Gaston Velle was Pathe's House Director for doing movies in the style of Georges Melies. This effort clearly shows the influence -- if that is not too weak a word -- of such pieces as 'Voyage a travers l'impossible' and, indeed, the lead character is made up and equipped like the umbrella-bearing crew member of 'Voyage Dans La Lune.' But, while this film lacks the vivacity and indeed, the beauty of Melies' pieces -- including the articulated vehicles that Melies used -- it is far more a cinematic movie than Melies. The effects are not achieved through stage magicianry, including raising and lowering people through trap doors in the floor, but solely by cuts and double exposures.
I don't feel the effects are as striking or even as amusing as Melies' work, but they were not pure imitations and eventually, Melies would be left behind.
I don't feel the effects are as striking or even as amusing as Melies' work, but they were not pure imitations and eventually, Melies would be left behind.
