FIVE FROM GEORGES MELIES

Georges Melies was a pioneer in cinematography, experimenting with camera tricks and techniques that were considered sensational in his day.  Alas, his special effects are hopelessly outdated now.  His films, however, are still fun to view.  Here are five short examples, most of them only a minute or two long:

     From 1904, The Mermaid (La Sirene):

http://www.archive.org/details/The_Mermaid

     And from 1896, here's a poor man who found a bug in his bed.  Paging Gregor Samsa, anyone?

http://www.archive.org/details/ATerribleNightgeorgesMelies1896

     Also from 1896, the hapless traveller shoud take care lest he find himself in the Devil's mansion.  This one has bad some narrration (in French, excuse moi) added.

http://www.archive.org/details/LeManoirDuDiable-GeorgesMelies1986

      The longest of the five offerings today, at about 16 minutes, takes us back to the days of The Arabian Nights:

http://www.archive.org/details/ThePalaceOfTheArabianNights

      And finally, we end with a bit of Egyptian magic beneath the eyes of the Sphinx:

http://www.archive.org/details/TheMonster1903_253