This Georges Méliès film is his 528th picture...and he only made a few more after ultimately quitting films in 1913. I mention this because although Méliès change some with the times (such as making this film 16 minutes long as opposed to his early films which were 1-2 minutes in length), he also failed to adapt to the times as well. In particular, I have noticed that in none of the 150-200 films of his that I've seen (perhaps more), he never uses intertitle cards. While this was not unusual for 1986 when he started making films (as no one used them then), by 1912 they were often used and allowed for a more complicated story AND meant folks didn't need to overly exaggerate on screen to convey what was happening. Now this does not mean that subtlety was the norm for 1912...it wasn't. But it was becoming more subtle and stories could be more easily told than before.
I mention all this because if you watch this film, doubtless you'll be confused beyond expectations because of the lack of these explanatory cards or dialog. Too often, folks gesticulate madly to convey what is happening and they look like they are having seizures not acting in any believable fashion.
All that being said, I still think "Le Chevalier des Neiges" is an excellent film that you should see. It's just the sort of cute fantasy picture that Georges Méliès did best...just like in his justifiably famous "Trip to the Moon". It has a lovely sense of humor, nice sets and really looks nice compared to other films of the day. And, like too many of his films, unfortunately, it's all done in a stage with no outdoor sequences (he did, on very rare occasions do this..but rarely).
The story is a complex fantasy story with knights, witches, an adorable (but abused) dragon, the Devil (played, as usual, by Georges Méliès) and more. It seems that the Devil has kidnapped a princess and it's up to the Knight of the Snows to get her...and he's assisted by fairies (or angels...it's hard to tell which) in his quest. And, if you think about it, it's pretty much the plot to Super Mario Brothers (the game, not the craptastic movie).
So what we have here is an innovative film that is also stuck in the past. But the good far outweighs the bad and the tale is quite cute and enjoyable....and includes a grisly execution at the end...where up pops Old Scratch himself to take the malefactor to his fate!!
I mention all this because if you watch this film, doubtless you'll be confused beyond expectations because of the lack of these explanatory cards or dialog. Too often, folks gesticulate madly to convey what is happening and they look like they are having seizures not acting in any believable fashion.
All that being said, I still think "Le Chevalier des Neiges" is an excellent film that you should see. It's just the sort of cute fantasy picture that Georges Méliès did best...just like in his justifiably famous "Trip to the Moon". It has a lovely sense of humor, nice sets and really looks nice compared to other films of the day. And, like too many of his films, unfortunately, it's all done in a stage with no outdoor sequences (he did, on very rare occasions do this..but rarely).
The story is a complex fantasy story with knights, witches, an adorable (but abused) dragon, the Devil (played, as usual, by Georges Méliès) and more. It seems that the Devil has kidnapped a princess and it's up to the Knight of the Snows to get her...and he's assisted by fairies (or angels...it's hard to tell which) in his quest. And, if you think about it, it's pretty much the plot to Super Mario Brothers (the game, not the craptastic movie).
So what we have here is an innovative film that is also stuck in the past. But the good far outweighs the bad and the tale is quite cute and enjoyable....and includes a grisly execution at the end...where up pops Old Scratch himself to take the malefactor to his fate!!