It is a good opportunity to go to Paris Cinémathèque, enjoy its beautiful architecture signed Frank Gehry and its pleasant surroundings in the modern east Paris.
Just started on April 16, a new exhibition “Georges Méliès, magicien du cinéma“. Even if you’re not particularly interested in film archeology, you’ll be amazed and amused, and so will be your kids.
You can watch about eight films, made by Méliès between 1896 and 1912.
Here a man watches le mélomane (1903) next to a panel showing the illusion of motion made from still pictures of a walking woman.
a magic lantern
and Méliès first camera.
The ice monster in A la conquète du Pôle Nord (1912) on screen over a scale model of the studio, with the giant monster figure.
the vessel to travel up to North Pole, the link between theatrical machinery and film.
A television crew filming le voyage dans la lune (1902)
A photogram showing the scientific team visiting the moon.
A colorized film, les 400 farces du Diable (1906)
a dancing skeleton hanging next to Une partie de carte (1896) on screen. Melies humorous fantasy is mostly based on devils, skeletons, chopped heads…(laugh with death and fear).
Besides films, scale models, dresses, props and cameras, story boards, drawings and paintings of film sets are wonderful.
La cinémathèque française, 51 rue de Bercy 75012 Paris, metro Bercy Information : tel 33(0)1 71 19 33 33 and http://www.cinematheque.fr/
Exhibition Méliès : Monday to Saturday 12/19, up to 22 on Thursdays, Sunday 10 /20, closed on Tuesdays and May 1. Price 5 euros.
To see films by Georges Méliès, three programs : April 25, at 20, salle Henri Langlois, program 1 : colored pictures, May 4 at 16, salle Henri Langlois, program 2 : Méliès the enchenter, May 25 at 16, program 3 (untitled). With piano accompaniment.
Special programs for children “illusion in films” every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon at 3 PM, from April 30 to June 14. Also on Saturday May 31 and June 7, a workshop “illusion”, for kids between 6 and 8. More information on http://www.cinematheque.fr
2 responses so far ↓
Petronille // May 26, 2008 at 10:31 am
Wonderful pics, thanks for this nice remembering. By the way, this note were linked here : http://petronillememphis.blogspot.com/2008/05/la-cinmathque-propose-une-petite-expo.html
Matt Jones // June 19, 2008 at 3:56 pm
I caught the Mélies expo a couple weeks ago-really interesting. The Cinematheque is a fab building in lovely surroundings too.
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