Three fantasies. In film-historical circles fantasy films refer to those in which special effects are used to suggest enchanting effects, the magic arts or superior conjuring tricks. The first and greatest master of the fantasy genre was Georges Méliès, but in the early days of cinema there were other virtuoso film conjurers working to put the most amazing images onto the silver screen. Gaston Velle, Gabriel Moreau and Segundo de Chomón did not acquire the fame of Méliès, but their films are no less worthwhile. In fantasy film everything seems possible: dancers appear and disappear through mirrors, people change into animals (like the chicken who lays golden eggs) or end up in the world of 1001 nights. These three examples are from the collection of the Netherlands Film Museum in Amsterdam, that pays great attention to little jewels like this in its conservation policy and restores them to their original coloured beauty.
Also in this combined programme
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Les Glaces merveilleuses
Film is still young, but can already work magic. Another world comes through the mirror. -
Die Puppe
A funny and fairy-tale early film from the time when the great Ernst Lubitsch was still young and unknown. -
De kip met de gouden eieren
Cheerful and magic film version of the well-known fairy-tale. -
Sisi auf Schloß Gödölö
The mythical Empress Sissi loves bizarre spectacles. Shown as colourful surrealist drama by young film-maker.
Film details
- Country of production
- France
- Year
- 1907
- Festival edition
- IFFR 1995
- Length
- 14'
- Medium/Format
- 35mm
- Premiere status
- -
- Director
- Segundo de Chomón
- Cinematography
- Segundo de Chomón
- Producer
- Pathé Frères
- Distributor NL / Benelux rights holder
- EYE Film Institute Netherlands