Georges Méliès: First Wizard of Cinema (1896-1913)

No one interested in early cinema can possibly ignore Georges Méliès, the creator of many of the medium's most fundamental narrative techniques and visual effects, employed in more than 500 films over the course of nearly two decades. And one couldn't hope for a better introduction to Méliès than this superb collection compiling no fewer than 173 films, ranging from less than a minute to a half-hour, all presented in chronological order from lovingly restored prints with new musical scores—15 of them brilliantly hand-colored and 13 with English narration written by the filmmaker himself (read with an appropriate French accent). Viewers will find Méliès famous “voyage” films here (1902's The Voyage to the Moon, 1904's The Impossible Voyage, and 1912's The Conquest of the Pole), as well as fairy tale adaptations, episodes drawn from literary works (Faust, Gulliver's Travels), historical recreations of figures such as Joan of Arc and Alfred Dreyfus, and a wide array of incidental shorts featuring magic tricks, comedy, and dance in seemingly endless variety. These are artifacts, of course, but far from mere curiosities: in fact, with their elaborate sets and costumes and use of multiple exposure, matte shots, dissolves, and time-lapse photography, these films exhibit an astonishing level of imagination and craft, while still maintaining the power to surprise and entertain. DVD extras include Georges Franju's charming 1953 biographical short Le Grand Méliès, featuring the filmmaker's near-90-year-old widow and son, as well as a lavishly illustrated booklet containing scholarly essays and a complete listing of the films with running-times and other pertinent data. A magnificent set, indispensable to any serious film history collection but also sure to be of interest to anyone wishing to savor the work of cinema's first true genius, this is highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (F. Swietek)