Georges Méliès

Personal Info

Known For

Directing

Known Credits

4.977

Gender

Male

Birthday

09-Dec-1861

Age

(163 years old)

Place of Birth

Paris, France

Also Known As
  • Жорж Мельес
  • 조르주 멜리에스
  • Marie Georges Jean Méliès
  • ジョルジュ・メリエス
  • マリー・ジョルジュ・ジャン・メリエス

Georges Méliès

Biography

Georges Méliès (December 9, 1861 - January 21, 1938), full name Marie-Georges-Jean Méliès, was a French illusionist and filmmaker famous for leading many technical and narrative developments in the earliest days of cinema. One of the first filmmakers to use multiple exposures, time-lapse photography, tracking shots, dissolves, and hand-painted color in his work, Méliès pioneered effects that would define cinematic special effects for decades to come.  A prolific innovator in the use of special effects, Méliès accidentally discovered the substitution stop trick in 1896, a method of creating seamless disappearing and/or appearing effects used throughout both films and television for decades to come.  Because of his ability to seemingly manipulate and transform reality through cinematography, Méliès is sometimes referred to as the first "Cinemagician". Two of his best-known films are A Trip to the Moon (1902) and The Impossible Voyage (1904). Both stories involve strange, surreal voyages, somewhat in the style of Jules Verne, and are considered among the most important early science fiction films, though their approach is closer to fantasy. Méliès was also an early pioneer of horror cinema, which can be traced back to his Le Manoir du diable (1896).   In early 1909 Méliès stopped making films to protest Thomas Edison's Motion Pictures Parents Company monopoly, and presided over the first meeting of the International Filmmakers Congress in Paris.  Further financial hardships created by his opposition to Edison and diminishing influence, Méliès disappeared from public life. By the mid-1920s he made a meager living as a candy and toy salesma in Paris, with the assistance of funds collected by other filmmakers.  Although he was recognized for his contributions in cinema, Méliès spent most of his later years in poverty before being accepted into La Maison du Retraite du Cinéma, the film industry's retirement home in Orly.  


Credits

L'Illusioniste double et la Tête vivante L'Illusioniste double et la Tête vivante (1900) Character: Conjurer
A conjurer (along with two duplicates) conjure up (and then cause to vanish) a beautiful woman head-first.
Un malheur n'arrive jamais seul Un malheur n'arrive jamais seul (1903) Character: Lamplighter
The scene takes place in front of a barrack, where a young soldier is on duty --most laughable and comical
La cascade de feu La cascade de feu (1904) Character: Satan
A magic show.
L'artiste et le mannequin L'artiste et le mannequin (1900) Character: Artiste
A very simple gag film as a young lady substitutes herself for a dummy in order to play a practical joke on an artist.
La Planche du diable La Planche du diable (1904) Character: N/A
A magic trick is performed with a long plank with two pots built into it, both with holes in the bottom. Pretty girls are part of the magic.
Ali Barbouyou et Ali Bouf à l'huile Ali Barbouyou et Ali Bouf à l'huile (1907) Character: Ali Barbouyou
The opening title card explains that a painter has just finished his work when his assistant comes in and accidentally drinks varnish. The film then picks up as the painter goes haywire and sends the assistant into the painting.
Faust et Marguerite Faust et Marguerite (1897) Character: Méphistophélès
Mephistopheles demands that Faust kill Marguerite.
Une Séance Méliès Une Séance Méliès (1997) Character: Divers
Méliès' granddaughter presents an exploration of his work, showcasing 15 of his best known films.
Séance de prestidigitation Séance de prestidigitation (1896) Character: Himself
The film reproduces a magic act Méliès performed at his Paris theater-of-illusions, the Théâtre Robert-Houdin. Conjuring is notable as Méliès's second film, and as his first to move beyond the actuality film genre pioneered by the Lumière brothers and experiment with using the camera to capture a theatrical magic act. (Later in 1896, with his discovery of the substitution splice technique, Méliès was able to begin augmenting his theatrical illusions with new special effects unique to film.) Conjuring can thus be seen as Méliès's first foray into the world of fiction film. The film was released by Méliès's Star Film Company and numbered 2 in its catalogues.
Tunnel sous la manche ou Le cauchemar franco-anglais Tunnel sous la manche ou Le cauchemar franco-anglais (1907) Character: N/A
The plot follows King Edward VII and President Armand Fallières dreaming of building a tunnel under the English Channel.
Illusions fantasmagoriques Illusions fantasmagoriques (1898) Character: The Magician
A magician performs a series of magic tricks involving a boy and a box.
Le portrait mystérieux Le portrait mystérieux (1899) Character: L'illusioniste
A magician produces a living portrait of himself.
Le sorcier, le prince et le bon génie Le sorcier, le prince et le bon génie (1900) Character: Prince
A prince gets the help of a fairy to aid in his conflict with a wizard.
Le livre magique Le livre magique (1900) Character: The Magician
Characters from a large magic book come to life.
Le chapeau à surprises Le chapeau à surprises (1901) Character: N/A
A magician's hat offers many surprises.
La guirlande merveilleuse La guirlande merveilleuse (1903) Character: Musketeer
A magician performs tricks with a marvelous wreath.
Le fakir de Singapour Le fakir de Singapour (1908) Character: The Fakir
A sorcerer turns a small egg into a bigger one and keeps repeating this trick until the egg is large enough to do other things including delivering children.
La lanterne magique La lanterne magique (1903) Character: N/A
Two impish clowns construct a magic lantern. They prop it up at an angle, and use it to project pictures onto a wall. When the picture show ends, they open up the lantern to reveal a group of dancing girls inside - and this is only the first of the indications that this lantern really is magical.
Le Merveilleux éventail vivant Le Merveilleux éventail vivant (1904) Character: N/A
As a conjurer awaits an audience, a procession announces the arrival of a royal representative, carried in a sedan chair, to see him. The conjurer then has a large box brought in. It is opened, revealing a very large folding fan. When the fan is spread out, the designs on it begin to change and move. And this is far from the last of the surprises that the conjurer has in store.
Le baquet de Mesmer Le baquet de Mesmer (1905) Character: N/A
A magician creates a troupe of dancers out of thin air.
Faust aux enfers Faust aux enfers (1903) Character: Mephistopholes
The German legend of a scholar's unholy pact with the Devil would have been very familiar to most moviegoers (at least European ones), so Georges Méliès' early cinematic treatment likely got away with simply offering a fancifully illustrated late episode without the earlier narrative context (however, spoken narration provides some of the latter in this restored print). Tempted by Mephistopheles with all kinds of dancing and ethereal babes, Faust is at first excited and then terrified by the sight of various demons and monsters. The painted-set designers really went hog wild on this one, depicting the (sometimes sexy) torments of subterranean Hell with in bold terms (even when ballerinas prance in the foreground). (Dennis Harvey, Fandor)
Le vitrail diabolique Le vitrail diabolique (1911) Character: N/A
Here we have an old scholar/alchemist brooding over a book, challenged by the devil, and going through the familiar sorcery to create a woman by throwing pieces of clothing against a stain-glass church window, like a jigsaw puzzle (and later in reverse). The woman also multiplies herself five-fold so as to match a similar paravent.
Hydrothérapie fantastique Hydrothérapie fantastique (1909) Character: N/A
Doctors blow to pieces a patient in a hydrotherapy machine and re-assemble him.
Évocation spirite Évocation spirite (1899) Character: N/A
A bearded man hangs up a wreath and, like any good magician, waves his hands inside of it and under it to show us it's only a wreath…
La pyramide de Triboulet La pyramide de Triboulet (1899) Character: N/A
Méliès appears as a court jester (a “triboulet” in French). He pulls 18th century noblemen out of a trunk and arranges them on a pyramid-shaped stage. Next, he transforms the gentlemen into fancy ladies.
La Boîte à malice La Boîte à malice (1903) Character: N/A
As scene as pleasing as incomprehensible. A juggler summons two chairs, which come to the stage jumping and twirling around. Across the back of these chairs the operator places a sheet of glass on which he lays a box about four inches high. He then takes a table cover, with his servant's help, rolls it up and from the centre emerges a lady, beautifully dressed. At the juggler's order she jumps in the box, in which she completely disappears.
Les apparitions fugitives Les apparitions fugitives (1904) Character: N/A
A magician makes a woman appear and disappear.
Le Rêve de l’horloger Le Rêve de l’horloger (1904) Character: N/A
A weary clock-maker dozes off in a chair. While he is asleep, three women suddenly appear in the midst of his shop. They proceed to show the sleeping clock-maker some new kinds of clocks that they know how to make.
Pygmalion et Galathée Pygmalion et Galathée (1898) Character: Pygmalion
Showing Pygmalion at work in his studio on the statue of Galatea, who, on being completed, comes to life. He attempts to clasp her to his arms, when the bust leaves the body and crossing the room mocks at him standing with the lower portion of her body in his hands. Further startling illusions are seen in this most beautiful picture.
Épreuves ou les malheurs d'un savetier Épreuves ou les malheurs d'un savetier (1908) Character: The Roman
The Merchant, the Farrier, and the Roman accompany a mysterious woman into a magical cave full of terrors and wonders.
Melies: Tales of Terror Melies: Tales of Terror (2021) Character: The Melomaniac
A compilation of three short trick films by Georges Méliès: El melómano (1903) (The Melomaniac aka The Music Lover)(1903), El monstruo (1903) (The Monster) (1903) and El verdugo turco (1904) (The Terrible Turkish Executioner) (1904).
L'impressionniste fin de siècle L'impressionniste fin de siècle (1899) Character: Magician
A film from Méliès has him playing a magician who does a few tricks including making a woman disappear.
La colle universelle La colle universelle (1907) Character: N/A
A peddler of "the best glue" sets up his outdoor stall. A crowd gathers for a demonstration. As he gives his pitch, two observant cops decide drive off his customers and close him down, much to his fury. He seeks revenge as they sit on a park bench.
Entre Calais et Douvres Entre Calais et Douvres (1897) Character: The Man in the Checked Suit
A rocky sea voyage as reenacted by Georges Méliès.
L'Équilibre impossible L'Équilibre impossible (1902) Character: N/A
A magician along with three doppelgangers perform an elaborate balancing act.
Illusions funambulesques Illusions funambulesques (1903) Character: N/A
Pioneer filmmaker Georges Méliès performs his cine-magic act.
Le Thaumaturge chinois Le Thaumaturge chinois (1904) Character: N/A
A Chinese conjurer stands next to a table, it becomes two tables. A fan becomes a parasol, lanterns appear and disappear. The conjurer spins the open parasol in front of himself, and a dog leaps out from behind it. The dog becomes a woman, then a masked man appears. The conjurer sits them each on a box a few feet apart: suddenly the woman and man have changed places. The disappearing and the transfers continue in front of a simple backdrop.
Bob Kick, l’enfant terrible Bob Kick, l’enfant terrible (1903) Character: N/A
A boy is led into the frame by two nursemaids who give him a big ball to play with. For the remainder of the film heads appear and disappear, stage props blow up and turn into other objects or people, and finally Bob Kick disappears.
Un peu de feu s.v.p. Un peu de feu s.v.p. (1904) Character: N/A
Only 8 surviving seconds of a man getting great pleasure from smoking a cigar.
Un prêté pour un rendu Un prêté pour un rendu (1904) Character: N/A
Georges Melies the magician. Melies removes his own head, puts it in a glass box on a stool, then grows another one. Melies lights up a cigarette and blows smoke at his old head. The head gets payback by levitating above Melies and spewing water on him.
L'hôtel des voyageurs de commerce L'hôtel des voyageurs de commerce (1906) Character: Drunk Traveler
The staff of an inn play a cruel trick on a guest.
Satan en prison Satan en prison (1907) Character: Satan
The title is vital, since the bulk of the action consists of a well-dressed man magically producing a series of items to furnish a bare room, culminating in his summoning up a charming lady to share his meal. Hearing the guards approaching, the man reverses the process, ending with a bare room when the two men enter.
Bouquet d'illusions Bouquet d'illusions (1901) Character: N/A
A conjuror appears to demonstrate a lady with three heads.
The Cinemagician, Georges Méliès The Cinemagician, Georges Méliès (2012) Character: Self (archive footage)
A look back at the life, style and influences of the famed filmmaker Georges Méliès and an examination of his role in the story of "Hugo."
20000 lieues sous les mers 20000 lieues sous les mers (1907) Character: N/A
The film, a parody of the novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne, follows a fisherman, Yves, who dreams of traveling by submarine to the bottom of the ocean, where he encounters both realistic and fanciful sea creatures, including a chorus of naiads played by dancers from the Théâtre du Châtelet. Méliès's design for the film includes cut-out sea animals patterned after Alphonse de Neuville's illustrations for Verne's novel.
L'Alchimiste Parafaragaramus ou la Cornue infernale L'Alchimiste Parafaragaramus ou la Cornue infernale (1906) Character: N/A
A wizard sleeps at a table in his well-appointed sitting room. From a drawer in the table, a snake appears.
Le Roi du maquillage Le Roi du maquillage (1904) Character: Man with whiskers
The background of this picture represents a scene along the beautiful river 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 centre, 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. Again another sketch is shown on the board, this one being that of a miser; then an English cockney; a comic character; a French policeman, and last of all, the grinning visage of Mephistopheles. 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. (Méliès Catalog)
Spiritisme abracadabrant Spiritisme abracadabrant (1900) Character: Le comique excentrique
In this subject a "comique eccentric" enters the drawing room inhabited by spirits. He tries to take off his coat and hat, but these garments return to his head and shoulders as soon as he takes them off. The chairs, his umbrella, his hat, etc., fly away in different directions and by various methods. (Star Film Catalog)
Nain et géant Nain et géant (1901) Character: N/A
A magician explores two halves of his self: The Dwarf and the Giant.
Les trésors de satan Les trésors de satan (1902) Character: N/A
The setting of this fantastic scene represents the hall of an old chateau in which a miser has locked up seven large bags containing his wealth. Satan, who has made his way into the chateau, puts the seven bags in a strong box, and makes with his hands some cabalistic motions. The miser comes into the hall and is greatly astonished to find his fortune missing. He opens the coffer and immediately the bags leap out. He gathers them up and puts them back into the coffer. When he opens it again he finds that they have been transformed into seven young girls, who rush out and chase after him, beating him unmercifully. They shut him up in the coffer from which his gold has vanished. The miser pushes open the lid of the coffer, and to his profound despair finds that both young girls and money have disappeared. (This view is most sensational in its mysterious scenes.) (Star Film Catalog)
Nouvelles luttes extravagantes Nouvelles luttes extravagantes (1900) Character: Wrestler
A series of fantastical wrestling matches.
Le repas fantastique Le repas fantastique (1900) Character: The Man
A family sits down to enjoy a meal that ends up being fraught with complications.
La chrysalide et le papillon d'or La chrysalide et le papillon d'or (1901) Character: The brahmin
A man attempts to engender a transformation of a giant worm into a butterfly.
L'antre des esprits L'antre des esprits (1901) Character: N/A
A very enthusiastic magician performs several tricks.
Le tonnerre de Jupiter Le tonnerre de Jupiter (1903) Character: N/A
With godly entrapments, Zeus appears on the horizon, engages Hermes as an audience, and tries to throw some thunderbolts. They fizzle. Hephaestus tries to make some repairs but succeeds only in heating the bolts and burning Zeus's hands. Zeus conjures nine muses, but do their incantations help? He dismisses them as well as a visiting Pan, and his fits of pique become counter-productive. Can he get his powers back?
La flamme merveilleuse La flamme merveilleuse (1903) Character: N/A
A juggler enters upon the scene, picks up a skull, throws it into the air, catches it in his hands, where it is transformed into a handkerchief. The handkerchief, after being twirled about a wand, is changed to a napkin, and afterward to a tablecloth. Out of the table cloth comes a servant.
Le Rêve du maître de ballet Le Rêve du maître de ballet (1903) Character: N/A
It's late in the evening, and the ballet master's bed has been prepared for him. But he cannot take his mind off of his work, and instead of going to sleep he paces the floor and tries out dance steps. Finally, he goes to bed and falls asleep, but ballet dominates even his dreams. He sees two dancers who seem to come right into his room as they perform, and that's just the beginning.
Le Chimiste repopulateur Le Chimiste repopulateur (1901) Character: The Wizard
In a wizard's cavern, a series of magic tricks are performed..
Le Temple de la Magie Le Temple de la Magie (1901) Character: N/A
A high nobleman finds himself in the Temple of the Sun, where he meets Mascarille, who proposes himself as a juggler. After extracting from the nobleman's nose several playing cards, Mascarille enlarges these cards and transforms them into the flags of all nations. From these flags he extricates a group of beauties. The nobleman begins to pay court to the ladies. Instantly the group disappears and the lord finds himself face to face with an animated Sun, who starts in a grotesque dance. The Sun is changed to a pumpkin. Then the devil appears, replaces the head of the lord with the pumpkin and drives him away with an enormous candlestick, which sends out flames and smoke.
Un bon lit Un bon lit (1899) Character: The Sleeping Man (uncredited)
A sleeping apartment of a friend who retires for the night. The rays of the moon are shining upon the bed through the window. He is suddenly awakened by a bug of gigantic proportions crawling over him. This he attacks and destroys, but before again retiring he notices three more climbing up the wall. He lights the candle and applies the flame to each, causing them to explode with fine smoke effect. After this slaughter he retires in contentment and soon sleeps the sleep of the just. A very funny subject.
L’Oracle de Delphes L’Oracle de Delphes (1903) Character: N/A
A box of valued jewels is placed inside the tomb of Delphi. A thief breaks into the tomb and steals it, but soon the ghost of Delphi appears and puts a curse on him.
Gala Méliès Gala Méliès (1929) Character: Himself
Lost in the streets of Paris, Georges Méliès is looking everywhere for the Salle Pleyel. On the wall he sees an enormous Gala poster bearing his picture. He dives head first into the poster.
Photographie électrique à distance Photographie électrique à distance (1908) Character: N/A
Into a photography studio full of large fantastic machines steps an elderly couple. The bearded proprietor explains the equipment and gives them a demonstration: he starts machines whirring, and projects a painting of three women onto a large screen; suddenly the women begin to move. The customers are impressed. First the women sits in the special seat: she's projected onto the screen, and her good nature comes out in the laughing image. Then it's the man's turn, but the machine discloses a vastly different nature in him. Will his reaction threaten our proprietor's inventions?
Le juif errant Le juif errant (1904) Character: N/A
A Jew who mocked Jesus on the cross is visited by a devil and an angel.
Les Incendiaires Les Incendiaires (1906) Character: N/A
A man is murdered and the killer brought to justice by guillotine. This film is partly lost.
Combat naval en Grèce Combat naval en Grèce (1897) Character: The Captain
An officer calls his sailors to the deck. They assemble around the canon while the officer scans the horizon. They all turn in the direction of the camera to look in the distance. At the same time the ship is hit! This scene is a filmed reconstruction of the 1897 Greek-Turkish war.
Le diable géant ou Le miracle de la madonne Le diable géant ou Le miracle de la madonne (1901) Character: N/A
At the beginning of the scene Romeo in his gondola sings to Juliet a sentimental song, then goes away. Hardly has he departed when the colonnade falls to pieces, disclosing the devil. Juliet, frightened, runs to the window and calls Romeo. The latter attempts to enter and protect his fiancée, but at a gesture from the devil the window is instantly covered with a grating and Romeo makes frantic efforts to break it. The devil begins to dance a wild dance before Juliet, who is beside herself from terror. The devil gradually becomes the size of a giant (a novel effect). Juliet implores the statue of Madonna, which becomes animated, descends from its pedestal, and stretching out its arms orders the devil to disappear. (Méliès Catalog)
Sorcellerie culinaire Sorcellerie culinaire (1904) Character: N/A
A cook has his hands full with three mischievous devils, who pop in and out of his kitchen.
Les Aventures de Robinson Crusoé Les Aventures de Robinson Crusoé (1902) Character: Robinson Crusoé
Georges Méliès adaptation of Robinson Crusoe, the first film adaptation of the story. Filmed in black & white, Méliès would then paint the film by hand to colour it. Originally a 15 minute film, twelve and a half minutes of painted film have been found and have been restored.
Le voyage à travers l'impossible Le voyage à travers l'impossible (1904) Character: Mabouloff
Using every known means of transportation, several savants from the Geographic Society undertake a journey through the Alps to the Sun which finishes under the sea.
La Légende de Rip Van Winkle La Légende de Rip Van Winkle (1905) Character: Rip Van Winkle
The Melies version of the old Rip Van Winkle tale.
Le monstre Le monstre (1903) Character: N/A
An Egyptian prince has lost his beloved wife and he has sought a dervish who dwells at the base of the sphinx.
Eclipse de Soleil en pleine lune Eclipse de Soleil en pleine lune (1907) Character: Professor of Astronomy
In this film, Méliès concocts a combination fairy- and morality tale about the foolishness of trying to look too deeply into the workings of an unstable and inscrutable universe. At a medieval school, an old astronomer begins to teach a class of young men, all armed with telescopes, about the art of scrutinising an imminent eclipse. When a mechanical clock strikes twelve, all the young men rush to the windows and fix their telescopes on the heavens.
La tentation de Saint-Antoine La tentation de Saint-Antoine (1898) Character: N/A
St. Anthony is tempted by visions of women, including one that is transformed from the image of Jesus Christ Himself!
Le Revenant Le Revenant (1903) Character: N/A
Alone in his room at an inn, a lustful old man is haunted by spirits.
Le palais des mille et une nuits Le palais des mille et une nuits (1905) Character: The Sorcerer Khalafar (uncredited)
A poor but honest man wins great wealth, and the hand of a beautiful princess, after facing a series of exciting trials in the tunnels and catacombs of ancient Araby. Guided by the mysterious Khalafar, the troupe (alongside him go some cowardly scholars) encounter skeletons, fire-breathing lizards, and mirages on their journey through the lower world.
Le chevalier mystère Le chevalier mystère (1899) Character: Le chevalier mystère
A knight performs several magic tricks with a disembodied head materialized from a chalkboard drawing.
Le Chevalier des neiges Le Chevalier des neiges (1912) Character: Devil
"The Knight of the Snow" is one of the last films Georges Méliès made. By now, he was under contract for his former rival Pathé, where he made a few of his most lavish productions, including this one. Here, Méliès performed in front of the camera as the Devil […]. His incarnation of Satan this time is a sprightly antagonist who kidnaps a princess by locking her in a cage and taking off through the sky in a dragon-pulled carriage. […] (IMDb)
Le château hanté Le château hanté (1897) Character: N/A
A man has an encounter with several spooky apparitions in a castle that is evidently owned by the Devil.
Au clair de la lune ou Pierrot malheureux Au clair de la lune ou Pierrot malheureux (1904) Character: N/A
Pierrot goes to the house of his love to serenade her, but her father kicks him out. Soon the moon and its goddess Diana come towards the man and offers him something better.
Les illusions fantaisistes Les illusions fantaisistes (1909) Character: The Magician
In this hand-colored short, a magician and his assistant do a series of magic tricks, including making potted plants appear, among others. Melies played the magician, and the actor Manuel played his assistant.
L'Homme à la tête de caoutchouc L'Homme à la tête de caoutchouc (1901) Character: The Chemist / The India Rubber Head
A chemist carries out a bizarre experiment with his own head.
Le Locataire Diabolique Le Locataire Diabolique (1909) Character: Le locataire diabolique
A man rents an apartment and furnishes it in remarkable fashion.
L'Auberge ensorcelée L'Auberge ensorcelée (1897) Character: The Traveler
A weary traveler stops at an inn along the way to get a good night's sleep, but his rest is interrupted by odd happenings when he gets to his room--beds vanishing and re-appearing, candles exploding, pants flying through the air and his shoes walking away by themselves.
Le déshabillage impossible Le déshabillage impossible (1900) Character: The Man
A man takes off his clothes in preparation for bed, only for new clothes to spontaneously generate, leading to comical consternation.
Un homme de têtes Un homme de têtes (1898) Character: Conjurer
One of the greatest of black art pictures. The conjurer appears before the audience, with his head in its proper place. He then removes his head, and throwing it in the air, it appears on the table opposite another head, and both detached heads sing in unison. The conjurer then removes it a third time. You then see all three of his heads, which are exact duplicates, upon the table at one time, while the conjurer again stands before the audience with his head perfectly intact, singing in unison with the three heads upon the table. He closes the picture by bowing himself from the stage.
Le royaume des fées Le royaume des fées (1903) Character: Prince Bel-Azor
At the royal court, a prince is presenting the princess whom he is pledged to marry when a witch suddenly appears. Though driven off, the witch soon returns, summons some of her servants, and carries off the princess. A rescue party is quickly organized, but the unfortunate captive has been taken to a strange, forbidding realm, from where it will be impossible to rescue her without some special help.
La sirène La sirène (1904) Character: N/A
A magician conjures up a mermaid while fishing.
L'Homme mouche L'Homme mouche (1902) Character: The Hindoo Magician
This is a moving picture that moves. Positively the greatest magical picture ever offered. A Hindoo magician appears and dances for the entertainment of six pretty maidens. Then, to the astonishment of all, he runs up the wall, dances and turns handsprings in mid-air, introducing many tricks that are entirely new in animated photography. The most puzzling of all the mystical series. (Star Film Catalog)
Le Magicien Le Magicien (1898) Character: Le Sculpteur
In this scene is shown a magician behind an ordinary table, upon which he suddenly and mysteriously causes to appear a large box, into which he leaps. The sides of the box fall to the ground, but instead of containing the magician a lively clown steps forth who further mystifies the audience by causing the box to disappear, and in its place is seen a fully laid table with a smoking dinner, to which the clown applies himself. The table, however, suddenly disappears much to the astonishment of the clown, who is confronted by the magician in the garb of Mephistopheles. This he suddenly changes to that of a sculptor, and in the background is seen a pedestal with the bust of a young lady, which comes to life as the sculptor applies the mallet and chisel.
La Fée Carabosse ou le poignard fatal La Fée Carabosse ou le poignard fatal (1906) Character: The Fairy Carabosse
A penniless troubadour consults witch Carabosse about his future, but offends her by paying with a bag of sand. He evades the witch's revenge, and saves the beautiful princess.
L'Œuf du sorcier ou L'Œuf magique prolifique L'Œuf du sorcier ou L'Œuf magique prolifique (1902) Character: N/A
A human skeleton is placed upon a table by an attendant. When the attendant leaves the room the skeleton begins kicking his legs and throwing his arms about and suddenly turns into a magician. The magician produces an egg, performing several sleight-of-hand tricks, and places it upon the table with the small end downward. He then crudely draws a human face upon the shell, and the egg immediately begins growing larger and larger until it reaches the size of a normal head.
Jeanne d'Arc Jeanne d'Arc (1900) Character: Père de Jeanne
A divinely inspired peasant woman becomes an army captain for France and then is martyred after she is captured.
Le rêve de Noël Le rêve de Noël (1900) Character: Beggar
The entire story of Christmastide is here depicted. The scene opens in a large boudoir of an apparently wealthy man's home. His children, assisted by their governess, are about to retire. Before lying down they hang up their stockings on the edge of the bed. The picture changes and night appears. We see the housetops of the town and angels are flying about depositing packages in each of the chimneys. (Edison Catalog)
Le Mystère Méliès Le Mystère Méliès (2021) Character: Lui-même (archives)
A documentary that details the process of restoring 270 of the 520 lost films of pioneering director Georges Méliès, all orchestrated by a Franco-American collaboration between Lobster Films, the National Film Center, and the Library of Congress.
La danse du feu La danse du feu (1899) Character: N/A
A devil wearing bat-like wings and brandishing a trident dances around a giant pot, conjuring forth flame from his trident to lit a fire beneath the pot. After the devil works the fire with bellows, an angelic woman emerges from the pot. The devil and the pot vanish as the woman performs a dance, waving about her diaphanous sleeves until she conjures forth another fire, then she rises amongst the smoke into the air.
Excelsior! Excelsior! (1901) Character: Excelsior
A magician does tricks with the aid of his assistant, the Human Pump.
Barbe-bleue Barbe-bleue (1901) Character: Barbe-bleue
A young woman becomes the eighth wife of the wealthy Bluebeard, whose first seven wives have died under mysterious circumstances.
La lune à un mètre La lune à un mètre (1898) Character: Astronomer
An astronomer has a terrifying dream.
L’Enchanteur Alcofribas L’Enchanteur Alcofribas (1903) Character: N/A
Two men in a cave perform magic.
Les quatre cents farces du diable Les quatre cents farces du diable (1906) Character: Satan
Two travellers are tormented by Satan from inn to inn and eventually experience a buggy ride through the heavens courtesy of the Devil before he takes one of them down to Hell and roasts him on a spit.
Le Voyage dans la Lune Le Voyage dans la Lune (1902) Character: Professor Barbenfouillis / The Moon
Professor Barbenfouillis and five of his colleagues from the Academy of Astronomy travel to the Moon aboard a rocket propelled by a giant cannon. Once on the lunar surface, the bold explorers face the many perils hidden in the caves of the mysterious planet.
L'homme orchestre L'homme orchestre (1900) Character: All the members of the orchestra
A band-leader has arranged seven chairs for the members of his band. When he sits down in the first chair, a cymbal player appears in the same chair, then rises and sits in the next chair. As the cymbal player sits down, a drummer appears in the second chair, and then likewise moves on to the third chair. In this way, an entire band is soon formed, and is then ready to perform.
Escamotage d'une dame chez Robert-Houdin Escamotage d'une dame chez Robert-Houdin (1896) Character: Magician
Georges Méliès makes a woman disappear, then reappear.
Le cake-walk infernal Le cake-walk infernal (1903) Character: Devil
Pluto, having seen the earth, comes back home amazed at the success of that well-known dance, the "cake-walk." He has brought back with him two noted well-known dancers, who start their favorite dance amidst the flames.
Détresse et charité Détresse et charité (1904) Character: The Rag-and-Bone Man / Beggar on Crutches / Coal Seller
A poor family in a rundown house where snow falls through the broken roof, there's no coal to heat the pathetic little stove, mother is sick, father sends daughter out to beg. Rejected by other beggars, the girl collapses in the snow…
Violons d'Ingres Violons d'Ingres (1939) Character: Himself (archive footage)
Shows hobbies of people who do an ordinary job in the day. Made for New York Fair.
Une nuit terrible Une nuit terrible (1896) Character: L'homme qui essaie de dormir
A man tries to get a good night's sleep, but is disturbed by a giant spider that leaps onto his bed, and a battle ensues in hilarious comic fashion.
Le chaudron infernal Le chaudron infernal (1903) Character: Devil
A green-skinned demon places a woman and two courtiers into a flaming cauldron.
Le diable au couvent Le diable au couvent (1899) Character: The Devil
A priest is officiating at a convent, when suddenly he is transformed into the devil, who frightens away the nuns and turns the place into pandemonium.
Le dirigeable fantastique Le dirigeable fantastique (1905) Character: N/A
An inventor dreams that his newly designed airship takes flight.
Le Mélomane Le Mélomane (1903) Character: N/A
The leader of a marching band demonstrates an unusual way of writing music.
L'affaire Dreyfus L'affaire Dreyfus (1899) Character: Fernand Labori
The first movie ever censored for political reasons. The title refers to the then contemporaneous Dreyfus affair in which a Jewish military officer was falsely convicted of treason, and it was alleged that he was framed due to anti-semitism.
Le Voyage extraordinaire Le Voyage extraordinaire (2011) Character: Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
An account of the extraordinary life of film pioneer Georges Méliès (1861-1938) and the amazing story of the copy in color of his masterpiece “A Trip to the Moon” (1902), unexpectedly found in Spain and restored thanks to the heroic efforts of a group of true cinema lovers.
Le diable noir Le diable noir (1905) Character: N/A
A traveler at an inn is harassed by a mischievous devil in his room.
Le Bourreau turc Le Bourreau turc (1904) Character: N/A
In a public place in Constantinople at the corner of a bazaar, the executioner is seated upon a stone and is resting from his daily labors while eating a crust of bread. Suddenly there come running into the place a lot of Turkish men and women preceding some Turkish policemen, who drag along four prisoners in chains. The policemen shut up the four prisoners in the pillory. Their four heads stick up through the huge plank, which is provided with four openings. One of the policemen urges the executioner to decapitate the prisoners. He accordingly seizes a mighty sabre and cuts off by a single stroke the four heads, which roll upon the ground.
El hombre que quiso ser Segundo El hombre que quiso ser Segundo (2014) Character: Self (archive footage)
The extraordinary life of cinema pioneer Segundo de Chomón.
Le voyage de Gulliver à Lilliput et chez les géants Le voyage de Gulliver à Lilliput et chez les géants (1902) Character: Gulliver
Georges Méliès' adaptation of Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels" is most distinguished, today, for being a color film of the classic story. Color was rare in 1902 (and many years after) as non-tinted color has to be hand painted on the film; this was an arduous task. Also notable is the film's short running time of approximately five minutes. Much of the original work is not covered, but viewers were expected to be familiar with the story, and enjoy the filmed highlights. There are a couple of scenes missing; according to contemporary reports, Gulliver's shipwreck was certainly included. You can do a lot in a few minutes, as Mr. Méliès includes a re-make of his own "Une partie de cartes" (1896), which already looked like something previously covered by the Lumière Brothers.
Cendrillon Cendrillon (1899) Character: The Gnome of the Clock / The Swiss at the Entrance to the Church
A fairy godmother magically turns Cinderella's rags to a beautiful dress, and a pumpkin into a coach. Cinderella goes to the ball, where she meets the Prince - but will she remember to leave before the magic runs out? Méliès based the art direction on engravings by Gustave Doré. First known example of a fairy-tale adapted to film, and the first film to use dissolves to go from one scene to another.
À la Conquête du Pôle À la Conquête du Pôle (1912) Character: Le professeur Mabouloff
A science fantasy film that deals with an extraordinary race to the north pole by rival parties of balloonists. Based on the novel "The Adventures of Captain Hatteras" by Jules Verne.
Le manoir du diable Le manoir du diable (1896) Character: Mephistopheles
In a medieval castle, a dark magician thought to be Mephistopheles conjures up a series of bizarre creatures and events in order to torment a pair of interloping cavaliers.
Les affiches en goguette Les affiches en goguette (1906) Character: The Bill Poster
A wall full of advertising posters comes to life.
Une partie de cartes Une partie de cartes (1896) Character: Un joueur de cartes
Three friends are playing cards in a beer garden. One of them orders drinks. The waitress comes back with a bottle of wine and three glasses on a tray. The man serves his friends. They clink glasses and drink. Then the man asks for a newspaper. He reads a funny story in it and the three friends burst out laughing while the waitress merely smiles.
Le cauchemar Le cauchemar (1896) Character: Man
A man has a fantastical nightmare involving, among other things, a grinning malevolent moon.
Cléopâtre Cléopâtre (1899) Character: un profanateur de la tombe de Cléopâtre
A man digging inside an Egyptian tomb chops up a mummy, then resurrects the woman inside it.



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