Despite IMDb's date, I believe this film was actually made in 1911--in 1910, Méliès actually stopped production altogether to tour Europe with a stage magic spectacle called "Les Fantômes de Nil". Film historian John Frazer denies this, claiming the short was made the year IMDb states--hence the discrepancy and leaving us unsure of which year is correct.
This Méliès short is one of his last six--made under the supervision of Pathé Frères, a former rival of Star Film. Because the trick film fad had died out at this point, Méliès found himself becoming less and less popular. Even his fairy-tale extravaganzas were outdated. So it's evident that when he made this one, he was saying good-bye to his special effects. "The Diabolical Church Window" consists of, basically, seven straight minutes of movie magic which does not relate any sort of story in particular. An alchemist (Méliès himself, if I'm not mistaken) is sitting at his desk in a medieval chamber and becomes the victim of Satan, who shows up and starts torturing him. First, he makes a picture of a beautiful woman on the stained glass window come to life. The alchemist flirts with her only for her to disappear and show up later as the film progresses. A series of other tricks occur as well: The woman multiplies herself, an odd little gnome shows up, etc, all of which are rather irrelevant except for being connected to the fact Satan is behind them all.
The entire film is tinted in a beautiful neon green/yellow color which adds to the atmosphere of the film, an aspect which discerns it from earlier works. The visual effects also feel a little different and not so same ole, particularly the part in which the alchemist gets caught in the window and the fire and smoke shoots out. Another thing that can be noted is that the devil in here is played by a different actor (it's possible I'm incorrect but he didn't look like Méliès at all) which is odd, considering Satan was a character he often portrayed in earlier shorts. Interesting but it's obvious why Méliès was almost done with his career. No plot, nothing, just effects; but admittedly still entertaining.
This Méliès short is one of his last six--made under the supervision of Pathé Frères, a former rival of Star Film. Because the trick film fad had died out at this point, Méliès found himself becoming less and less popular. Even his fairy-tale extravaganzas were outdated. So it's evident that when he made this one, he was saying good-bye to his special effects. "The Diabolical Church Window" consists of, basically, seven straight minutes of movie magic which does not relate any sort of story in particular. An alchemist (Méliès himself, if I'm not mistaken) is sitting at his desk in a medieval chamber and becomes the victim of Satan, who shows up and starts torturing him. First, he makes a picture of a beautiful woman on the stained glass window come to life. The alchemist flirts with her only for her to disappear and show up later as the film progresses. A series of other tricks occur as well: The woman multiplies herself, an odd little gnome shows up, etc, all of which are rather irrelevant except for being connected to the fact Satan is behind them all.
The entire film is tinted in a beautiful neon green/yellow color which adds to the atmosphere of the film, an aspect which discerns it from earlier works. The visual effects also feel a little different and not so same ole, particularly the part in which the alchemist gets caught in the window and the fire and smoke shoots out. Another thing that can be noted is that the devil in here is played by a different actor (it's possible I'm incorrect but he didn't look like Méliès at all) which is odd, considering Satan was a character he often portrayed in earlier shorts. Interesting but it's obvious why Méliès was almost done with his career. No plot, nothing, just effects; but admittedly still entertaining.