CLIFF CULLEY was a major name at Pinewood Studios, eventually taking over the Matte Painting Department in the mid-1960s. Culley made a name working on British staples like the CARRY ON films and the BOND franchise; including the ceiling in FROM RUSSIAN WITH LOVE (1963).
Culley contribute on the Bond films since DR. NO (1962), adding not just matte paintings but optical effects like Goldfinger’s laser-beam. Other astonishing landscapes include the mountain lairs in YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE (1967) and ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE (1969)
Another major credit of Culley’s is the classic CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG (1968), with him adding the sky, hilltops and towns to the flying car.
And while the CARRY ON series wasn’t noted for its special effects, certain exotic locations – like Roman temples in CARRY ON CLEO (1966) or foreign deserts in FOLLOW THAT CAMEL (1967) – required the expertise of Matte Painters like Cliff.
The British war epic KHARTOUM (1966) also made use of Cliff’s expansive and detailed matte work.
Unexpectedly, one of Culley’s later films was HELLBOUND: HELLRAISER II (1988), but while distinct from his work several decades before, it still demonstrates the imagination and skill from Culley and his team.
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