1904-1907PRIMITIVES
SILENT FILM SHORTS
THE ASTONISHING VARIETY OF FILMS IN THIS COLLECTION NOT ONLY DEMONSTRATE MELIES ASTOUNDING EMPLOYMENT OF DOUBLE EXPOSURE, MAKE UP, EDITING AND THEATRICAL TRICKERY BUT PROVIDE MESMERIZING INSIGHT INTO THE SOCIAL CONTEXT OF HIS WORK, WHICH BLENDED VICTORIAN APPROACHES TO ASTRONOMY, SUPERSTITION AND FEMININE BEAUTY WITH THE UNNATURAL WONDERS OF 20TH CENTURY COMEDY. THIS CONGLOMERATION OF INFLUENCES MAKES FOR FASCINATING VIEWING: TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY ANTIQUITIES THAT STILL COMMAND THE POWER TO SURPRISE AND BEWILDER, SEEN WITH CRYSTAL CLARITY.
SEE LVIZ-156A through LVIZ-156&&*(&^% FOR THE SHORT FILMS
THE ASTONISHING VARIETY OF FILMS IN THIS COLLECTION NOT ONLY DEMONSTRATE MELIES ASTOUNDING EMPLOYMENT OF DOUBLE EXPOSURE, MAKE UP, EDITING AND THEATRICAL TRICKERY BUT PROVIDE MESMERIZING INSIGHT INTO THE SOCIAL CONTEXT OF HIS WORK, WHICH BLENDED VICTORIAN APPROACHES TO ASTRONOMY, SUPERSTITION AND FEMININE BEAUTY WITH THE UNNATURAL WONDERS OF 20TH CENTURY COMEDY. THIS CONGLOMERATION OF INFLUENCES MAKES FOR FASCINATING VIEWING: TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY ANTIQUITIES THAT STILL COMMAND THE POWER TO SURPRISE AND BEWILDER, SEEN WITH CRYSTAL CLARITY.
SEE LVIZ-156A through LVIZ-156&&*(&^% FOR THE SHORT FILMS
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| 00:14:07 847 |
L'ECLIPSE
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| 00:21:59 1319 |
THE IMPOSSIBLE VOYAGE (1904)
L'VOYAGE A TRAVERS L'IMPOSSIBLE A FANTASTIC TALE OF AN AROUND-THE-WORLD EXPEDITION FILLED WITH OUTLANDISH INVENTIONS AND FANCIFUL CREATURES, PRESENTED HERE IN ITS ENTIRETY WITH THE AUTHENTIC FRAME-BY-FRAME HAND COLORING AND NARRATION PENNED BY MELIES HIMSELF, SEE LVIZ-156A |
| 00:43:03 2583 |
THE UNTAMABLE WHISKERS (1904)
THIS FILM WAS DESCRIBED IN MELIES CATALOG IN THE FOLLOWING TERMS: "THE BACKGROUND OF THIS PICTURE REPRESENTS A SCENE ALONG THE BEAUTIFUL SEINE IN PARIS. A GENTLEMAN ENTERS, AND TAKING A BLACKBOARD FROM THE SIDE OF THE PICTURE HE DRAWS ON IT A SKETCH OF A NOVELIST. THEN STANDING IN THE CENTER HE CAUSES THE LIVING FEATURES OF HIS SKETCH TO APPEAR IN THE PLACE OF HIS OWN, WHICH IS UTTERLY DEVOID OF WHISKERS. THE CHANGE IS MADE SO MYSTERIOUSLY THAT THE EYE CANNOT NOTICE IT UNTIL ONE SEES QUITE ANOTHER PERSON IN THE PLACE OF THE FIRST. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GIVE THIS FILM A MORE DEFINITE DESCRIPTION; SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT IT IS SOMETHING ENTIRELY NEW IN MOTION PICTURES AND IS SURE TO PLEASE." GEORGES MELIES APPEARS AS THE "GENTLEMAN" WHO EXECUTES THE LIGHTNING SKETCHES. SEE LVIZ-156B |
| 00:45:48 2748 |
THE COOK IN TROUBLE (1904)
THE ACTION FOR THIS OCCURS ON A SINGLE SET REPRESENTING A LARGE KITCHEN WITH A COOK AND SEVERAL ASSISTANTS. WHEN A BEGGAR IS REJECTED AND PHYSICALLY ABUSED BY THE COOK, HE REVEALS HIMSELF AS A WIZARD WHO THROWS A SPELL IN ORDER TO AVENGE HIMSELF. SPICE CONTAINERS INCREASE IN SIZE, IMPS APPEAR, AND THE CHASE ENSUES. SEE LVIZ-156C |
| 00:50:20 3020 |
TCHIN-CHAO: THE CHINESE CONJURER (1904)
HERE USING STOP-ACTION SUBSTITUTIONS AND DISSOLVES, MELIES GENTLY SPOOFS THE ROUTINES OF THE WILDLY POPULAR CHINESE MAGICIANS OF THE DAY, WHICH HE TAKES TO NEW EXTREMES. SEE LVIZ-156D |
| 00:53:47 3227 |
THE WONDERFUL LIVING FAN (1904)
A FAN MANUFACTURER DESIRING TO SELL A MARVELOUS FAN TO KING LOUIS XV REQUESTS THAT THE KING'S CHAMBERLAIN DO HIM THE HONOR OF EXAMINING IT. BEFORE HIS SURPRISED AND DELIGHTED EYES THE FAN MAGICALLY UNFOLDS, WITH THE SEVEN PANELS COMING TO LIFE WITH SEVEN PRETTY WOMEN OF THE COURT IN GALA ATTIRE. THE HUMAN FAN THEN UNDER- GOES VARIOUS TRANSFORMATIONS, FROM DANCING MINUETS TO ANIMATED FOUNTAINS, BEFORE IT FOLDS ITSELF AND CLOSES THE LID ON ITS BOX. SEE LVIZ-156E |
| 00:57:09 3429 |
THE MERMAID (1904)
IN THIS MALE FANTASY, MELIES USES SUPERIMPOSITIONS AND AN ARRAY OF SPECIAL EFFECTS, CREATING A CHARMING TRICK FILM IN WHICH A GENTLEMAN (PLAYED BY MELIES HIMSELF) NETS FISH FORM HIS HAT AND PLACES THEM INTO AN AQUARIUM THAT INCREASES IN SIZE UNTIL A MERMAID MAGICALLY APPEARS INSIDE. SEE LVIZ-156F |
| 01:01:11 3671 |
THE LIVING PLAYING CARDS (1905)
GEORGES MELIES ASSUMES HIS FAMILIAR ROLE OF MAGICIAN, PERFORMAING A SERIES OF ELABORATE CARD TRICKS USING THE POSSIBILITIES OF CINEMA TO EFFECT A SERIES OF TRANSFORMATIONS, SUCH AS CARDS MAGICALLY CHANGING SIZE AND FIGURES JUMPING FROM THE LIFE-SIZE CARDS. SEE LVIZ-156G |
| 01:04:01 3841 |
THE BLACK IMP (1905)
MELIES PLAYS A MISCHIEVOUS DEVIL WHO DISRUPTS THE REST OF A TRAVELLER STOPPING AT A HOTEL AS THE FURNITURE MOVES ABOUT THE ROOM AND CHAIRS ENDLESSLY PROLIFERATE. THE GUEST AND THE DEVIL ARE SOON ENGAGED IN A CHASE AROUND THE ROOM. SEE LVIZ-156H |
| 01:07:59 4079 |
THE ENCHANTED SEDAN CHAIR (1905)
A 17TH CENTURY MAGICIAN HAS A MAGIC GLASS BOX (AN EVOCATION OF MELIES STUDIO?) WHICH SUPPLIES CLOTHING FOR A MANNEQUIN. THE MAGICIAN TURNS THE MANNEQUIN INTO AN ELEGANT MEMBER OF NOBILITY, AND WOMEN ARE TRANSFORMED INTO MEN OR MADE TO DISAPPEAR, ALL DONE WITH THE ELEGANCE AND PACING OF THE MINUET. SEE LVIZ-156I |
| 01:11:14 4274 |
THE SCHEMING GAMBLER'S PARADISE (1905)
WHEN AN ILLEGAL GAMBLING HALL IS RAIDED BY THE POLICE, THE CROWD OF MOSTLY FEMALE GAMBLERS QUICKLY TRANSFORMS IT INTO AN ELEGANT DRESS SHOP WITH INDUSTRIOUS WORKING SEAMSTRESSES. DISAPPOINTED, THE OFFICERS LEAVE AND THE GAMBLING RESUMES. SEE LVIZ-156J |
| 01:14:21 4461 |
THE HILARIOUS POSTERS (1905)
THE FIGURES OF A BILLBOARD POSTER COME TO LIFE, SOCIALIZING AND FIGHTING AMONG THEMSELVES. AT FIRST CONTENT TO RETURN TO POSTER FORM WHEN PEOPLE PASS, THEY SOON GREET A GENTLEMAN WITH A FLURRY OF PACHAGES AND ODD ITEMS. THE POLICE ARRIVE AND THERE ENSUES A FURIOUS FIGHT. SEE LVIZ-156K |
| 01:17:47 4667 |
THE MYSTERIOUS RETORT (1906)
THE ALCHEMIST READS A BOOK AND FALLS ASLEEP. THE DEVIL APPEARS IN THE FORM OF A SNAKE AND FILLS HIS MIND WITH HORRIFIC DREAMS, DRIVING HIM CRAZY AND LEAVING HIM EXHAUSTED. SEE LVIZ-156L |
| 01:21:08 4868 |
THE ECLIPSE (1907)
(THE COURTSHIP OF THE SUN AND MOON) EARTH-BOUND SCIENTISTS SEEK TO PROBE AND MASTER THE HEAVENS WITH THEIR NEWLY DEVELOPED PHALLIC TELESCOPES. THE EROTICIZATION OF THE FIRMAMENT INCLUDES TIGHT-CLAD WOMEN ON SHOOTING STARS AND AN ORGASMIC, HOMOEROTIC ECLIPSE INVOLVING THE MOON AND A CLOWNISH SUN. SEE LVIZ-156M |
| 01:30:24 5424 |
GOOD GLUE STICKS (1907)
A GLUE SALESMAN IS HARASSED BY TWO POLICEMEN, SO HE COVERS THEIR COAT SLEEVES WITH GLUE, CAUSING THEM TO STICK TOGETHER. THEY EVENTUALLY FREE THEMSELVES AND CATCH THE GLUE SELLER, PASTING HIM TO A SHUTTERED WINDOW. WHEN HE IS EVENTUALLY PRIED OFF, EVERYTHING HE TOUCHES STICKS TO HIM. SEE LVIZ-156N |
| 01:35:32 5732 |
LONG DISTANCE WIRELESS PHOTOGRAPHY (1908)
MELIES PLAYS A "SCIENTIFIC" MAGICIAN WHO MYSTERIOUSLY MAKES STILL IMAGES COME TO LIFE. THIS FILM SPOOFS EMERGENT TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO CINEMA - THE ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND THE IDEA OF TELEVISION. SEE LVIZ-156P |
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