This is probably one of my favorite optical illusions in cinema. It’s totally unintentional, but it shows how much context matters when interpreting a scene.
It’s a scene from the 1966 movie A Man for All Seasons, adapted from the play of the same name. It’s about Sir Thomas More and his defiance of King Henry VIII. It’s a great movie–well worth watching, though not for the cinematography.
Anyway, here’s the scene that I’m talking about. Look at More (the guy in the center of the shot). More specifically, look at what is on the table in front of him.
When I first saw it, I thought “why does Thomas More have a green “Jello” mold”? I was fairly confident they didn’t have those in the 16th century.
I’m pretty sure it’s actually some sort of bowl, though why he has an upside-down bowl in front of him is another question.
I remember seeing the table set with a lot of food, but not the green bowl. Guess I’ll have to watch it again. I love this movie. TNT’s version with Charleton Heston is the full play and makes more sense in places, but I love Schofield in this role.