THE HALLUCINATIONS OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN (1911)
(a.k.a. BARON MUNCHAUSEN’S DREAM)
Article #725 by Dave Sindelar
Viewing Date: 3-10-2003
Posting Date: 8-7-2003
Directed by Georges Melies

Baron Munchausen eats and drinks too much and has nightmares.

Melies was often imitated during his time, and somehow it seems fitting that this movie was inspired by a movie that was inspired by his work; in particular, this movie is something of a variation on Edwin S. Porter’s DREAM OF A RAREBIT FIEND. The difference is that Porter could probably not have dreamed up the bizarre creatures that Melies puts together for the nightmare sequence that takes up most of this movie. Among the most interesting creations are a moon with a long tongue and a long nose that finally turns into an elephant-like creature, and a flying google-eyed dragon that looks for all the world like the Tenniel illustrations of the Jabberwock. This is enormous fun for Melies fans; others may be left scratching their heads.