Georges Méliès is famous for his sci-fi and fantasy but he was also a pioneer in the field of cinematic comedy, as this early "Fruit Cart!" scene in AN ADVENTUROUS AUTOMBILE TRIP (1904) proves. Each frame was painted by hand, helping the oranges stand out. - ThreadSky

moviessilently.bsky.social • 3 days ago

Georges Méliès is famous for his sci-fi and fantasy but he was also a pioneer in the field of cinematic comedy, as this early "Fruit Cart!" scene in AN ADVENTUROUS AUTOMBILE TRIP (1904) proves.

Each frame was painted by hand, helping the oranges stand out.

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jijimilou.bsky.social•3 days ago

One wonders if someone has ever claimed that D.W. Griffith invented the fruit cart scene, lol.

moviessilently.bsky.social•3 days ago

Oh I wouldn’t doubt it, someone tried to claim he invented tied to the tracks! Which he never even claimed or used in one of his films.

jijimilou.bsky.social•3 days ago

Ha, good grief. What'll they claim next, that D.W. Griffith invented going for a walk in Roundhay Garden??

drstef.bsky.social•3 days ago

I had not seen this gem before. Wonderful!

megaernz.bsky.social•3 days ago

101 years later & that gag’s still hilarious!!

isinqueens.bsky.social•3 days ago

The man was a genius! I saw a lot of his films when Criterion recently did a retrospective. Quite a treat.

vaneekara.bsky.social•3 days ago

This has got to be the origin of the fruit cart gag, yea? Was this a thing in vaudeville or something, or was it Méliès who did it first???

moviessilently.bsky.social•3 days ago

It probably started on the stage, most tropes did, but it’s the earliest movie version I have seen

riphotosurvey.bsky.social•3 days ago

Magic.

timferan.bsky.social•3 days ago

Incredible! Thank you!

mattbjorkman.bsky.social•3 days ago

I always felt Melies had a real wild sense of humor, at least in how it was portrayed in his films.

erikavalentine.bsky.social•3 days ago

I'm imagining painting each individual orange on a 35mm frame--over and over--and just about losing my mind.

billweinstein.bsky.social•3 days ago

I’m curious. The frame rate for the silent was about 16 fps, but Melies films seem more staccato. Is this just my perception?

moviessilently.bsky.social•3 days ago

16fps wasn’t actually that common. Edison features ran about 21fps, for example.

But GIFs always play havoc with frame rates, so I wouldn’t judge using them

billweinstein.bsky.social•3 days ago

Thank you.

aiabx.bsky.social•3 days ago

I went on a Méliès binge a few years ago and I was amazed at the imagination the guy had.

kipwilliams.bsky.social•3 days ago

"FRUIT CART!!"

(hands microphone to next in line)

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