Georges Méliès

Georges Méliès

Known For: Directing

Gender: Male

Date of Birth: December 9, 1861

Day of Death: January 21, 1938 (76 years old)

Place of Birth: Paris, France

IMDb

Georges Méliès (December 9, 1861 - January 21, 1938), full name Marie-Georges-Jean Méliès, was a French illusionist and filmmaker famous for leading many technical and narrative developments in the earliest days of cinema. One of the first filmmakers to use multiple exposures, time-lapse photography, tracking shots, dissolves, and hand-painted color in his work, Méliès pioneered effects that would define cinematic special effects for decades to come.  A prolific innovator in the use of special effects, Méliès accidentally discovered the substitution stop trick in 1896, a method of creating seamless disappearing and/or appearing effects used throughout both films and television for decades to come.  Because of his ability to seemingly manipulate and transform reality through cinematography, Méliès is sometimes referred to as the first "Cinemagician". Two of his best-known films are A Trip to the Moon (1902) and The Impossible Voyage (1904). Both stories involve strange, surreal voyages, somewhat in the style of Jules Verne, and are considered among the most important early science fiction films, though their approach is closer to fantasy. Méliès was also an early pioneer of horror cinema, which can be traced back to his Le Manoir du diable (1896).   In early 1909 Méliès stopped making films to protest Thomas Edison's Motion Pictures Parents Company monopoly, and presided over the first meeting of the International Filmmakers Congress in Paris.  Further financial hardships created by his opposition to Edison and diminishing influence, Méliès disappeared from public life. By the mid-1920s he made a meager living as a candy and toy salesma in Paris, with the assistance of funds collected by other filmmakers.  Although he was recognized for his contributions in cinema, Méliès spent most of his later years in poverty before being accepted into La Maison du Retraite du Cinéma, the film industry's retirement home in Orly.  

2021

2014

2012

2011

1997

1979

1939

1929

1913

1912

1911

1909

1908

1907

1906

1905

1904

The Impossible Voyage

Actor Mabouloff

The Impossible Voyage

The Cook in Trouble

Actor

The Cook in Trouble

The Untamable Whiskers

Actor Man with whiskers

The Untamable Whiskers

The Wandering Jew

Actor

The Wandering Jew

The Wonderful Living Fan

Actor

The Wonderful Living Fan

The Mermaid

Actor

The Mermaid

The Clockmaker's Dream

Actor

The Clockmaker's Dream

Tchin-Chao, the Chinese Conjurer

Actor

Tchin-Chao, the Chinese Conjurer

The Terrible Turkish Executioner

Actor

The Terrible Turkish Executioner

A Moonlight Serenade

Actor

A Moonlight Serenade

Every Man His Own Cigar Lighter

Actor

Every Man His Own Cigar Lighter

The Fugitive Apparitions

Actor

The Fugitive Apparitions

The Devilish Plank

Actor

The Devilish Plank

Tit for Tat

Actor

Tit for Tat

The Christmas Angel

Actor The Rag-and-Bone Man / Beggar on Crutches / Coal Seller

The Christmas Angel

A Wager Between Two Magicians, or, Jealous of Myself

Actor The Magician / The Double

A Wager Between Two Magicians, or, Jealous of Myself

The Firefall

Actor Satan

The Firefall

The Impossible Voyage

Producer

The Impossible Voyage

The Impossible Voyage

Director

The Impossible Voyage

The Impossible Voyage

Screenplay

The Impossible Voyage

The Cook in Trouble

Director

The Cook in Trouble

The Untamable Whiskers

Director

The Untamable Whiskers

The Mermaid

Director

The Mermaid

The Imperceptible Transmutations

Director

The Imperceptible Transmutations

The Wandering Jew

Director

The Wandering Jew

A Moonlight Serenade

Director

A Moonlight Serenade

The Bewitched Trunk

Director

The Bewitched Trunk

The Firefall

Director

The Firefall

The Terrible Turkish Executioner

Director

The Terrible Turkish Executioner

The Wandering Jew

Producer

The Wandering Jew

The Fugitive Apparitions

Director

The Fugitive Apparitions

Every Man His Own Cigar Lighter

Director

Every Man His Own Cigar Lighter

The Devilish Plank

Director

The Devilish Plank

A Miracle Under the Inquisition

Director

A Miracle Under the Inquisition

The Clockmaker's Dream

Director

The Clockmaker's Dream

Tit for Tat

Director

Tit for Tat

The Christmas Angel

Director

The Christmas Angel

Faust and Marguerite

Director

Faust and Marguerite

The Wonderful Living Fan

Director

The Wonderful Living Fan

Tchin-Chao, the Chinese Conjurer

Director

Tchin-Chao, the Chinese Conjurer

The Christmas Angel

Producer

The Christmas Angel

A Wager Between Two Magicians, or, Jealous of Myself

Director

A Wager Between Two Magicians, or, Jealous of Myself

The Impossible Voyage

Production Design

The Impossible Voyage

The Wonderful Rose Tree

Director

The Wonderful Rose Tree

Benvenuto Cellini or A Curious Evasion

Director

Benvenuto Cellini or A Curious Evasion

The Mischances of a Drunkard

Director

The Mischances of a Drunkard

1903

The Infernal Cauldron

Actor Devil

The Infernal Cauldron

The Monster

Actor

The Monster

The Infernal Cakewalk

Actor Devil

The Infernal Cakewalk

The Melomaniac

Actor

The Melomaniac

Extraordinary Illusions

Actor

Extraordinary Illusions

Jupiter's Thunderballs

Actor

Jupiter's Thunderballs

Bob Kick, the Mischievous Kid

Actor

Bob Kick, the Mischievous Kid

The Ballet Master's Dream

Actor

The Ballet Master's Dream

Apparitions

Actor

Apparitions

The Oracle of Delphi

Actor

The Oracle of Delphi

Faust in the Underworld

Actor Mephistopholes

Faust in the Underworld

The Mystical Flame

Actor

The Mystical Flame

The Kingdom of the Fairies

Actor Prince Bel-Azor

The Kingdom of the Fairies

The Magic Lantern

Actor

The Magic Lantern

Alcofribas, The Master Magician

Actor

Alcofribas, The Master Magician

The Mysterious Box

Actor

The Mysterious Box

Misfortune Never Comes Alone

Actor Lamplighter

Misfortune Never Comes Alone

The Marvellous Wreath

Actor Musketeer

The Marvellous Wreath

The Kingdom of the Fairies

Director

The Kingdom of the Fairies

The Monster

Director

The Monster

The Infernal Cauldron

Production Design

The Infernal Cauldron

The Kingdom of the Fairies

Screenplay

The Kingdom of the Fairies

The Infernal Cauldron

Screenplay

The Infernal Cauldron

The Infernal Cauldron

Producer

The Infernal Cauldron

The Infernal Cauldron

Director

The Infernal Cauldron

The Melomaniac

Director

The Melomaniac

The Infernal Cakewalk

Director

The Infernal Cakewalk

The Oracle of Delphi

Director

The Oracle of Delphi

The Marvellous Wreath

Director

The Marvellous Wreath

The Magic Lantern

Director

The Magic Lantern

Apparitions

Director

Apparitions

The Enchanted Well

Director

The Enchanted Well

Extraordinary Illusions

Director

Extraordinary Illusions

The Inn Where No Man Rests

Director

The Inn Where No Man Rests

Misfortune Never Comes Alone

Director

Misfortune Never Comes Alone

Faust in the Underworld

Director

Faust in the Underworld

Jupiter's Thunderballs

Director

Jupiter's Thunderballs

Ten Ladies in an Umbrella

Director

Ten Ladies in an Umbrella

The Mystical Flame

Director

The Mystical Flame

Alcofribas, The Master Magician

Director

Alcofribas, The Master Magician

The Witch's Revenge

Director

The Witch's Revenge

Bob Kick, the Mischievous Kid

Director

Bob Kick, the Mischievous Kid

Jack Jags and Dum Dum

Director

Jack Jags and Dum Dum

Comical Conjuring

Director

Comical Conjuring

The Mysterious Box

Director

The Mysterious Box

The Ballet Master's Dream

Director

The Ballet Master's Dream

The Drawing Lesson

Director

The Drawing Lesson

A Spiritualist Photographer

Director

A Spiritualist Photographer

Les mousquetaires de la reine

Director

Les mousquetaires de la reine

Alcofribas, The Master Magician

Screenplay

Alcofribas, The Master Magician

The Kingdom of the Fairies

Producer

The Kingdom of the Fairies

The Kingdom of the Fairies

Production Design

The Kingdom of the Fairies

1902

1901

1900

1899

A Midnight Episode

Actor The Sleeping Man (uncredited)

A Midnight Episode

Cinderella

Actor The Gnome of the Clock / The Swiss at the Entrance to the Church

Cinderella

The Devil in a Convent

Actor The Devil

The Devil in a Convent

The Conjurer

Actor Magician

The Conjurer

The Dreyfus Affair

Actor Fernand Labori

The Dreyfus Affair

Summoning the Spirits

Actor

Summoning the Spirits

The Human Pyramid

Actor

The Human Pyramid

The Mysterious Knight

Actor Le chevalier mystère

The Mysterious Knight

The Mysterious Portrait

Actor L'illusioniste

The Mysterious Portrait

Cleopatra's Tomb

Actor un profanateur de la tombe de Cléopâtre

Cleopatra's Tomb

The Pillar of Fire

Actor

The Pillar of Fire

Cinderella

Producer

Cinderella

Cinderella

Production Design

Cinderella

The Degradation of Dreyfus

Director

The Degradation of Dreyfus

Dreyfus Leaving the Lycée for Jail

Director

Dreyfus Leaving the Lycée for Jail

The Pillar of Fire

Production Design

The Pillar of Fire

The Pillar of Fire

Screenplay

The Pillar of Fire

The Pillar of Fire

Producer

The Pillar of Fire

The Conjurer

Director

The Conjurer

The Devil in a Convent

Director

The Devil in a Convent

The Pillar of Fire

Director

The Pillar of Fire

The Mysterious Portrait

Director

The Mysterious Portrait

Dreyfus Put in Irons

Director

Dreyfus Put in Irons

Dreyfus Meets His Wife at Rennes

Director

Dreyfus Meets His Wife at Rennes

Landing of Dreyfus at Quiberon

Director

Landing of Dreyfus at Quiberon

Dreyfus Court Martial - Arrest Of Dreyfus

Director

Dreyfus Court Martial - Arrest Of Dreyfus

Suicide of Colonel Henry

Director

Suicide of Colonel Henry

The Fight of Reporters

Director

The Fight of Reporters

The Court Martial at Rennes

Director

The Court Martial at Rennes

The Attempt Against the Life of Maitre Labori

Director

The Attempt Against the Life of Maitre Labori

The Mysterious Knight

Director

The Mysterious Knight

Cinderella

Director

Cinderella

The Dreyfus Affair

Director

The Dreyfus Affair

The Human Pyramid

Director

The Human Pyramid

Summoning the Spirits

Director

Summoning the Spirits

Cleopatra's Tomb

Director

Cleopatra's Tomb

Fantastic Dining Room

Director

Fantastic Dining Room

A Midnight Episode

Producer

A Midnight Episode

A Midnight Episode

Director

A Midnight Episode

Lightning Change Artist

Director

Lightning Change Artist

Extravagant Struggles

Director

Extravagant Struggles

Devil's Island - Within the Palisade

Director

Devil's Island - Within the Palisade

Christ Walking on Water

Director

Christ Walking on Water

Murder Will Out

Director

Murder Will Out

The Clown and Automobile

Director

The Clown and Automobile

Le conférencier distrait

Director

Le conférencier distrait

1898

1897

1896