This is an imaginative early film full of special effects--what film historians call a "trick film". None of the effects, including substitution splices, miniatures and pyrotechnics, were invented here; in fact, they'd been employed for countless movies made earlier, especially in the work of Georges Méliès. Additionally, as others have mentioned, they do appear primitive today, but must have remained impressive enough back then to be used in so many pictures. Nevertheless, the narrative of a Zeppelin invasion of England is unique and proved to be a precursor to Germany's use of Zeppelins against England during WWI about five years later. In recognition of this, the film was re-released in January 1915. In film, as in real life, however, these airships were more frightening and technologically impressive than they were effective in battle. The film also features a primitive tank and fighter biplanes, as well as a funky-looking surface-to-air missile.
Walter R. Booth was one of the best trick-film artists of early cinema to follow in the footsteps of Méliès. Before making this one, "The Airship Destroyer", and others for Charles Urban's company, he made trick films for R.W. Paul. The earliest that survives today appears to be "Upside Down, or the Human Flies" (from 1899). Some of the other interesting early films to feature trick effects that Booth and Paul collaborated on include "The Magic Sword", "Scrooge; or Marley's Ghost" (both from 1901) and "The '?' Motorist".
For another Booth-Urban trick film available on the web, see "Willie's Magic Wand" (1907).
Walter R. Booth was one of the best trick-film artists of early cinema to follow in the footsteps of Méliès. Before making this one, "The Airship Destroyer", and others for Charles Urban's company, he made trick films for R.W. Paul. The earliest that survives today appears to be "Upside Down, or the Human Flies" (from 1899). Some of the other interesting early films to feature trick effects that Booth and Paul collaborated on include "The Magic Sword", "Scrooge; or Marley's Ghost" (both from 1901) and "The '?' Motorist".
For another Booth-Urban trick film available on the web, see "Willie's Magic Wand" (1907).