Query: a trip to the moon

From: Casey McKittrick <[email protected]>

Hello, All
A student asked me today how Melies achieved the effect of the steam/smoke
rising from the smokestacks in the shot of the casting of the gun.  Did M
puncture holes in his backdrop, and project steam through the set, or did
he use a matte shot and combine the shot of the backdrop with a shot of
smoke rising?  I felt silly for not having an immediate answer.
 Logistically, it seems like either method would be tricky.  And, of
course, it could be another scenario altogether.  If anyone knows, I'd like
to resolve this with my student (and possibly save some face).
Thanks in advance,
Casey McKittrick Associate Professor Department of English Western Michigan
University