A stage magician produces a hen, extracts half a dozen eggs from her, cracks them to reveal chicks, and then reverses the process in this trick film by Ferdinand Zecca.
Although the magician looks to have a goodly amount of stage presence, the second half of the movie, including stuffing the eggs back in, is clearly done by the expedient of reversing the film. Given the sophistication and zest with which Melies executed his trick films in this period, this early attempt to imitate his works and, in the process, steal his audience and profits, wasn't likely to earn any new fans. Although if you were ordering from the Pathe catalogue anyway....
Although the magician looks to have a goodly amount of stage presence, the second half of the movie, including stuffing the eggs back in, is clearly done by the expedient of reversing the film. Given the sophistication and zest with which Melies executed his trick films in this period, this early attempt to imitate his works and, in the process, steal his audience and profits, wasn't likely to earn any new fans. Although if you were ordering from the Pathe catalogue anyway....
