"La fée Carabosse ou le poignard fatal" is one of filmmaker Georges Méliès' more fanciful and strange productions. It has a much longer running time as well as many sets and costumes, making it a relatively expensive film from this French filmmaker. Sadly, it's also pretty confusing in spots and could have benefitted from intertitle cards. But such explanatory cards were only occasionally used in 1906...and I cannot recall any of his films ever using them...a big weakness of his pictures as sometimes you really do need dialog or explanations instead of all pantomime.
When the story begins, a dumb troubadour approaches the witch (she's NOT a fairy no matter what the title of the film says). He wants her to show him is future...which she does. Unfortunately, the guy is also a cheapskate and he skips out without paying her. Well, hell hath no fury like a witch who's been cheated, so she spends the rest of the film chasing him or having her minions chase him until, ultimately, God or some angel or saint appears. Then, inexplicably, they help this guy defeat the witch....even though she really just wants to be paid for her time and trouble!
A few parts, such as the neat looking but confusing part at the cemetery, were confusing. Still, despite this, the story is interesting, the costumes very nice and the print (fortunately) still has a bright hand-colored look to it. Well worth seeing.
When the story begins, a dumb troubadour approaches the witch (she's NOT a fairy no matter what the title of the film says). He wants her to show him is future...which she does. Unfortunately, the guy is also a cheapskate and he skips out without paying her. Well, hell hath no fury like a witch who's been cheated, so she spends the rest of the film chasing him or having her minions chase him until, ultimately, God or some angel or saint appears. Then, inexplicably, they help this guy defeat the witch....even though she really just wants to be paid for her time and trouble!
A few parts, such as the neat looking but confusing part at the cemetery, were confusing. Still, despite this, the story is interesting, the costumes very nice and the print (fortunately) still has a bright hand-colored look to it. Well worth seeing.