Window into the Past (2) -
An Innovative 'Cinderella' for 1899
Another look backwards guys - this time at a technically and narratively innovative early silent film by Frenchman George Méliès (1861-1938) - 'Cinderella'. The music I've added is from Sergei Prokofiev's score for the ballet of the same name.
As you probably know, much of Mélièss creativity was put to the service of science fiction and fantasy, such as his 1902 film of Jules Verne's 'Le voyage dans la Lune'. But his invention is also evident here, in the (partially) hand-painted footage, the dissolves, and the stop tricks or substitutions, where, for example, the illusion can be given of mice becoming footmen, and pumpkins coaches.
What I particularly like about 'Cinderella' is that the narrative is so economically and clearly laid out. Good story-boarding.
The Ugly Step Sisters depart for the ball, and leaving behind a despairing Cinderella ...
Creative stops and cutting allows the Fairy Godmother to 'magically' and suddenly appear in the fireplace in place of the cauldron ...
... and mice, released from their cage by Cinderella, ...
... to be turned into very much larger mice in special effects ...
... and then to rather surprised coachmen ...
And of course there's more - a table is brought in ...
... a pumpkin placed on it ...
... and, with the wave of a starry-ended wand (the very best quality), all is enlarged ...
... and changed into the beautiful Baroque coach we all expect ...
After some up-styling, courtesy of more wand work, ...
... Cinderella realises she really is Ball-bound ...
Things are in full swing at The Castle ...
... when she arrives ...
After an introduction to Prince Charming ...
... our heroine's quickly on the dance floor - with an enthusiasm curiously reminiscent of my last Saturday night at the Mardi Gras party ...
'Midnight' inevitably arrives ...
... and 'passes' (imaginatively done, eh!) ...
The Fairy Godmother materialises and Cinderella ...
... is pretty much undone and flees the ball ...
Arriving home ...
... she finds some fairly surreal clock/dancing girl events unfolding, creatively expressing her immediate mental state ...
However one thing leads to another and we begin to suspect an excuse for a skin show ...
But just when we seem to be getting lost in late C19 smut, Prince Charming arrives, glass slipper at the ready ...
The Ugly Steps Sisters, as is their way, try first ...
... but of course the only foot etc etc etc ...
The Fairy Godmother again magically appears ...
... transformations take place ...
... and The Happy Couple depart ...
And all is set for The Wedding ...
... and The Celebrations, replete with dancers and ... a ballerina! And lots more leg work ...
Finally everything is rapt up with a huge tableau vivant ...
... and all is very well with the world and happily ever after.
A little five minute master piece. Which moves at just the right pace. And in which the technical innovations are not forced but seem natural and necessary.
A delight - hope you enjoy it!
I love happy endings.
ReplyDeleteRay
Nick,
ReplyDeleteSo nice to see a "pre-Disney" version of the story. And to see all the magic working so well.
I was watching one of the Batman movies on TV the other day (the one that begins with him and his parents at the opera) and as it hurtled past at breakneck speed, filled with dizzying special effects and quick cuts, I wondered if audiences from the 1930s--when the passage of movie time was indicated by the pages of a calendar slowly drifting away--would even be able to follow the story. Could they understand the cinematic language?
There are certainly quick changes here, though everyone knows the story. What a pleasure to see it.
just love when you go old school. it just made my day.
ReplyDeletebest regards,
ber.
This is truly incredable.You find the most interesting things on your sight.
ReplyDeleteWit
hey ray
ReplyDeleteme too - the only kind - though it depends a bit on the day of the week - i can handle a tragedy better at the beginning of a week-end
cya, nick
hey paul
ReplyDeletegood to hear as always
speaking of precursors, i was looking today at the 1910 'wonderful wizard of oz' - more musichall with lots of sight gags - and none of the maudlin sentimentality of that other one
you are right - i think each generation has the ability to 'read' the semiotics of their era and may be a bit mystified by things outside it. i could certainly not easily 'read' the mime of ballet when i was first taken as a kid
take care
best, nick
hey ber
ReplyDeletegreat you liked it - when i put stuff out here it's hard to know whether i'll be the only one to enjoy/appreciate it
i find i like to look back as well as forward these days - tho i always had the tendancy
very best, nick
hey anon
ReplyDeletei've been lucky coming across things - but suspect that one day my skill at winkling things out of the web will dry up!
best, nick
hey again paul
ReplyDeletejust in case, the url for that early 'wizard is:
http://bluesplayer.co.uk/youtube_fullmovies/video/F1MMaXcEI98/The-Wonderful-Wizard-Of-Oz-1910.html
best again, nick
Great stuff! I can barely remember that movie...
ReplyDeletehey nywla
ReplyDeletethanks - nor can i remember it - my great great grandfather told me about it on his death bed - LOL
cya, nick
Nick--thanks for the link to the 1910 Wizard of Oz. Absolutely fascinating!
ReplyDeletehey paul
ReplyDeletevery glad you didn't seem to yawn your way through it
as i keep saying it's extraordinary what's just sitting out there waiting to be seen
Thanks for this post. It is great to see these old silent shots.
ReplyDeletehey konnie
ReplyDeleteglad you liked it - some old silent movies are creaky with period age - but this one seems immediate and direct and powerful
best, nick
Liked the use of the Prokofiev music. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeletehey konnie
ReplyDeletegood to hear from you again!
i was really pleased with the choice of the Prokofiev - glad you liked it too!
i'll try to keep the balance and interest in the blog - thanks for the encouragement
cya, nick