Melies the Magician: Amazon.ca: Georges Melies, Jacques Meny: DVD

Product Details

Directors: Georges Melies, Jacques Meny
Format: Black & White, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
Language: English
Subtitles: English
Region: (US and Canada This DVD will probably NOT be viewable in other countries. Read more about DVD formats.)
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number of discs: 1
MPAA Rating:
Studio: Facets Video
Release Date: Jan 15 2002
Run Time: 185 minutes

Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)

ASIN: B00005UM26
Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #45,549 in DVD (See Top 100 in DVD)
- #4 in DVD > Classics > Silent Films > International
- #78 in DVD > Art House & International > By Genre > Documentary

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Product Description

From Amazon.com

A guaranteed treat for fantasy buffs and students of the silent era, Méliès the Magician provides a definitive study of French film pioneer Georges Méliès (1861-1938). A special-effects innovator best known for his 1902 film A Trip to the Moon, Méliès is honored by Jacques Mény's exceptional documentary, which uses faithful reenactments, archival documents, expert interviews, and Méliès's own films to examine a life as rich as Edison's in its embrace of invention and creative ingenuity. Mény's non-chronological approach is liberating and fresh, allowing a free-form understanding of Méliès and his work, his involvement in the birth of motion pictures, and the visual trickery he developed after a thriving career as a stage illusionist. Following the documentary, "Méliès Magic Show" is hosted by Méliès's granddaughter and presents 15 Méliès films as they would've been shown in Paris at the turn of the century. Then and now, the magic of Méliès is timelessly enchanting. --Jeff Shannon

From the Studio

Film and special effects pioneer Georges Melies laid the groundwork for fantasy film as we know it today. This collection celebrates the innovations of the magician, entrepreneur and filmmaker with 15 restored Melies shorts, including some of the earliest film experiments in history. Also featured is Jacques Meny's fine documentary, The Magic of Melies (1997, 55 mins.). Films: The Four Troublesome Heads (1898), Fat and Lean Wrestling Match (1900), The One-Man Band (1900), The Man with the Rubber Head (1901), Bluebeard (1901), A Trip to the Moon (1902), The Infernal Boiling Pot (1903), The Infernal Cakewalk (1903), The Music Lover (1903), The Living Playing Cards (1904), Hilarious Posters (1904), Imperceptible Transmutations (1904), Untameable Whiskers (1904), The Scheming Gambler's Paradise (1905), and The Devilish Tenant (1909). The Melies shorts are silent with original music by Eric Le Guen. The Magic of Melies is in French with English subtitles.

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Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

Stupid logos ruin this DVD! Feb 10 2003

By A Customer

Format:DVD

I bought this DVD because I am a fan of silent era films and especially people like Melies and Winsor McCay. Sadly though, this DVD is utterly ruined. Someone thought it was a good idea to super-impose a gawd-awful white logo in the lower left hand side of the film, creating a distraction and a nuisance. I recommend against buying this DVD because it will encourage others to pull this nonsense. Would you like to see a beautiful restoration of Star Wars with a nasty Lucasfilms logo on top of it??? Didn't think so.

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I loved it myself Jan 23 2004

By Andre M.

Format:DVD

Personally, I enjoyed this DVD, especially the rare Melies color films. A joy to watch. Also his very early film with his four heads talking on a table. The color tinted films are quite delightful too.

As for the narration, Melies granddaughter (whose voice you hear) made it clear that in the days before titles were used in silents, people like Melies verbally narrated the action in such films to their audiences. Gives you a kind of "you are there" feel.

But in either case, lovers of Disney and fantasy films in general should flock to this, as Meleis was the grand master who strarted it all. Great to watch with kids too (aside from the hanging scene in "Blue Beard").

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okay Jan 15 2004

By Beth

Format:DVD

The DVD begins with the doctumentary and the shorts later. I suggest actually watching the documentary because of the insight you gain into the creator and the work he put into this shorts. As the shorts go they're like the early signs of cinema, fuzzy, but imaginative. Melies has some quirks too like all the stuff he does with his head. His material is limited as the documentary explained he burnt most of his films in a panic. But what is there shows why he is considered to be one of cinema's early greats. The documentary leaves something to be desired which is why I only rate this as a whole as 3 stars. Other reviewers complain about the same things as I did, how the narration on the shorts were unnecessary. But I liked how it didn't target to the average viewer. Sure I know nothing about this guy but I liked hearing about his magic and editing tricks. One thing the documentary does right, is its presentment of how Melies was a passionate busybody. It made me feel guilty for my lazy behavior.

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