ARTE Distribution

The entire collection of Méliès' films - from the well known to the rediscovered Méliès' films enchant people of all ages. As well as being a pioneer, he remains the uncontested master of fantasy and dream worlds, and was the first and most incredible wizard of cinema.

For the first time, viewers can now appreciate the importance of his work - that of a magician and artist whose imagination knew no bounds. The exceptionally talented Méliès produced and directed all his films. He also wrote the "sweet talk", designed the sets, costumes and accessories, and was also the main actor.

Following 25 years of research, and a worldwide search for copies, this collection constitues a genuine reference. The latest technology has been used on these newly restored films, many of which are available for the first time.
The spirit of the era is rendered by 13 musicians.

After The Bal (1897) - Cinderella (1912)

AFTER THE BAL
France 1897 - Scène grivoise
An elegant Parisian woman returns home at night after a ball. She undresses with the
help of her chambermaid, who pours water on her back with a pitcher.
Music : Neal Kurz - B & W 1'11

CINDERELLA
France 1912
scène de conte
Music : Frederick Hodges - B & W 23'50

The monster - The palace of the arabian nights

THE MONSTER
France 1903
An Egyptian prince is widowed. Inconsolable. He asks a priest to try to show him his deceased loved one. The priest takes the wife's skeleton from the coffin, places clothes on the bones, which turn into a ghost. The ghost becomes a woman, alive and beautiful, but when the prince, filled with wonder, approaches her, the priest flings the skeleton in his face.
 
THE PALACE OF THE ARABIAN NIGHTS
France 1905
A young Prince without any money wishes to marry Aouda, the daughter of the Rajah. But she has already been promised to a usurer with a fabulous fortune. The Prince Charming, with the help of the sorceror Khalafar, overcomes all of the planted traps along his path and receives an enormous treasure straight from the hands of the Golden Fairy. The Prince returns to the Palace of the Rajah with chests full of precious stones, gold, and money. The Rajah grants him his daughter's hand in marriage and then chases away the usurer.

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.

THE WONDERFUL LIVING FAN - THE ENCHANTED SEDAN CHAIR - JOAN OF ARC - A MIRACLE UNDER THE INQUISITION - THE KING AND THE JESTER

THE WONDERFUL LIVING FAN
France 1904
A maker of magic fans presents one of his works to a representative of King Louis XV in the gardens of Versailles. Responding to the wishes of the lord, he makes charmingyoung women  appear but eventually fools him in the end.

THE ENCHANTED SEDAN CHAIR
France 1905
On stage, an illustionist magically brings to life a Lady and Lord in Louis XIV costume. He then performs a series of tricks with a sedan chair.

JOAN OF ARC
France 1900

A MIRACLE UNDER THE INQUISITION
France 1904
Put under questioning, a wrongly accused young woman is sent into a torture chamberwhere the  executioner must set her on fire. He carries out the sentence, but a miracle happens : an angel brings the young woman back to life and burns the executioner instead.
 
THE KING AND THE JESTER
France 1908

THE MELOMANIAC - FRENCH COPS LEARNING ENGLISH - BETWEEN CALAIS AND DOVER - TUNNELLING THE ENGLISH CHANNEL

THE MELOMANIAC
France 1903
Accompanied by his students, a musicman uses telegraph wires as a music staff. He attaches his own head to the wires in order to play notes from first three bars of theBritish anthem .

FRENCH COPS LEARNING ENGLISH
France 1908
City sergeants take very unusual English lessons under the instruction of Miss Blacford,the school's headmistress.

BETWEEN CALAIS AND DOVER
France 1897
A comical scene on board a boat. While travelling across the ocean, ship passengers are ill at ease and a priest takes a fall in a humorous manner.

TUNNELLING THE ENGLISH CHANNEL
France 1907
At the Elysée palace, King Edward VII and the President of the Republic occupyadjoining bedrooms . They doze off and dream that the tunnel under the English Channelhas been  built thanks to them. It is unveiled and the President Faillères is on his way tothe station Charing-Cross in  London and is on board a train passing through the tunnelunder the  English Channel. However, two trains collide and the tunnel collapses. It is but a nightmare, and the two State leaders wake up and congratulate each other.

THE FOUR TROUBLESOME HEADS - THE BEWITCHED INN - THE DIABOLIC TENANT - THE WOES OF ROLLER SKATES - A DESPERATE CRIME

THE FOUR TROUBLESOME HEADS
France 1898
A man introduces himself, takes his head from his shoulders and places it on a table to his left. A second head appears, he takes this one as well and places it next to the firstone. The  two heads converse with the man, who then receives a third head. He removeshis head  again and this time, places it to his right. He proceeds to give a concert with fouridentical heads. He makes the three heads on the table disappear, takes the one on his shoulders, throws  it far and immediately another head appears.

THE BEWITCHED INN
France 1897
A traveler enters his bedroom at an inn, sees his luggage disappear, while his hat and boots run away. The furniture moves around, his clothes and his bed disappear but thenreappear once again. The traveler is thrown into a panic and dashes off.

THE DIABOLIC TENANT
France 1909
A tenant gifted with magical powers takes out of his overnight bag his entire house furnishings and even the members of his family ! Not able to settle his rent, he moves outwithout paying  the landlord.

THE WOES OF ROLLER SKATES
France 1908

A DESPERATE CRIME
France 1906

THE CONQUEST OF THE POLE

The increase of polar expeditions causes a meeting among scientists. They must choose
the best way to reach the North Pole. An airbus is designed by the engineer Maboul. Six
scientists from different nations accompany him on this formidable journey. Other
voyagers, using different ways of locomotion, sadly fail. The airbus reaches the North
Pole but crashes upon landing. A snow giant frightens the explorers. After they find
themselves stuck to a magnetic needle, pole axis. Finally, they are saved by a blimp and
triumphantly regain their esteem at the institute.

THE MYSTERIOUS KNIGHT - THE HAUNTED CASTLE - THE MAGICIAN'S CAVERN - THE KINGDOM OF FAIRIES - JUPITER'S THUNDERBALLS

THE MYSTERIOUS KNIGHT
France 1899
A knight from the Middle Ages draws a head of a page on a blackboard. The head comesto life , and the knight takes it and places it on a jug on a table. He then pierces the headwith his  sword and engages it in conversation. He places it on a tripod and finally makesthe rest of the  page's body appear, but then makes it disappear once again. He throwsthe head  onto the blackboard where it turns back into the original drawing. The knighterases it and disappears  through the chimney.

THE HAUNTED CASTLE
France 1897
The arrival of a gentleman and his manservant in a castle. A rapid series of events occur which almost  make them die from fear. They see ghosts and skeletons, and various objects disappear. A  visit from Satan chases away the two men who run like maniac samong all the  phantoms. The scene ends with the triumph of Satan over the two uninvited guests.

THE MAGICIAN'S CAVERN
France 1901
An abnormally long description would be required to describe all the innovative situations and original tricks contained in this very astonishing and most sensational subject.

THE KINGDOM OF FAIRIES
France 1903
Princess Azurine is betrothed to Prince Bal Azor in the presence of fairy godmothers. But someone forgot to invite the Sorceress, who becomes infuriated and gets revenge by taking the Princess. Her fiancé leaves to find her, and after many adventures and trials, he finds her and marries her before the Court in full celebration. The Sorceress is thensentenced to death.

JUPITER'S THUNDERBALLS
France 1903
Jupiter reigns, basking in all his glory on Mount Olympia. After having sent Mercury on a mission, he creates nine Muses, but his thunder, which he gladly brandishes, no longerworks. He has  it repaired by Vulcan and burns himself upon collecting it.

THE TRIPLE CONJURER AND THE LIVING HEAD - THE BACHELOR'S PARADISE - THE DEVIL IN A CONVENT - THE DEVIL AND THE STATUE - THE MERRY FROLICS OF SATAN

THE TRIPLE CONJURER AND THE LIVING HEAD
France 1900
In this absolutely extraordinary scene, an illusionist splits himself in two. The two body
doubles sit on two chairs. On a shelf, an isolated head made of cardboard is placed
between the two and comes to life. The two illusionists show that there is no body under
the cardboard. Then a body forms under the head and the two illusionists begin to court
the lady who has just appeared, but she gradually melts in their hands, leaving the two
men face to face and crestfallen. The two illusionists are one in the same person.

THE BACHELOR'S PARADISE
France 1901

THE DEVIL IN A CONVENT
France 1899

THE DEVIL AND THE STATUE
France 1901

THE MERRY FROLICS OF SATAN
France 1906

IMPOSSIBLE BALANCING FEAT (AN) - GOING TO BED UNDER DIFFICULTIES - EXTRAORDINARY ILLUSIONS - THE IMPOSSIBLE VOYAGE

IMPOSSIBLE BALANCING FEAT (AN)
France 1902
A lonely man, dressed "à la française," advances towards the audience. He removes hisjacket, wearing only his shirt. He performs various acrobatic moves and becomes four identical characters where one stands on his head while holding two others in his hands.

GOING TO BED UNDER DIFFICULTIES
France 1900
A traveler stays at an inn. Not long after hanging up his overcoat and hat on the coat rack does he find himself dressed in new clothes. He undresses once more and the little trickcontinues in a frenzy. The man is enraged. He attempts to go to sleep, but the bed disappears.
 
EXTRAORDINARY ILLUSIONS
France 1901
Instead of moving on his own, a Pierrot sends his body parts and his head to look for the objects he needs. His arms, legs, trunk and head dance around individually before assembling back together in order to reform the entire body of Pierrot, who waves.

THE IMPOSSIBLE VOYAGE
France 1904
An expedition of scholars, members of the Institute of Incoherent Geography, undertakea voyage towards the sun under the direction of the engineer Mabouloff. After many incidents, they manage to take off on board their special train and reach the sun. They then leave the sun using a type of submarine which leads them down into the depths of the ocean. After an explosion, they find themselves safe and sound on dry land and
congratulate each other.

THE PRINCE OF MAGICIANS - THE DEVILISH PLANK - THE INFERNAL CAULDRON - THE TREASURES OF SATAN - THE KNIGHT OF THE SNOW

THE PRINCE OF MAGICIANS
France 1901
A magician takes out a tissue from the mouth of his assistant. From the tissue, he
removes a large fish tank. The assistant asks for water to fill the tank. The magician then
uses the assistant's arm as a pump while water comes out of the assistant's mouth.

THE DEVILISH PLANK
France 1904
By the order of a magician, two clowns wear a plank pierced with two holes. Two cancan
dancers come out of the holes, perform a few steps, then disappear back into the
wooden board.

THE INFERNAL CAULDRON
France 1903
The demon Belphegor, enforcer of the lowest deeds in Hell, burns three unfortunate
victims in his infernal cauldron. From there, ghosts rise in the air then disappear. The
devil throws himself into his cauldron.

THE TREASURES OF SATAN
France 1902
Satan has locked sacks of gold in a box. The owner of the bags, a miser, attempts to
take them back, but the bewitched casket plays tricks on him. In the end, the miser,
burns the interior of the box.

THE KNIGHT OF THE SNOW
France 1912
An ousted suitor, with the help of the Devil to which he sold his soul, takes away the
princess who he wishes to marry and locks her in a dungeon. The Knight in Shining
Armor, protected by a fairy who gives him a rose to keep as a talisman, saves the girl
and brings her back to her father, the king, while the suitor is hanged and subsequently
taken by the Devil who leads him to hell.