Gaston Velle — Director (13)

Movie

Living Flowers (1906) WikiData IMDb TMDB
Les Fleurs animées
director: Gaston Velle
other title: Les Fleurs animées / Les fleurs animées
Gaston Velle's 'Les Fleurs Animées' was screened by the Australian-based Corrick Family Entertainers as part of their variety act. In their advertising the Corricks described the detailed, hand-coloured production as 'The finest "Color" Film of the Twentieth Century'. Simple camera tricks create a magic fairy story in this tale of angry flowers exacting revenge on a man who has wantonly destroyed their garden.

Movie

Burglary at Night (1904) WikiData IMDb TMDB
Dévaliseurs nocturnes
director: Gaston Velle
other title: Dévaliseurs nocturnes / Burglars at Work
A man hides his valuables under his mattress before going to sleep, blissfully unaware of the two burglars on his roof.

Movie

The Hen That Laid the Golden Eggs (1905) WikiData IMDb TMDB
La Poule aux œufs d'or
director: Gaston Velle
other title: La Poule aux œufs d'or
This has more of a clear narrative than most of the films in the set although it’s still quite odd and random compared to today’s films. There are some effectively surreal and creepy sequences in this imaginative short, such as the devil’s face appearing in an egg and spewing coins as well as the finale where our protagonist is sent to an egg-filled hell.

Movie

Japanese Varieties (1904) IMDb TMDB
Japonaiseries
director: Gaston Velle
other title: Japonaiseries
A Japanese-set magic show. There is a lot of visual trickery on display, ending with an amazing effect using reverse footage and superimposing/projecting images on top of one another.

Movie

The Wonderful Album (1905) WikiData IMDb TMDB
L'Album merveilleux
director: Gaston Velle
other title: L'Album merveilleux / L'album merveilleux …
This is in poor condition and the hand colouring is a little rough around the edges compared to the others, but it contains some impressive ‘appearing’ effects as pieces of paper from a giant book turn into people and then back to paper in the punchline. It’s repetitive, but enjoyably trippy.

Movie

The Invisible Men (1906) WikiData IMDb TMDB
Les Invisibles
director: Gaston Velle
other title: Les Invisibles / Les invisibles …
A scientist concocts a potion that can turn people invisible for short periods of time. Two crooks steal the potion and go on a crime spree.

Movie

A Voyage Around a Star (1906) WikiData IMDb TMDB Douban
Voyage autour d’une étoile
director: Gaston Velle
other title: Voyage autour d'une étoile / Voyage autour d’une étoile
An obsessive astronomer desperately wishes to fulfill his impossible dream of reaching for the stars - in this particular scenario, a beautiful female star that seduces him from the skies. With the assistance of his helper, he manages to find a unusual transportation that can take him all the way to reach his destiny: he enters on a giant soap bubble who'll take him there and present him some surprises.