An Up-to-Date Conjurer
An Up-to-Date Conjurer

Movie spotlight

An Up-to-Date Conjurer

1899
Movie
1 min
French

A film from Méliès has him playing a magician who does a few tricks including making a woman disappear.

Insights

IMDb6.3/10
Director: Georges MélièsGenres: Short, Fantasy, Comedy

Plot Summary

A magician performs a series of astonishing tricks, including making objects appear and disappear, and transforming one item into another. The film showcases early special effects and the magic of cinematic illusion.

Critical Reception

As one of Georges Méliès' early works, 'An Up-to-Date Conjurer' is primarily noted for its pioneering use of film as a medium for illusion and entertainment. It represents a foundational step in the development of cinematic trickery and fantasy filmmaking, appreciated by historians for its technical innovation at the time.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its early demonstration of cinematic magic and illusion.

  • A key example of Georges Méliès's pioneering work in special effects.

  • Appreciated for its simplicity and charm as an early short film.

Google audience: Information on Google user reviews for this extremely early silent film is not readily available or comparable to modern standards.

Fun Fact

Georges Méliès, a pioneering filmmaker, was also a professional stage magician, which heavily influenced his innovative approach to early cinema, particularly his use of special effects to create fantastical worlds and illusions.

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