The Magic of Méliès

Jan 1, 1997

2h 11m

★ 7.0

Overview

A walk through the life and work of the brilliant French filmmaker Georges Méliès (1861-1938), pioneer of special and visual effects.

Genres

Documentary

History

Production Companies

Sodaperaga Productions

Mikros Image

Productions Sheherazade

La Sept-Arte

CNC

The Magic of Méliès Trailers

No Trailers found.

Cast

Self - Narrator (voice)

Marina Moncade

Méliès (voice)

Daniel Ceccaldi

Salesman (voice)

Charles-Antoine Decroix

Magician

Abdul Alafrez

Magician's Assistant

Claire Mosser

Young Méliès

Didier Cremer

Magic Lantern Operator

Alain Kanto

Announcer

Philippe Duval

The Drawing Hand

François Riou

Child Madeleine

Clara Mény

Self

Madeleine Malthête-Méliès

Self

Christian Fechner

According to the official history of Afghanistan, ruthless destruction has always prevailed over art and creation; but there is another tale to be told, the forgotten account of a diverse and progressive country, seen through the lens of innovative filmmakers, a story that survives thanks to a few brave Afghans, a small but very passionate group that secretly fought to save a huge film archive that was constantly menaced by war and religious fanaticism.

7.2

Stanisław Lem: Autor Solaris

Nov 2, 2016

An account of the life and work of the Polish writer Stanisław Lem (1921-2006), a key figure in science fiction literature involved in mysteries and paradoxes that need to be enlightened.

6.0

Le drôle de drame de Marcel Carné

Jun 28, 2021

Through the life and career of Marcel Carné, using film excerpts and archives (including touching interviews with the director), François Aymé weaves a fascinating portrait of a hypersensitive man who had to deal with his homosexuality and who, despite his brilliance, was long relegated to the shadow of his actors and Prévert, who were credited with their greatest success.

4.3

Nice Girls Don't Stay for Breakfast

Feb 27, 2019

In the late 1990s, iconic photographer Bruce Weber barely managed to convince legendary actor Robert Mitchum (1917-97) to let himself be filmed simply hanging out with friends, telling anecdotes from his life and recording jazz standards.

4.0

La Antorcha de los Éxitos: Cifesa (1932-1961)

Oct 5, 2022

The amazing story of Cifesa, a mythical film production company founded in Valencia by the Casanova family that managed to dominate the box office during the turbulent times of the Second Spanish Republic, the carnage of the Civil War and the hardships of the long post-war period and Franco's dictatorship — and survive until the sixties, when Spain was timidly beginning to change.

3.0

Big Big Big

Nov 12, 2019

A couple decides to watch Big, a successful film released in 1988, starring Tom Hanks and directed by Penny Marshall, not once, but thirty times, sometimes accompanied by family and friends who come to their home to watch and discuss it.

6.6

Salman Rushdie: Death on a Trail

Jan 8, 2019

An intimate portrait, in his own words, of the Indian writer Salman Rushdie, author of The Satanic Verses (1988), thirty years after the fatwa uttered by the Iranian Ayatollah Khomeini: his youth in multicultural Bombay, his life in England, his many years of forced hiding, his thoughts on President Trump's United States of America.

7.3

Rivers and Tides

Feb 13, 2001

Portrait of Andy Goldsworthy, an artist whose specialty is ephemeral sculptures made from elements of nature.

6.6

Emmanuelle: Queen of French Erotic Cinema

Jun 18, 2021

France, 1974. The erotic film Emmanuelle, directed by Just Jaeckin, breaks all records for cinema attendance: the story of the creation of a sensual epic that marked a turning point in the struggle for sexual emancipation.

7.3

Tati Express

Dec 21, 2015

Tati Express dives into Jacques Tati's films and how they look at a changing world throughout the 20th century. It shows how modernity impacts human-beings and goes through that amazing body of work at 100 mph.

0.0

Une vie contre l'oubli

Oct 5, 2016

Portrait of Belgian historian, reporter and documentarian André Dartevelle.

6.0

Dance Crazy in Hollywood

Jan 1, 1990

American dancer and choreographer Hermes Pan recalls his life and work as he relives the glorious history of the Hollywood musical.

0.0

Spelman, musiker, artist - Kalle Moraeus

Nov 6, 2001

A conversation with the classical and modern musician Kalle Moraeus.

6.7

Hollywood Bulldogs: The Rise and Falls of the Great British Stuntman

Jun 24, 2021

They created and performed the iconic action sequences of 007, Indiana Jones, Superman, Rambo, Star Wars, Conan, the Alien films and pretty much everything since. They crashed cars, jumped from burning buildings, shot, stabbed, kicked and punched their way into cinema history. This is the first feature documentary to unite the legendary community of stuntmen in telling their story and, as you'll see, there's life in the old dogs yet.

7.6

Spielberg

Oct 5, 2017

A documentary on the life and career of one of the most influential film directors of all time, Steven Spielberg.

7.9

Disclosure

Jun 19, 2020

An investigation of how Hollywood's fabled stories have deeply influenced how Americans feel about transgender people, and how transgender people have been taught to feel about themselves.

5.0

Juzo Itami: The Man with 13 Faces

Jan 1, 2007

A documentary about the legendary Japanese filmmaker.

7.9

Miss Americana

Jan 31, 2020

A raw and emotionally revealing look at one of the most iconic artists of our time during a transformational period in her life as she learns to embrace her role not only as a songwriter and performer, but as a woman harnessing the full power of her voice.

7.0

Tolkien: The True Story of the Rings

Sep 13, 2024

An analysis of the sources of inspiration that fed the imagination of the British writer, poet and philologist J. R. R. Tolkien (1892-1973), great master of epic fantasy.

7.1

Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood

Mar 9, 2003

The chronicle of the mind-blowing journey that was Hollywood during the seventies; the true and gripping story of the last golden age of American cinema, an exalted celebration of creativity and experimentation; but also of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll: a turbulent and dark tale of ambition, envy, betrayal, hatred and self-destruction.