Drama in the Air

Drama in the Air

1904 · 5 min · ★ 5.9 · Adventure

A fairly venturesome piece of filmmaking for the era: Based on the Jules Verne story, the film utilizes a dozen cuts, irised lenses, panning shots and vivid tints to weave an intrepid and exciting story.

Directed by Gaston Velle · Written by Gaston Velle

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Drama in the Air

Tit-for-Tat

Both from Gaston Velle.

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The Nest Robbers

The Nest Robbers · 1904

The Nest Robbers

A group of naughty boys steal a bird's nest and are pursued by game wardens.

Ruffian's Dance

Ruffian's Dance · 1904

Ruffian's Dance

MovieDocumentary

A couple performs the Ruffian's Dance.

Metamorphosis of the King of Spades

Metamorphosis of the King of Spades · 1903

Metamorphosis of the King of Spades

A prestidigitator, one of the best, is about to perform a number of illusions and brings to his aid a pack of playing cards. He selects the King of Spades, endows him with life and seats him at the table with himself, and they proceed to play a game of cards. The King of Spades shows a disposition to be ugly and is immediately squelched. This is a remarkably good picture, interesting from start to finish.

The Riderless Bicycle

The Riderless Bicycle · 1906

The Riderless Bicycle

Short film showcasing a circus clown act.

A Little Jules Verne

A Little Jules Verne · 1907

A Little Jules Verne

MovieFantasyAdventure

A boy is put to bed by his mother, but when she leaves the room, he pulls out a book. Dropping off to sleep, he begins to dream. The wall behind him transforms into a screen, with a portrait of Jules Verne. The boy imagines the starry night sky, with comets shooting by. The gondola of a balloon parks outside his window. He climbs aboard, ascending over a skyline and harbor.

Tit-for-Tat

Tit-for-Tat · 1906

An entomologist guilty of trying to capture rare insects is condemned to be pinned on a giant cork.

Voyage autour d’une étoile

Voyage autour d’une étoile · 1906

Voyage autour d’une étoile

MovieFantasyScience Fiction

An old astronomer has been transfixed by a star for a long time. He had but one thought: to travel to it, to declare his love for it! But how? A simple but ingenious solution-- A giant bubble. Velle remade the film for Italian studio Cines in the same year.

Le cauchemar de Pierrot

Le cauchemar de Pierrot · 1911

Le cauchemar de Pierrot

MovieComedyDrama

As soon as his back is turned, Columbine is making out with Harlequin. So when he catches them at it, Gaston Séverin as Pierrot strikes her as Harlequin flees. Of course, he's terribly sorry when he thinks she's dead, and drinks.

Bob's Theater

Bob's Theater · 1906

Little Bob stages his mechanical toys in a series of charming performances.

Wonderful Beehive

Wonderful Beehive · 1905

Wonderful Beehive

We see busy bees flying around the hive. Suddenly a dancer appears on the scene, and we enjoy a dance, executed by six dancers. The Queen gets tired, and while resting, a large spider tries to catch her, but her friends rescue her.

Burglary at Night

Burglary at Night · 1904

Burglary at Night

MovieComedyCrime

A man hides his valuables under his mattress before going to sleep, blissfully unaware of the two burglars on his roof.

The Hen That Laid the Golden Eggs

The Hen That Laid the Golden Eggs · 1905

The Hen That Laid the Golden Eggs

This has more of a clear narrative than most of the films in the set although it’s still quite odd and random compared to today’s films. There are some effectively surreal and creepy sequences in this imaginative short, such as the devil’s face appearing in an egg and spewing coins as well as the finale where our protagonist is sent to an egg-filled hell.

Barnum's Trunk

Barnum's Trunk · 1904

MovieComedyFantasy

A magician and some assistants put up a series of posters of music hall acts in a frame. Then the magician brings each poster to life.

Japanese Varieties

Japanese Varieties · 1904

Japanese Varieties

A Japanese-set magic show. There is a lot of visual trickery on display, ending with an amazing effect using reverse footage and superimposing/projecting images on top of one another.

Flower Fairy

Flower Fairy · 1905

A little flower film by Gaston Velle.

King of Dollars

King of Dollars · 1905

King of Dollars

MovieFantasyComedy

A magician shows tricks with money.

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Adrift in the vast expanse of the ocean, a solitary boat carries three castaways—a man and two women. Stranded and devoid of any glimmer of rescue, they find solace in recounting the tales of their lives to one another. As they delve into their personal narratives, reminiscing about the circumstances that led them to this desolate predicament, they navigate through the depths of three distinct destinies. Bound by the confines of their shared space, every aspect of their existence becomes a boundary, underscoring their plight.

The Impossible Voyage

The Impossible Voyage · 1904

The Impossible Voyage

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Using every known means of transportation, several savants from the Geographic Society undertake a journey through the Alps to the Sun which finishes under the sea.

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