La menagerie de verre

Different species of fish and frogs, inside an aquarium.

Geneva (Exhibition 1896): back to the barn.

Two impish clowns construct a magic lantern. They prop it up at an angle, and use it to project pictures onto a wall. When the picture show ends, they open up the lantern to reveal a group of dancing girl…

Looking after his aunt and uncle's house when they're away, animal lover Onésime turns it into a hospital for sick animals.

Three young children set up a table, and on the table is placed a miniature stage. The stage curtain opens, a carpet appears, and then the carpet unrolls by itself. Two puppet figures then come out and be…

Wonderful trick film about two young girls and their magical barrel. Live animals and superb clothing keep jumping miraculously out of the barrel.

In this hand-colored short, a magician and his assistant do a series of magic tricks, including making potted plants appear, among others. Melies played the magician, and the actor Manuel played his assis…

A magician performs tricks with a marvelous wreath.

The film, of which only fragments are known to survive, features Méliès as a magician making playing-card figures come to life in miniature.

Gaston Velle's 'Les Fleurs Animées' was screened by the Australian-based Corrick Family Entertainers as part of their variety act. In their advertising the Corricks described the detailed, hand-coloured p…

Two amateur art critics meet in a gallery and argue ionately about the pieces they see, until finally they find a piece on which they can agree...

On 1 November 1895, the brothers Max and Emil Skladanowsky presented their pioneer film work and legendary Bioscop program in Berlin′s Wintergarten Theater. With live musical accompaniment, the compilatio…

Peasant children Mytyl and Tyltyl are led on a magical quest for the fabulous Blue Bird of Happiness by the fairy Berylune. On their journey, they're accompanied by the anthropomorphized presences of a Do…

Here we have an old scholar/alchemist brooding over a book, challenged by the devil, and going through the familiar sorcery to create a woman by throwing pieces of clothing against a stain-glass church wi…

A fine magician of the Royal Court materialises an elegant attire from a transparent glass container, and then, a refined dandy appears, as an ornate palanquin is summoned. Now, what does the illusionist …

An astronomer has a terrifying dream.

A little flower film by Gaston Velle.

A magician creates a troupe of dancers out of thin air.