Monday, 29 October 2012

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde


Director: Lucius Henderson
Year: 1912
Country: USA
Runtime: 12 minutes

First film version of the Robert Louis Stevenson novel. Produced by Thanhouser Film Corporation.

Saturday, 27 October 2012

Frankenstein


Director: J. Searle Dawley
Year: 1910
Country: USA
Runtime: 13 minutes

The earliest surviving adaptation of Mary Shelley's novel. Presumed lost until its rediscovery in the mid-70s.

Thursday, 25 October 2012

Le Papillon Fantastique


Director: Georges Méliès
Year: 1909
Country: France
Runtime: 2 minutes

Hand-coloured film. Also known as The Spider and the Butterfly.

Monday, 22 October 2012

La Maison Ensorcelée


Director: Segundo de Chomón
Year: 1908
Country: France
Runtime: 6 minutes

Also known as The Haunted House.

Saturday, 20 October 2012

Les Quatre Cents Farces du Diable


Director: Georges Méliès
Year: 1906
Country: France
Runtime: 17 minutes

Also known as The 400 Tricks of the Devil. Watch the end for the spit roast from hell...

Tuesday, 16 October 2012

Le Revenant


Director: Georges Méliès
Year: 1903
Country: France
Runtime: 3 minutes

Also known as The Apparition. A funny old man is harassed by ghosts.

Monday, 15 October 2012

Le Chaudron Infernal


Director: Georges Méliès
Year: 1903
Country: France
Runtime: 2 minutes

Also known as The Infernal Caldron. Nice hand-colouring and some new tricks on show in this one.

Friday, 12 October 2012

Le Monstre


Director: Georges Méliès
Year: 1903
Country: France
Runtime: 2 minutes

Also known as The Monster. A prince gets a conjuror to resurrect his dead wife.

Thursday, 11 October 2012

L'Homme Mouche


Director: Georges Méliès
Year: 1902
Country: France
Runtime: 2 minutes

Hand-coloured film. Also known as The Human Fly. Brundlefly's earliest ancestor?

Wednesday, 10 October 2012

Les Trésors de Satan



Director: Georges Méliès
Year: 1902
Country: France
Runtime: 3 minutes

Also known as The Treasures of Satan or Mephistopheles' School of Magic.

Monday, 8 October 2012

Execution of Czolgosz with Panorama of Auburn Prison


Director: Edwin S. Porter
Year: 1901
Country: USA
Runtime: 4 minutes

Produced by Thomas Edison. The electrocution of Leon Czolgosz, who assassinated President McKinley. Footage of Auburn Prison shot on the day of the actual execution.

Sunday, 7 October 2012

Chez la Sorcière


Director: Georges Méliès
Year: 1901
Country: France
Runtime: 2 minutes

Also known as At the Sorcerer's or The Bachelor's Paradise. Never trust a witch...

Saturday, 6 October 2012

Le Diable Géant ou Le Miracle de la Madonne


Director: Georges Méliès
Year: 1901
Country: France
Runtime: 2 minutes

Also known as The Devil and the Statue or The Miracle of the Madonna.

Thursday, 4 October 2012

Barbe-Bleue


Director: Georges Méliès
Year: 1901
Country: France
Runtime: 10 minutes

Also known as Bluebeard. A cinematic realization of the old folk tale.

Tuesday, 2 October 2012

Le Château Hantée


Director: Georges Méliès
Year: 1897
Country: France
Runtime: 1 minute

Hand-coloured film. Also known as The Haunted Castle.

Monday, 1 October 2012

Le Manoir du Diable


Director: Georges Méliès
Year: 1896
Country: France
Runtime: 3 minutes

Also known as Manor of the Devil. Early example of 'special fx' with camera tricks.