Top 10 Films of 1904

1. "Le Voyage à travers l'impossible" (Georges Méliès, France)

2. "An Interesting Story" (James Williamson, UK)

3. "Dog Factory" (Edwin S.Porter, Edison)

4. "La Sirène" (Georges Méliès, France)

5. "The European Rest Cure" (Edwin S. Porter, Edison)

6. "Rector's To Claremont" (Edwin S.Porter, Edison)

7. "Le Thaumaturge chinois" (Georges Méliès, France)

8. "Drat That Boy" (Robert W. Paul, UK)

9. "Le Bourreau turc" (Georges Méliès, France)

10. "Railroad Smashup" (Edwin S. Porter, Alfred C. Abadie, Edison)

Other great shorts:

Le Bain des dames de la cour (France)

Weak shorts of 1904:

Au clair de la lune (France)
Buy Your Own Cherries (UK)
La Cascade de feu (France)
Le Coffre enchanté (France)
Damnation du Docteur Faust (France)
Merveilleux éventail vivant (France)
Un Miracle sous l'Inquisition (France)
La Planche du diable (France)
Un Prêté pour un rendu (France)
Le Rêve de l'horloger (France)
Le Roi du maquillage (France)
Sorcellerie culinaire (France)
Les Transmutations imperceptibles (France)

Railroad Smashup (1904) ***

A staged crash between two outmoded locomotives given to the Edison Co. by the Pennsylvania Railroad. Directed by Edwin S. Porter and Alfred C. Abadie.

Dog Factory (1904) ***

A truly bizarre little film about dogs turned into sausages... and vice versa. Directed by Edwin S. Porter for the Edison Company.

Le Thaumaturge chinois (1904) ***

A Chinese magician is performing various tricks. Directed by Georges Méliès.

La Sirène (1904) ***

A magician frolicks with a sexy mermaid. Directed by Georges Méliès.

Le Roi du maquillage (1904) **

A man magically grows a beard and a long moustache. Later, he transforms himself into a clown. Directed by Georges Méliès.

Sorcellerie culinaire (1904) **

Mischievious little devils are wrecking havoc in the kitchen. The cook has to chase them away with his spoon. Directed by Georges Méliès.

An Interesting Story (1904) ****

One of the earliest slapstick comedies, directed by James Williamson.

Le Bourreau turc (1904) ***

Memorable film about beheadings.

Drat That Boy (1904) ***

 Comedy about a mischievous boy. Directed by Robert W. Paul.

Rector's To Claremont (1904) ***

A man tries to catch a coach.

The European Rest Cure (1904) ***

A trip to Europe and Egypt.

La Planche du diable (1904) *

A simple magic trick.

Damnation du Docteur Faust (1904) **

The Faust legend.

Un Miracle sous l'Inquisition (1904) **

Georges Méliès' film set during the Inquisition.

Les Transmutations imperceptibles (1904) *

Insignificant little film by Georges Méliès.

Le Rêve de l'horloger (1904) *

A clockmaker’s dream.

Le Coffre enchanté (1904) *

Rabbits and women and a trunk.

Un Prêté pour un rendu (1904) *

A man fights against a head.

La Cascade de feu (1904) *

Satan kidnaps two servants.

Buy Your Own Cherries (1904) *

Moralistic and incoherent film about a reformed wife-beater. Directed by Robert W. Paul.

Au clair de la lune (1904) *

A clown is serenading at night. Aka "Pierrot malheureux".

Merveilleux éventail vivant (1904) *

A French nobleman is admiring a gigantic fan. Directed by Georges Méliès.

Le Bain des dames de la cour (1904) ***

Le Voyage à travers l'impossible (1904) ****

Members of the Geographical Society are preparing for a voyage of discovery. They use various modes of transportation to achieve their goal, ultimately reaching the Sun. This is Georges Melies' most elaborate film, tinted in color. Length: 21 minutes.