The Drawing Lesson (aka "The Living Statue") (1903) Starring: Jehanne d'Alcy and Georges Méliès
Director: Georges Méliès
Rating: Seven of Ten Stars
A sorcerer (Melies) causes chaos during a life-drawing class.
"The Drawing Lesson" is a fun visual romp from Georges Melies, a stage magician turned filmmaker who pioneered a whole host of special effects and film editing mainstays. We are treated to a mixture of two of the most common elements in his film--sorcery and/or stage magic performed via the wonders of in-camera editing and doube-exposure, and a setting that feels like a fairy tale come to life.
If this is the first Georges Melies film you have seen, it's an excellent introduction to his work. Take a couple minutes to check it out. If you like quirky, comedic short films, I am certain you will enjoy it.
The Mermaid (1904) Starring: Georges Méliès Director: Georges Méliès Rating: Seven of Ten Stars
A magician (Méliès) uses water from an empty fish tank to summon fish, a mermaid, and sirines. Along the way, he performs a variety of other summonings, as well as transformations of both himself and the mermaid.
This is one of the more impressive performance videos that Méliès produced. The transitions that create the in-camera effects are generally so smooth that they rival effects you see made today, 120 years and technology that Méliès couldn't have dreamed of later.
The only weakness of this film arises because of circumstances beyond Méliès' control, such as the wind blowing the hammock and the positions of the fish swimming around in the aquarium. Most viewers--especially back in 1904 when this film premiered--will have their attention focused on the main action, though, so the weird little disruptions in motion and teleporting fish escapes notice... just like they would during a live magic show where keeping the audience focused on a specific thing is important to maintaining an illusion. Since I, as a reviewer, am looking for flaws, I pointing out some very nitpicky weaknesses in this otherwise excellent effort from a trailblazing special effects artist.
But you shouldn't take my word for it. Take a minute out of your busy day to watch a little old-time movie magic by clicking below!
The Disconnected Clown (aka "Mysterious Displacements") (1901) Starring: Andre Deeds Director: Georges Méliès
Rating: Eight of Ten Stars
A clown (Melies) joyously violates the laws of nature and reality in creepy ways.
This is another instance of stage-magician-turned-pioneering-filmmaker Georges Melies using special effects to bring magic tricks to the screen in a way that would be neigh impossible in a live performance. Generally, I favor his films that feature a bit more plot than this one, but the visual effects are so impressive in this one that I can't help but love it. (Plus, the rambunctious joy with which the clown performs his creepy show makes the film all the more fascinating and surreal.)
But don't just take my word for it. Click below and enjoy a couple minutes of pure weirdness and special effects that are pretty convincing even more than 120 years after this film was made.
The Brahmin and the Butterfly (aka "The Butterfly's Chrysalis") (1901) Starring: Georges Melies and an anonymous dancer Director: Georges Melies Rating: Eight of Ten Stars
A sorerer (Melies) uses magic to create a beautiful winged woman by enchanting a giant caterpillar... but things don't go quite as he planned.
"The Brahmin and the Butterfly" is one of my favorite shorts from early special effects wizard Georges Melies. It's a little goofy, a little creepy, the effects are pretty good even by modern standards, and it's got a story with a twist. All in about two minutes!
What's more, I think the story will resonate with modern audiences. Take a look and let me know if you agree! (The version I'm providing below features a modern score done specifically for this film, which makes watching it even more enjoyable.)
The Tiny Dancer (aka 'The Dancing Midget') (1902) Starring: George Melies, an Anonymous Actor, and an Anonymous Ballerina Director: Georges Melies Rating: Seven of Ten Stars
A magician (Melies) conjures an assistant, eggs, and ultimately a miniature ballerina. But he's saved his greatest trick for last!
"The Tiny Dancer" is one of the many films by stage-magician-turned-pioneering-special-effects-artist Georges Melies performs cinema-enhanced magic tricks that culminate either in a magical mishap or a visual joke of some sort. I'll not say how this one turns out, because I don't want to spoil anything.
I've said before that this type of film are among my least favorite of Melies output. That said, this one is lively and amusing enough that it kept my attention throughout. The ending also make me snicker, and I always appreciate the short films that leave me smiling (for the comedies) or squirming (for the horror films).
But why don't you check it out? It's only a couple minutes long. Let me know in the comments whether you liked it or not!
Also, if you see Elton John, recommend that he check it out, too. I think he'll love it, for obvious reasons.
Le Tonneau des Danaïdes (aka "A Barrel of Danaides" and "Eight Girls in a Barrel) (1900) Starring: Georges Méliès Director: Georges Méliès Rating: Six of Ten Stars
What's more fun than a barrel of monkeys? A barrel full of women!
I've said previously that the films from pioneering special effects artist and fantasy filmmaker Georges Méliès that are just stage illusions performed and enhanced with in-camera editing. This one falls into that category, but I find it amusing for its reference to relatively obscure characters from Greek myths.
This is also worth watching, because, like pretty much all of Melies' short films, it's better in some ways than modern SFX-driven films. Check it out--it'll only take a couple minutes of your time!
Halloween is here, the ghouls and goblins are dancing and the witches and wraiths are flying! To get the most fun celebration of darkness off to a good start, we bring you this great music video for Camille Saint-Saens's immortal classic "Danse Macabre" constructed of clips from (and even a complete) from silent films!
Excelsior (aka "The Magician and the Human Pump" and "The Prince of Magicians") (1901) Starring: Georges Méliès
Director: Georges Méliès
Rating: Nine of Ten Stars
A noble wizard (Méliès) turns his manservant into the main prop in a magic act.
"Excelsior" is one of stage magician-turned-filmmaker many pioneering special effects films that are basically a magic show on film. This is one of the better ones, not only because of the impressive effects, but also because of the impish sense of humor of display throughout.
Click below and enjoy. It's will only take you a couple of minutes to watch this little film, and I think you'll find that the sense of fun and joy that permeates this film will brighten your spirits for the rest of your day.
Jupiter's Thunderballs (1903) Starring: Anonymous Actors and Dancers
Director: Georges Méliès
Rating: Eight of Ten Stars
Zeus's thunderbolts begin to fizzle, so he summons Hephaestus to repair them. While the upgraded bolts intially are able to call all nine Muses into Zeus' presence, it soon becomes clear that they work a too well!
Although not a very good example of how fantastic Georges Méliès' special effects could be--what we have here is rather clumsy and badly executed when compared to the perfection in some of his other films--this is one of my all-time favorite modern usages of the Greek gods. I don't think I will ever not feel like this is among the most fun three-and-a-half minutes of film that was ever made. Likewise, I don't think I'll ever have to supress the urge to make a Beavis and Buttlike like snicker and say, "He said balls" whenever I see its title. (I also think I'll never understand why both the French and English title reference Jupiter when the sets and costumes all reference the Greek names and versions of the featured gods rather than the Roman ones. Maybe it's a fourth-wall joke that's going over my head?)
Click below and watch "Jupiter's Thunderballs". If you end up not considering it among the best moments you had today, you may take me to task in the comments!)
A Turn-of-the-Century Illusionist (aka "An Up-to-Date Conjurer") (1899) Starring: Georges Méliès and an Anonymous Dancer Director: Georges Méliès
Rating: Ten of Ten Stars
A magician (Méliès) brings a mannequin to life as a beautiful ballet dancer, and he then proceeds to make her appear, disappear, and go through even more amazing transformations.
I have stated previously that I find the Georges Méliès films that are basically just magic tricks performed using in-camera-editing among his least interesting. I keep finding exceptions, however, so I think maybe I just happened upon some of his least interesting "stage magic" films... and the film I'm posting about today is one of the foremost exceptions to what I thought was a general rule. It's not as charming as "The Famous Box Trick" but it's ten times more impressive technically than "The Vanishing Lady".
"A Turn-of-the-Century Illusionist" is barely one minute long, and I guarantee that you will feel that it was time well spent if you enjoy movies at all. This 120+ year-old movie makes it very clear why Méliès is viewed as the father of cinematic special effects: This film has better and more believable transformations and other visual trickery than many of the ones made now... and Méliès was making it up as he went where the modern filmmakers are doing plug-and-play with decades of technical and technological developments.
You can even take a minute and watch this great piece of film history right now. And feel free to speak up in the Comments if I steered you wrong.
Satan in Prison (1907) Starring: Georges Méliès and Jehanne d'Alcy Director: Georges Méliès
Rating: Nine of Ten Stars
After being imprisoned in an empty room for his many evils, Satan (Méliès) uses magic to improve his conditions of confinement.
I have a new favorite Georges Méliès film. This one has a story, is energetic and lots of fun... and, given the techniques that Georges Méliès was working with, the effects are amazing. (For those may not know, Méliès was a stage magician turned filmmaker. He was one of the very first to make extensive use of special effects in his films--in fact, building them pretty much to show off cinematic trickery and illusions. Without his work, the big-budget superhero extravaganzas everyone loves so much, would not exist.)
In addition to being a fun romp, almost every trick photography and illusion-created-via-editing is pretty much seamless and better and more believable than a lot of new-fangled digital effects that you'll see in contemporary films made with less care and enthusiasm for both the creative process and entertaining the audience.
But don't just take my word for it. Take five minutes and watch this fun flick right now by clicking below. I looked at several different versions available on YouTube for embedding in this post and I went with the one that was most complete and with the sharpest visual quality. It does not have a music soundtrack, however, so if you prefer your silent movies without complete silence, you should watch this version.
Over 120 years ago, French filmmaker and showman Georges Méliès discovered the perfect way to stave off loneliness and to make sure you could have companionship any time and anywhere. He used the emerging technology of film to record his methods and share them with the world for all time.
Study Méliès methods as he demonstrates them in this short video. If you master them, you will never be lonely again, no matter what! Méliès demonstrates not just one, not just two, but three methods by which you can create company from thin air, in the comfort of your own home/prison during the next Covid lockdown!
The Duplicate Illusionist and the Living Head (aka "The Triple Conjurer") (1900) Starring: Georges Méliès and Jehanne d'Alcy Director: Georges Méliès Rating: Eight of Ten Stars
(In all seriousness, "The Duplicate Illusionist and the Living Head" is one of Georges Méliès best "performance" shorts. I always prefer those of his films that have a bit more plot to them instead of ones that are little more than showcases for his at-the-time cutting edge and dazzling special effects. This one, though, has effects that are so smoothly done and so alive with Méliès's creativity and exuberance that it's impossible not to love it. (I am sure you fell in love with it, too, if you spent the minute or so it lasts. Let me know! (Also, if you DO master the technique of conjuring companions from thin air by watching this film, let me know that, too.)
The Living Playing Cards (aka "Card Tricks") (1905) Starring: Georges Méliès Director: Georges Méliès
Rating: Eight of Ten Stars
A stage magician (Méliès) performs some extreme card tricks.
A number of the short films by special effects pioneer Georges Méliès simply take a stage illusionist and transfer him and his stage performance onto the screeen, with the illusions augmented and taken up a notch through trick photography. Typically, they fall among my least favorites of Méliès's efforts--some I've felt so indifferent toward that I didn't even feel motivated to write a post.
"The Living Playing Cards" is one of the exceptions to that general rule. It stars out like it's going to be just another "illusionist performs" film--even to the point where the magician is shown engages the audience in chatter while setting up his trick--but it then goes in a spectacularly over-the-top direction. What's more, it's very technically accomplished, with Méliès' in-camera effects and double-exposures being pulled off in such a smooth fashion that they're hardly noticeable.
This is one of those films that demonstrate what a shame it was that Méliès became so imbittered at the film industry he walked away and turned to toymaking... but not before burning the original prints and negatives of his films. (We should could ourselves fortunate to have even the fraction of his work that has survived to the present day.)
Take a couple minutes (literally) to check out a fun bit of foundation for the movies we know and love today by clicking below.
The Wandering Jew (1905) Starring: Georges Méliès Director: Georges Méliès Rating: Six of Ten Stars
A man (Méliès), who has been cursed to wander the world until Judgement Day, rests and dreams about how he came to suffer this fate.
From a 21st century perspective, "The Wandering Jew" is one of Georges Méliès's lesser efforts. In 1905, I suspect that the audiences were very impressed by elaborately painted sets that give this film an almost three-dimensional look, as well as the way a dream unfolds semi-transparently on the screen and devils and angels appear and disappear in split seconds. To the modern viewer, though, these things are common place... and they way Méliès does it may even seem clumsy. For the time it was remarkable, especially considering that he invented and developed the techniques that.
One good reason for a modern viewer to watch this short film is for its succinct telling of the 13th century story of the man who was watching Jesus drag his cross through Jerusalem on his way to be executed--and this man not only refused Jesus's plea for water but also mocked him. As a result, he was cursed to wander the earth, without rest, until God renders Final Judgement on all humans who ever lived.
It's been a story that's fascinated me since I first heard it as a little kid, so I am predisposed to liking adaptations of it. This one I enjoyed because it is very literally in its interpretation of the Wandering Jew not ever being able to rest... and that not only do angels enforce the curse, but devils do as well. This is a nicely done adaptation that relates the core of the original story in a clear and straightforward fashion. Another sign of its effectiveness is that it once again made me wonder why the man remains cursed, given the central theme of Jesus's sacrifice and Christianity in general.
As always, you're invited to take a few moments to watch this historic short film right here, from this post.
You can check out another of Méliès' films based in Christian tales--"The Temptation of St. Anthony" by clicking here. The effects in that one are more extensive... and it's also just a whole lot of fun.
A Nightmare (1896) Starring: Georges Melies and Jehanna d'Alcy Director: Georges Melies Rating: Seven of Ten Stars
A man (Melies) has a dream that starts out pleasant enough, but quickly turns frightening and bizarre.
At just a little more than one minute in length, "A Nightmare" still manages to deliver a ton of entertainment. Like most of special effects pioneer Georges Melies' early efforts, it moves at such a breakneck pace that if you blink you'll miss some of the magic and jokes. (And even if you're paying close attention--like some guy watching it with a mind toward perhaps writing a review--there's so much non-stop activity that you're likely to miss something. I, for example, didn't notice that the room changes more than once as the dream/nightmare unfolds until I captured an image for use with this piece.
If you're interested in film history, "A Nightmare" is not only a good time, but it's also a must-see. If you're familiar with Melies' work, either through posts here or from more reputable sources, you know that he commonly tells fantastic short stories where he uses his trick photography techniques to either transport his protagonist onto other words or into dreamscapes, or to cause supernatural forces to haunt them in mundane surroundings. As far as I can tell, this film was the first time he used dreams as a narrative device and it's also the basic template for many of the fantasy-oriented short films he made over the decade or so that followed.
You should take a (literal) minute to check out this great little film. It's quite well done, considering Melies was still developing his techniques. The only thing that could have made it better was a slightly different ending--I was hoping for one of the dream characters to show up and give a little twist... but I know that's not the approach they took back then: Normalcy was almost always restored by the end of any fantasy or horror film, (One VERY amusing detail is that when the version I watched was digitized, someone felt obligated to "protect" viewers from seeing Melies' shlong in his onesie, so they pixilated his crotch area. Hilariously, the eye is now drawn to his crotch now than it probably was before.)
On December 8 in 1861, Georges Méliès, the father of movie special effects and first person to make sci-fi and fantasy films, was born. Join me in celebration by enjoying this 1901 masterpiece of sci-fi/fantasy and dark humor.
The Man with the Rubber Head (1901)
Starring: Georges Méliès
Director: Georges Méliès
Rating: Nine of Ten Stars
A scientist creates a living, inflatable copy of his head. Why? Because he can!
"The Man with the Rubber Head" probably had audiences in 1901 gaping open-mouthed and then oooo-ing and aaah-ing and laughing. Even now, nearly 120 years later, this goofy little special effects spectacle is very entertaining. (Interestingly, the only thing that doesn't work for me is the make-up job on the scientist's assistant. There doesn't seem to be a reason for him or her to be wearing such an obvious mask.)
I encourage you to take a couple minutes and enjoy the silent movie madness of Méliès, right here!
A traveler rents a room already inhabited by a playful demon. It turns out that there truly is no rest for the wicked, as the imp does not appreciate having a roommate.
"The Black Imp" shares many similar elements as "The Apparition", which was made and released in 1903. First, both have hotel guests who is tormented by a supernatural being. Second, said victims are deserving of the torment, because they both sexually harasses the hotel maid. Third, both guests at first seem unfazed by objects and people teleporting about, transforming and appearing or disappearing in the room. (As I said in my review of "The Apparition", France of early 20th century must have been a very different place than it is today.)
All in all, "The Black Imp" feels like a remake of "The Apparition", with Melies applying lessons learned since 1903 and getting more elaborate with the stop-motion effects and other trick photography methods. Comparing the two films is interesting, as well as fun, as they are near-plotless vehicles for showing off Melies' exploration of cinematic magic--and the joy of creation and discovery of special effects techniques is palpable.
Once "The Black Imp" gets going, it's a non-stop sequence of rapid-fire effect shots, including a very impressive bit where the hotel guest suddenly finds himself in midair and then plummets to the floor. The effects are so seamless that I wonder how Melies pulled it off... and it made me wonder why he didn't use a similar technique in later films to, for example cause the Moon Maiden in "The Dream of an Opium Fiend" (1908), Having the Moon Maiden float from her perch to the floor instead of using a step ladder would have been much more impressive.
I've embedded "The Black Imp" below. If you have five minutes, you should check it out. The acting is a bit hammy (to put it mildly) but even though it's 115 years old, it's lots of fun and the special effects are impressive.
The Dream of an Opium Fiend (1908) Starriing: Jeanne d'Alcy and an otherwise anonymous cast
Director: Georges Méliès
Rating: Eight of Ten Stars
An upper-class drug addict's opium-enduced fantasy turns bizarre and nightmarish.
"The Dream of an Opium Fiend" is one Georges Méliès many "dream sequence" films. Although I prefer the ones where it's unclear if what's happening is a dream or if the main character has been transported to a weird world or is being visited by supernatural beings, I still rank this one among the best of this particular type of Méliès. The trick photography is expertly executed, the mechanical effects are excellently done, and the acting is hilarious. The storyline of the dream is both funny and frightening, something that's befitting of it being a drug-induced hallucination.
I might have given this film a Nine or even a Ten rating if not for the odd choice of having the beer-stealing Moon Maid descend from her perch on a step ladder instead of by floating. The sudden appearance of the ladder is amusing, but I feel like her descent would have been more impactful if it had taken place through less mundane means.
If you've liked other Méliès films I've written about and featured here on the blog, I think you'll like this one, too. As usual, it's embedded below. It ends rather suddenly, so I think what's survived to this day is missing whatever the original ending was. Still, it's an enjoyable few minutes.
Here's a little flick from the cinematic special effects pioneer Georges Méliès that may help you get in the proper mood this Halloween season!
The Monster (1903)
Starring: Georges Méliès
Director: Georges Méliès
Rating: Seven of Ten Stars
A necromancer in Ancient Egypt shows off to a friend, summoning spirits and restoring life and beautiful youth woman who's long been dead.
"The Monster" is one of hundreds of showcases that Georges Melies made for his brand of cinematic wizardry during the early years of filmmaking. At roughly two-and-a-half minutes in length, this is an uncomplicated film, but it features some impressive (for the time) and well-executed special effects, and a nice little twist at the end.
(If you've seen several other of Melie's films, there won't be many surprises here, but if you're a fan of his work, you'll still enjoy yourself.)
Check out "The Monster" right here, in this post, embedded below via YouTube.
Pioneering filmmaker Georges Méliès was making special-effects laden fantasy films and horror comedies when most of his contemporaries could barely conceive of using film for anything but documentary purposes. The film I'm offering as Halloween warm-up viewing today sees him deploying nearly his entire bag of tricks in a three-minute supernatural romp.
The Apparition (aka "The Ghost and the Candle") (1903)
Starring: Georges Méliès
Director: Georges Méliès
Rating: Eight of Ten Stars
A lecherous old man (Méliès) gropes a maid and is subsequently haunted by a vengeful female ghost.
This is another one of those Méliès films where too much blather from me will ruin the fun of watching it, so all I'll say is that the early 20th century must have been a very different time than today, since the main character in this short film isn't phased by a candle that moves on its own, nor seems to find a woman solidifying from a cloud of smoke strange at all.
But why don't you take a few minutes to watch "The Apparition"? It's bound to put a smile on your face while getting you ready for the tricks and treats that are coming our way later this month!
.jpg)
.jpg)
