movie. He accomplished this without the computers and sophisticated machinery and equipment used today. All the special effects in this film, and many other Paramount pictures, were invented by my dad and his colleagues.
Most knowledgeable people are amazed by what these craftsmen were able to create on film 40 years ago (and more).
PATRICIA (LERPAE) HARRIES
Moraga
Only good movies
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