Film Dictionary: Jan 1, 1970

January 1, 1970

Top 10 Films of 1901

1. "Fire" (James Williamson, UK)

2. "The Big Swallow" (James Williamson, UK)

3. "Histoire d'un crime" (Ferdinand Zecca, France)

4. "L’Homme à la tête en caoutchouc" (Georges Méliès, France)

5. "Stop Thief" (James Williamson, UK)

6. "La Maison tranquille" (Georges Méliès, France)

7. "The Countryman And The Cinematograph" (Robert W. Paul, UK)

8. "Nain et géant" (Georges Méliès, France)

9. "Rêve et réalité" (Ferdinand Zecca, France)

10. "Le Diable géant" (Georges Méliès, France)

Other great films:

Birth Of The Pearl

Boys Diving Homolulu

Trapeze Disrobing Act

Weak films of 1901:

À la conquête de l'air (France)
L'Antre des esprits (France)
Barbe-bleue (France)
Le Chapeau à surprise (France)
Chez la sorcière (France)
Le Chrysalide et le papillon (France)
Dislocation mystérieuse (France)
Excelsior! (France)
What Happened On Twenty-Third Street, New York City

Boys Diving Honolulu (1901) ***

The Countryman And The Cinematograph (1901) ***

Innovative British film about a country bumpkin who sees a film for the first time. Directed by Robert W. Paul. Remade a year later in the USA as "Uncle Josh At The Moving Picture Show" (1902).

A man, objecting to being filmed, comes closer and closer to the camera lens until his mouth is all we see. Then he opens wide and swallows camera and cinematographer. He steps back, chews, and grins. British short film directed by James Williamson.

L’Homme à la tête en caoutchouc (1901) ***

Celebrated Georges Méliès' short about an inflatable rubber head. Wonderfully surrealistic.

Le Diable géant (1901) ***

Aka "Le miracle de la madone". The Virgin Mary saves a young maiden from the Devil.

Dislocation mystérieuse (1901) **

Trick film about a dancing clown's body parts floating away and coming back again.

Nain et géant (1901) ***

Short, but visually memorable film by Georges Méliès.

Stop Thief (1901) ***

James Williamson directed this innovative film about a man running after a thief.

La Maison tranquille (1901) ***

"La Maison tranquille" ("The Quiet House) ? A very misleading title, because this George Méliès' film is a wacky comedy set in a house that is far from "quiet". A very innovative use of on-screen space, similar to Ferdinand Zecca's "Histoire d'un crime" (1901).

À la conquête de l'air (1901) *

Ferdinand Zecca directed this very short film about a flying machine. Produced by Pathé.

Barbe-bleue (1901) *

A young woman becomes the eighth wife of the wealthy Bluebeard, whose first seven wives have died under mysterious circumstances. An ambitious film by Georges Méliès, but slow and too long.

Birth Of The Pearl (1901) ***

Chez la sorcière (1901) **

A bachelor visits a witch hoping to find a wife. A surprise awaits him.

Trapeze Disrobing Act (1901) ***

Le Chapeau à surprise (1901) *

A magician organizing a dinner party literally pulls his guests out of a hat.

L'Antre des esprits (1901) **

Georges Méliès' film set in a magician's cavern, with dancing skeletons, chairs and tables.

Rêve et réalité (1901) ***

A man dreams of a beautiful woman, but wakes up in bed with his ugly wife. Directed by Ferdinand Zecca.

What Happened On Twenty-Third Street, New York City (1901) *

And the sad answer is - not much. This Edison film was possibly an inspiration for that classic Marilyn Monroe scene in "The Seven Year Itch".

Le Chrysalide et le papillon (1901) *

A worm is put inside a cocoon et it emerges as a butterfly woman. Directed by Georges Méliès.

Excelsior! (1901) *

A magician performs various tricks.

Fire (1901) ****

Made two years before “Life Of An American Fireman” (1903), this British film, directed by James Williamson, is far more innovative than the Copyright Version of Porter's film, and almost as innovative as the Cross-Cut Version.