Le Spectre Rouge (1907) aka The Red Spectre

4.5 / 5  Jun '11
Tagline:  N/A
Directed by:  Segundo de Chomón, Ferdinand Zecca
Written by:  Segundo de Chomón
Actors include:  N/A
Genre:  Horror, Short, Fantasy
Length:  9 minutes
Banned:  Nope

Review:  
I can't say how impressed I am with this short French film, it's insanely pretty and engrossing.  The red tint to the film just emits such a fantastic atmosphere, and the amount of detail put into this is impressive.  The film is so well reserved, it's remarkable not to mention the fact that it's nearly nonstop filled with tricks (even if they are rather obvious remember this was 1907!) and flashes of fire.  The plot is about a coffin that sinks into the bowels of earth which contains a Demon Magician (that looks like a horned skeleton).  Out comes the Demon and we watch him perform a few tricks.  He then takes two girls, wrap them in tarps, causes them to levitate and lights them on fire!  Later a Good Spirit shows up to oppose this action and to try to stop the Demon.  It's only a little over nine minutes long and it's available here on youtube to watch.  I highly suggest you hit "play" on this one.

Availability:  I don't believe it's on DVD

Le Voyage Dans La Lune (1902) aka A Trip To The Moon

4.5 / 5 Jan '11
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Georges Méliès
Written by: Georges Méliès
Actors include: Georges Méliès, Victor André, Bleuette Bernon
Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy
Length: 14 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
What a marvelously creative and well made little sci-fi film, in fact it is one of the first of it's genre. Georges Méliès is such a gifted director that I expected greatness of this film, but still I was impressed at how well he did. It's about a group of Men who wish to travel to the moon. They work with tradesmen to build what looks like a bullet (but is actually their spaceship) that gets shot out of a large cannon. The land in the eye of the moon (love the face in the moon, every detail really was seen to) and get out only to encounter a strange world of giant mushrooms and aliens. It is just so iconic and the story is very well told and easy to follow, although it is merely 14 minutes long, it's very complete. Highly imaginative and definitely recommended, a really fun little film to watch that. It's just a shame that Georges Méliès apparently didn't receive money for this film because Edison copied it and reaped the rewards.

Availability:  On DVD

Le Diable Noir (1905) aka The Black Imp

4.5 / 5 Jan '11
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Georges Méliès
Written by: Georges Méliès
Actors include: Georges Méliès
Genre: Comedy, Horror
Length: 4 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
I really enjoyed this one, it's hilarious and the effects are very impressive for the time. This time Georges Méliès treats us to a 4 minute comedy/horror romp involving a black imp. He flips about in a room and lies on the bed before flipping into the mirror (neat trick). Then a traveler shows up to rest in the room for the night, but as he tries to put away his belongings the Imp has a few menacing surprises waiting for him. I'm really amazed that he pulled this off so well and it was so darned fun to watch, highly recommended for anyone really. I wish all early cinema was this entertaining!

Availability:  On DVD

Le Chaudron Infernal (1903) aka The Infernal Boiling Pot

4 / 5 Jan '11
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Georges Méliès
Written by: Georges Méliès
Actors include: Georges Méliès
Genre: Horror
Length: 2 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
I actually thought this was a pretty visually interesting little film with a few tricks up it's sleeve. This one features green demons (the film is hand painted) who are throwing helpless people into a flaming cauldron. Then they summons their spirits to come out and fly about. The effects are pretty cool honestly, and the film has held up very well as far as preservation goes. I like that it is rather evil in nature, and it's very to the point and easy to understand. Definitely a likeable early horror picture from the very creative director Georges Méliès.

Availability:  On DVD