Magic Lanterns
1980 · 11 min · Documentary
The 15th short film as part of the Magica series dealing with pre-cinema. A magic lantern slide show.
Directed by Pierre Levie
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Autumn · 1972Autumn
★ 7.51972
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Julien, a movie director, is on the phase of editing his new film, "Juliette sacrifiée". Hurried by his producer, he asks for the help of a professional editor. It is Anne, with whom Julien is soon falling in love. During the whole of the movie, both are sitting in front of the editing table, where they listen to music, talk about politics and what movies should and should not be about.
Malpertuis · 1972Malpertuis
★ 6.41972
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A young sailor finds himself trapped in the labyrinthine mansion of his occultist uncle, along with a number of eccentric and mysterious relatives who all seem to be harboring a dark secret.
Le Cheval de fer · 1984Le Cheval de fer
★ 5.51984
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The story of the bet of Leland Stanford , baron of the rail, on the gallop of the horse. He uses the photographer Eadweard Muybridge , who is developing a system to analyze the movement.
Le voyageur · 1967Le voyageur
1967
MovieFantasyDrama
A castle lost in the middle of the woods. A train track cutting through the countryside. No train ever stops at the tiny station that serves the castle. A young woman, with paralysed legs, spends her time watching out for the train's passing. One day, the train stops and a young man gets out. He seems to know the place. What did he come to do ?
Non-lieu · 1968Non-lieu
1968
MovieDramaFantasy
Doctor Hortobagy is a lonely, used old man, haunted by his memories... The German occupation, the Jews, a denunciation... He feels tracked, but is he really? A night where dream and reality, past and present, will merge, events are unfolding quickly.
The Guardians · 1967The Guardians
1967
MovieHorrorFantasy
André, a wanderer, gets picked up by the guardians of an old castle. They ask him to be the new guardian but keep feeding him a mysterious porridge and a strange wound appears on his neck...
Emile Reynaud · 1986Emile Reynaud
1986
MovieDocumentaryDrama
The 8th short film as part of the Magica series dealing with pre-cinema. Fictionalised documentary about Emile Reynau who invented the praxinoscope and its system of central mirrors. He then projects his paper strips into the projection praxinoscope before creating the Théâtre Optique, presented at the Musée Grévin. The perforated strips are fragile and often break. The show is cancelled. Reynaud tries to apply photography to his praxinoscope, but without success. Desperate and ruined, he throws his strips into the Seine. Only two survived.
Thaumatropes · 1984Thaumatropes
1984
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The 16th short film as part of the Magica series dealing with pre-cinema. Mr Seymour, the hero of the book by London doctor Mr Paris, shows his invention – the thaumatrope – to a little girl and explains how it works. The superimposition of the images is not perfect, so he invents the use of elastic instead of the usual string. Only by recording the two successive images of the thaumatrope on a title bench can they be viewed perfectly. Numerous examples are shown.
La Photographie · 1983La Photographie
1983
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In 1840 it took 5'30" to make a photograph.
The Stork House · 1967The Stork House
1967
MovieFantasy
A film adaptation of 'Stochhaus ou la maison des cigognes' by Jean Ray, in which some are captivated by the enigma, while others are drawn to the treasures of a mysterious house.
Le futur antérieur · 1967Le futur antérieur
1967
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Paul Géniat, television director, is brought to tear multiple photographs. The one of a boxer who, at the exact same time, collapses on the ring, dead. The one of his ex-wife next, who lives in Congo and soon knows a tragic end. When Paul Géniat learns of these curious coincidences, he is convinced that he is responsible for these deaths. At that moment, he realises that he just tore one last photography, the one of the woman he loves.
The Box with Eight Eyes · 1978The Box with Eight Eyes
1978
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The 2nd short film as part of the Magica series dealing with pre-cinema. In the 18th and 19th centuries, optical views were shown in optical boxes with magnifying lenses. The showmen organised a real spectacle, with a barker, music and sound effects. The views played with light (transparencies, perforations). A series of engravings shows the public's enthusiasm for these shows. The second part of the film is a reconstruction of such a show. First, there are views of Paris, Venice, Constantinople and Versailles, followed by various disasters: plague, floods, fires and shipwrecks.
Noces de plumes · 1969Noces de plumes
1969
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Basu calls his psychiatrist to tell him a singular adventure. In a ruined abbey, he witnesses an unusual wedding in the presence of a tribunal. He runs away with the young bride. After a fleeting happiness, he returns alone. He thinks he dreamt of this, but there is a memory left.
Une simple alerte · 1969Une simple alerte
1969
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La princesse vous demande · 1969La princesse vous demande
1969
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The Truly Magical Lanterns · 1985The Truly Magical Lanterns
1985
MovieDocumentaryDrama
The 6th short film as part of the Magica series dealing with pre-cinema. Featuring demonstrations of magic lanterns by children.
