Fairy Tales: Early Colour Stencil Films from Pathé

Synopsis

During the belle époque in turn-of-the-century Paris, a short-lived film form called ‘scènes de feeries’, or ‘fairy films’, was made popular thanks to the Pathé Frères company. The films recreated the theatrical spectacles of the age with their fantastical settings, dancing girls, mythical beasts, supernatural beings and a plethora of stage tricks enhanced by the techniques of the new medium of film. Each film is accompanied with a newly commissioned soundtrack by recording artists from the experimental music label Touch. DVD extras include BARBE-BLEUE (1901, 11 minutes); Georges Méliès’ telling of the Bluebeard tale; LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD (1922, 8 minutes): Anson’s Dyer animation made for Hepworth Picture Plays

Language

English

Country

France

Year of production

1901 - 1908

Notes

Silent, with music

Subjects

Film studies

Keywords

early cinema; French cinema; silent films; special effects cinematography

Credits

Director

Georges Méliès

Music

B.J. Nilsen; Chris Watson; Christian Fennesz; Hildur Guðnadóttir

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 2 PAL

Price

£19.99

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

164 minutes

Year

2012

Production Company

Name

Pathé Frères

Distributor

Name

BFI Video

Email

video.films@bfi.org.uk

Web

http://www.bfi.org.uk External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7957 8957

Fax

020 7957 8968

Address

21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN