FAUST AND MARGUERITE (1900)
Article 3093 by Dave Sindelar
Viewing Date: 11-6-2009
Posting Date: 2-1-2010
Directed by Edwin S. Porter
Cast unknown
Country: USA
What it is: Melies-style trick film

Mephistopheles tries to get Faust to decapitate Marguerite, but Faust refuses. When Mephistopheles decides to do it himself, complications ensue.

Basically, the complications have to do with people magically switching places, vanishing or turning into skeletons. It’s not the stuff of great tragedy by any means, but then, were any of these very early adaptations of Faust little more than trick films? It’s okay, but it lacks the verve of a real Melies short.