Méliès, from illusion theater to the beginning of cinema
When: 01.12.2026 18:30
Where: 48.856586, 2.353225
Organizer: Admin
Born on December 8, 1861 in Paris, Georges Méliès directed, for 35 years, the famous illusion theater Robert-Houdin then located at 8, boulevard des Italiens (9th arrondissement).
In December 1895, he attended the screening of the Lumière brothers' films at the Grand Café de Paris. He then seized the cinematograph to create the first special effects in cinema: he himself described his "à trucs" films as "fantastic" films. He also made fairy-tale spectacles, historical films, reconstructed news such as
l’Affaire Dreyfus (1899) and advertising films. In 1902, his Voyage dans la lune is the longest film ever made in the world (about 16 minutes), but above all the first "blockbuster" in cinema history. Distributed worldwide and pirated on a large scale, this film draws inspiration both from Offenbach's eponymous opera
and from Jules Verne's novel: De la
Terre à la Lune (1865). Bolstered by this success, Méliès pursued his theatrical and cinematic activities side by side.
In 16 years, Méliès made nearly 520 films before stopping filming in 1913, then directing his theater in 1915. 130 years later, his prolific work continues to make people laugh and enchant audiences.
This conference will be given by Pascal FRIAUT, president of the Méliès film library; and Anne-Marie QUÉVRAIN, great-granddaughter of Georges Méliès. It will be followed by a screening of Georges Méliès films (screening duration: 35 minutes).
Tags: history, film, cinema
Source: https://www.paris.fr/evenements/melies-du-theatre-d-illusion-au-debut-du-cinema-113416
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