Flaming torches in films
Flaming torches in films
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silverfoxcc

Original Poster:

8,467 posts

175 months

Saturday 11th February 2023
quotequote all
Watching a film in which the actors are in a cave with flaming torches
These just are burning quite well but do not appear to either dim and go out, or start to burn the wooden stick the fabric is wrapped around
They are in common use where .mobs appaer to chase the vampire/monster etc

Been puzzling me for years how it is done

Anyone know?

Edited by silverfoxcc on Sunday 12th February 23:30

Spare tyre

12,576 posts

160 months

Saturday 11th February 2023
quotequote all
I know in kids programs the higher you lift them the brighter they get


We still use them here when new people with teeth move into the village

sherman

15,252 posts

245 months

Saturday 11th February 2023
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Parafin soaked hessian tightly bound to the post.
Will burn for at least an hour or more. The torch will be on screen for 3 minutes tops.

Edited by sherman on Saturday 11th February 11:58

K87

4,296 posts

129 months

Saturday 11th February 2023
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I had a house in Portugal with these around the garden, looked fancy when you had people for drinks. They use lamp oil with a container and a wick.

WelshChris

1,301 posts

284 months

Saturday 11th February 2023
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Spare tyre said:
I know in kids programs the higher you lift them the brighter they get


We still use them here when new people with teeth move into the village
hehe

Davie_GLA

6,885 posts

229 months

Saturday 11th February 2023
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On a scale of 1 to 10, just how high are you? smile

cheesejunkie

5,312 posts

47 months

Saturday 11th February 2023
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Davie_GLA said:
On a scale of 1 to 10, just how high are you? smile
As a kite was my first thought.

Somebody who has only thought about this question now has obviously not played enough CRPGs. Elder Scrolls in particular.

Yip, hessian oil soaked wrap. Why the fk do I know that. When you were ...

Punctilio

827 posts

53 months

Saturday 11th February 2023
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I believe there's a PH thread designed for the curious musings of befuddled lovers of the hemp.

Sprinter vannnn

10 posts

45 months

Saturday 11th February 2023
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I think it's a perfectly reasonable question and while we're on the subject of vampires here's another.

In the films I've seen with Christopher Lee etc as the vampire they always have perfect hair, but how do they comb it and keep it perfect when they don't have a reflection?

Sporky

12,225 posts

94 months

Saturday 11th February 2023
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That one is obvious when you know.

They turn into a bat each night. When they turn back, their hair is reset to perfection.

NMNeil

5,860 posts

80 months

Saturday 11th February 2023
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K87 said:
I had a house in Portugal with these around the garden, looked fancy when you had people for drinks. They use lamp oil with a container and a wick.
Not the same. you're describing the Tiki torch, filled with citronella oil to give light and repel mosquitoes at the same time.
Essential for evening barbecues where the little buggers will eat you alive. biggrin


bongtom

2,018 posts

113 months

Sunday 12th February 2023
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In the late 70s my parents would put those oil road lamps around the garden when they had parties. Looked ace at night but very council in the daylight!

K87

4,296 posts

129 months

Sunday 12th February 2023
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NMNeil said:
K87 said:
I had a house in Portugal with these around the garden, looked fancy when you had people for drinks. They use lamp oil with a container and a wick.
Not the same. you're describing the Tiki torch, filled with citronella oil to give light and repel mosquitoes at the same time.
Essential for evening barbecues where the little buggers will eat you alive. biggrin
Classic PH, someone telling me about what I do in my life!

My torches are not filled with citronella oil, they are filled with lamp oil, have done so for many years andin there are no mosquitos where I live.



vladcjelli

3,370 posts

188 months

Sunday 12th February 2023
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Having made some flaming torches for a bit of recreational cave exploration as a kid, I can say, and have told my own kids, without doubt they are a st way of illuminating your path through peril infested underground chicanery.

Holding the light source in your hand inevitably means it is in front of you. Hence, all you can see is the torch and nothing beyond. Ideally, you’d have a torch bearer holding one up just behind or to the side of you, but that’s not how it usuallly works in films.

Big Stevie

594 posts

46 months

Sunday 12th February 2023
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vladcjelli said:
Having made some flaming torches for a bit of recreational cave exploration as a kid, I can say, and have told my own kids, without doubt they are a st way of illuminating your path through peril infested underground chicanery.

Holding the light source in your hand inevitably means it is in front of you. Hence, all you can see is the torch and nothing beyond. Ideally, you’d have a torch bearer holding one up just behind or to the side of you, but that’s not how it usuallly works in films.
But how does the torch bearer see in front of them?

I think their main purpose when used in caves is to keep Siberian tigers at bay. Did you see any?

Pitre

6,381 posts

264 months

Sunday 12th February 2023
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Big Stevie said:
vladcjelli said:
Having made some flaming torches for a bit of recreational cave exploration as a kid, I can say, and have told my own kids, without doubt they are a st way of illuminating your path through peril infested underground chicanery.

Holding the light source in your hand inevitably means it is in front of you. Hence, all you can see is the torch and nothing beyond. Ideally, you’d have a torch bearer holding one up just behind or to the side of you, but that’s not how it usuallly works in films.
But how does the torch bearer see in front of them?

I think their main purpose when used in caves is to keep Siberian tigers at bay. Did you see any?
....and wildebeest.

Spare tyre

12,576 posts

160 months

Sunday 12th February 2023
quotequote all
Big Stevie said:
vladcjelli said:
Having made some flaming torches for a bit of recreational cave exploration as a kid, I can say, and have told my own kids, without doubt they are a st way of illuminating your path through peril infested underground chicanery.

Holding the light source in your hand inevitably means it is in front of you. Hence, all you can see is the torch and nothing beyond. Ideally, you’d have a torch bearer holding one up just behind or to the side of you, but that’s not how it usuallly works in films.
But how does the torch bearer see in front of them?

I think their main purpose when used in caves is to keep Siberian tigers at bay. Did you see any?
Stupid boy, they also have a torch bearer

Tango13

10,109 posts

206 months

Sunday 12th February 2023
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Pitre said:
....and wildebeest.
How does a wildebeest sweep majestically in a cave?

Pitre

6,381 posts

264 months

Sunday 12th February 2023
quotequote all
Tango13 said:
Pitre said:
....and wildebeest.
How does a wildebeest sweep majestically in a cave?
Well, they don't, on account of the flaming torches biggrin