This shot was achieved with splicing and green screen.
This wild-looking shot (and similar manipulations) was famously achieved by having a professional juggler in a duplicate of Bowieโs jacket and gloves sitting behind him, basically with Bowie in his lap, doing the handwork while Bowie kept his arms behind the juggler. You may have seen a game based on this on Whose Line Is It Anyway.
This? Wires! Splicing! THE CGI TO DO THIS DIDNโT EXIST YET! (The juggler is hidden under the cape. If thereโs a scene where heโs wearing a cape, thatโs actually probably why.)
And this? This heartstopping shot?
This does appear to be from the version with CGIโ
โCGI THAT WAS USED TO ERASE THE SHADOW FROM THE PRACTICAL EFFECT.
The shot itself hasnโt changed. The lift itself was done with wires and Bowie was given some propulsion with an air cannon so he could make that turn at speed. A minor amount of CGI was used in the 30th anniversary to โtouch upโ the work done in 1986, and one of the things they did was to remove a shadow on the wall from one of the wires.
You donโt know it, but youโre looking at a practical effect. In real life, the Ruby Slippers are almost orange. That luxe, rich ruby color showed up on the film as black when the shoes were the correct color, so the costumers adjusted the actual costume to give the color they wanted.
A MODEL OF A HOUSE SHOT INSIDE A NYLON STOCKING ATTACHED TO A FAN.
HORSES DUSTED WITH COLORED GELATIN.
And this? This is where it wouldโve been useful to have CGI. Margaret Hamilton got really badly burned on the steam doing one of her entrance/exits, and ended up in the hospital. THIS is what you use CGI for.
You come into my house and insult practical effects?
Iโll just finish off by reminding you THIS IS ONE, TOO.
