The Big Trail is a great example of how far some filmmakers would go back in the day. Giant sets, oodles of extras, literally dangerous stunts, attention to detail. Griffith, Keaton, and the Korda brothers are other great examples. Then stuff got relatively simplified, formulaic, and safe for a few decades until that going-the-extra-mile style made a comeback in the 80's with stuff like Ran, Fitzcarraldo, Brazil, Dune, and James Cameron.