TCHIN-CHAO, THE CHINESE CONJUROR (1904)
Article 4283 by Dave Sindelar
Date: 8-6-2013
Directed by Georges Melies
Featuring Georges Melies
Country: France
What it is: Chinese magic

A Chinese magician performs tricks.

So what separates this Melies “magic trick” film from his others? Well, outside of the fact that Melies and his actors get to dress up as Chinamen, use Chinese props, and perform against an Oriental background, not a whole lot. Still, that’s enough to add a little novelty to the mix, and given how often Melies drew from this particular well, any novelty is welcome. In all other respects, this is a pretty ordinary Melies short.