Who's Who of Victorian Cinema

No Talking

Speaking of oddball cinema . . . Tonight was silent film night at a local venue, and I saw some classic "shorts" dating from as far back as 1894. I was most impressed by the dream-like works -- in hand-tinted color! -- of the French film pioneer Georges Méliès, which employed some amazing (for the time) special effects. Movie realism wasn't so important in those days -- a train could leave the tracks, go sailing through the sky and even crash-land on the Sun, without injuring its passengers. Actors hadn't yet discovered the Method, and unnaturally exaggerated movements and facial expressions were standard. Apparently, the novelty of seeing pictures move was so strong that the medium hadn't yet become "transparent." Maybe that's why the contemporary works these films reminded me of most were children's cartoons. SpongeBob would have been right at home in one of Méliès fantasies.

Who's Who of Victorian Cinema: Georges Méliès
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