Melies began as a stage magician and his movies always show this influence and technique. However, he was certainly not averse to using cinematic magic even when the stage magician knew how to make these illusions without a stopped or masked camera. In this film, he uses film techniques to make eggs come out of his assistant's mouth and to make people switch places. The use of these techniques and their apparent ease must have had more effect on the audience of his day. They are still a lot of fun.
This is one of the many previously lost or infrequently seen Melies pictures that have been made available by Serge Bromberg, David Shepherd and a myriad of other hands in the newly issued DVD set GEORGES MELIES: FIRST WIZARD OF CINEMA. Required viewing for anyone interested in the history of movies ..... and a lot of fun.
This is one of the many previously lost or infrequently seen Melies pictures that have been made available by Serge Bromberg, David Shepherd and a myriad of other hands in the newly issued DVD set GEORGES MELIES: FIRST WIZARD OF CINEMA. Required viewing for anyone interested in the history of movies ..... and a lot of fun.