The Palace of the Arabian Nights

The Palace of the Arabian Nights 1905

5.59

A poor but honest man wins great wealth, and the hand of a beautiful princess, after facing a series of exciting trials in the tunnels and catacombs of ancient Araby. Guided by the mysterious Khalafar, the troupe (alongside him go some cowardly scholars) encounter skeletons, fire-breathing lizards, and mirages on their journey through the lower world.

1905

A Terrible Night

A Terrible Night 1896

5.10

A man tries to get a good night's sleep, but is disturbed by a giant spider that leaps onto his bed, and a battle ensues in hilarious comic fashion.

1896

Tchin-Chao, the Chinese Conjurer

Tchin-Chao, the Chinese Conjurer 1904

4.80

A Chinese conjurer stands next to a table, it becomes two tables. A fan becomes a parasol, lanterns appear and disappear. The conjurer spins the open parasol in front of himself, and a dog leaps out from behind it. The dog becomes a woman, then a masked man appears. The conjurer sits them each on a box a few feet apart: suddenly the woman and man have changed places. The disappearing and the transfers continue in front of a simple backdrop.

1904

The One-Man Band

The One-Man Band 1900

6.81

A band-leader has arranged seven chairs for the members of his band. When he sits down in the first chair, a cymbal player appears in the same chair, then rises and sits in the next chair. As the cymbal player sits down, a drummer appears in the second chair, and then likewise moves on to the third chair. In this way, an entire band is soon formed, and is then ready to perform.

1900

The Conjurer

The Conjurer 1899

6.32

A film from Méliès has him playing a magician who does a few tricks including making a woman disappear.

1899

Playing Cards

Playing Cards 1896

4.87

Three friends are playing cards in a beer garden. One of them orders drinks. The waitress comes back with a bottle of wine and three glasses on a tray. The man serves his friends. They clink glasses and drink. Then the man asks for a newspaper. He reads a funny story in it and the three friends burst out laughing while the waitress merely smiles.

1896

A Nightmare

A Nightmare 1896

6.00

A man has a fantastical nightmare involving, among other things, a grinning malevolent moon.

1896

The Mermaid

The Mermaid 1904

5.56

A magician conjures up a mermaid while fishing.

1904

The Black Imp

The Black Imp 1905

6.48

A traveler at an inn is harassed by a mischievous devil in his room.

1905

The Temptation of St. Anthony

The Temptation of St. Anthony 1898

5.80

St. Anthony is tempted by visions of women, including one that is transformed from the image of Jesus Christ Himself!

1898

Apparitions

Apparitions 1903

5.45

Alone in his room at an inn, a lustful old man is haunted by spirits.

1903

Landing of Dreyfus at Quiberon

Landing of Dreyfus at Quiberon 1899

5.13

A section of the port Haliquen (Quiberon) Bretagne, at night where Dreyfus was landed by French marines, and officers after his transport from Devil's Island. He is received by the French authorities, officers, and gendarmes, and conducted to the station for his departure to Rennes. This little scene was enacted on a dark rainy night, which is clearly shown in the film. The effects are further heightened by vivid flashes of lightning which are certainly new in cinematography.

1899

Jupiter's Thunderballs

Jupiter's Thunderballs 1903

5.20

With godly entrapments, Zeus appears on the horizon, engages Hermes as an audience, and tries to throw some thunderbolts. They fizzle. Hephaestus tries to make some repairs but succeeds only in heating the bolts and burning Zeus's hands. Zeus conjures nine muses, but do their incantations help? He dismisses them as well as a visiting Pan, and his fits of pique become counter-productive. Can he get his powers back?

1903

The Magic Book

The Magic Book 1900

6.20

Characters from a large magic book come to life.

1900