LES ROSES MAGIQUES (1906)
aka Magic Roses
Article 4195 by Dave Sindelar
Date: 4-3-2013
Directed by Segundo de Chomon
Cast unknown
Country: France
What it is: Trick short

A magician does a variety of tricks, mostly involving turning flowers into women and vice versa.

This short is included on the Georges Melies “Encore” disc from Flicker Alley, though it isn’t a Melies short. It was intended as an example of one of the several Melies-inspired filmmakers that came in his wake. From that point of view, this is a good choice; of the ones I’ve seen from Chomon, this one most feels like it was Melies-inspired. Still, one of my favorite moments from this one involves the creation of an elaborate flower design that uses backwards footage extensively, and that’s one innovation that I don’t recall seeing from Melies. There also seems to be a touch of romanticism to this one that feels unique to Chomon. If anything, I think this does show that Chomon was more than just an imitator.