(SUNSET's was easily the most detailed and aesthetically appealing. It was unneccessary to have it raise and lower to reveal Artie's apartment underneath for no apparent reason though.)
Dear Pgenre,
The APPARENT reason was for a late50/60's film "split level" look, where the film viewer watched 2 scenarios going on at once, a then new used technique which would only have grieved Norma Desmond all the more, She was all about ONE Look , NOT TWO, and, NO SOUND. I believe that was the reason for that and it worked quite well for me. However, The BEST set is a tie, between "Whistle down the Wind" (London) and a tour way back in 1975 or 76 of "Promises, Promises" that starred Orson Bean, Nothing earth shattering but the set was done perfectly, moved well and is still fondly remembered after all that time. I must give a special mention to "Annie" (the original) and the way that set/lighting was just wonderful and also moved very well, flowing with the show and "NYC" was just spectacular as was that beautiful Christmas Tree at the end. Here's to even greater sets in the future and an art not being lost to IMAX and XBOX effects. (No diss to TWIW, If it is needed for a certain show, so be it, but not as a "Trend" to save on other ways to come up with settings, that's all.)
"It is bad enough that people are dying of AIDS, but no one should die of ignorance." -
Elizabeth Taylor