ARTE Distribution

SOAP BUBBLES - THE ASTRONOMER'S DREAM - A TRIP TO THE MOON - A NIGHTMARE - THE MERMAID

SOAP BUBBLES
France 1906
An illusionist makes soap bubbles with a pipe. In each ball, a head of a woman appears. The magician makes two female butterflies suddenly appear on a pedestal, followed by the Three Graces. He places himself on the stand and rises in the air in a giant soap bubble.
 
THE ASTRONOMER'S DREAM
France 1898
The devil torments an astronomer in his observatory by making the hideous face of a moon appear suddenly. Then, he tempts him with the appearance of young women, and finally makes the lunar face devour him. However, the goddess Phoebe protects the astronomer rand brings him back to life.
 
A TRIP TO THE MOON
France 1902
Six scholars, member of the Astronomers' Club, set off on an expedition to the moon. They travel in a bullet-shaped rocket fired into space by a giant canon. After arriving on the moon safe and sound, they meet its inhabitants, the Selenites, escape their king and return to earth in their rocket which, after falling into the ocean, is fished out by a sailor. Applause, decorations, and a triumphant parade for the six heroes of this outer-space adventure.
 
A NIGHTMARE
France 1896
A man goes to bed and falls asleep. He dreams and witnesses a transformation of his bedroom where Pierrot, Columbine and a black man come to dance around him and on him. The moon also comes wishing to devour him. But upon waking up, all of the images have disappeared and he finds himself still lying in bed.
 
THE MERMAID
France 1904
A gentleman transforms into a fisherman with a fishline, puts small fish into an aquarium, and fishes in his hat. Suddenly, he finds bourgeois clothes, but the setting around him has changed. In the aquarium, magnificently transformed, a beautiful mermaid appears and changes into a charming woman. The gentleman becomes the god Neptune who comes to rule in the final scene, among the naiads.