When it comes to cinema, there are many pioneers who have filled our cinemas with lavish amounts of imagination. After all, the technology itself has lifted our imaginations off pages and allowed us to feast upon grand visuals, intense stories and vibrant characters. From Mary Ellen Brute to Charles Pathé, the cheeky Bernard Natan to the Wan Brothers, there is a hefty and grand list of photographic pioneers who changed the shape of cinema today (for better or for worse is left unknown).
But celebrating his 153rd birthday today is the French Filmmaker George Méliès who gave us the stunning, evocative and pioneering short film A Trip to the Moon.
The sheer beauty of the short is truly magnificent here. Méliès prior work helped utilise a sound stage to great effect. Harnessing the theatrical mise en scéne with a stationary camera, his tricks of magic helped enthuse this electrifying tale with fantastical elements such as the brilliant Man of the Moon, the Selenites and the wonderful effects that bound this story in the dream-like landscape and a truly space-like fare. The juddering nouvelle film-making, that is prominent when looking back at the films of the era, adding character to this film when watched now. After all, the glorious way the film was masterfully done will capture any budding dreamers' imaginative streak like a wide-eyed child. It was also colour painted by hand, which wouldn’t be discovered until the 1930’s. The spectrum of paint would enhance the film further with this divine aesthetic that made it stronger visually. It is cinematically remarkable now as it was back then.
The historical elements of A Trip to the Moon meant that the film would live on a wonderful 112 years later, and famously inspiring hundreds, if not all filmmakers who would follow it. Famously in 2011’s Hugo, the rediscovery of Méliès’ work took centre stage of the story in a film that is as much of a family epic as it was Scorsese’s love letter to cinema. In fact, no story of film and the industry would be complete without mentioning this seminal and never ending French short. Just watch, be over-washed with his passion, his magic and Méliès perfect beginning to the cinema.