Georges Melies - Master of Illusion: Crash Course Film History #4

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  • Опубліковано 3 тра 2017
  • After the Lumiere brothers and Thomas Edison got the ball rolling with Vaudeville acts and Actualites, the time was coming for movie magic and fiction to make an appearance. The time was coming of filmmakers like Georges Melies and Alice Guy-Blache.
    Produced in collaboration with PBS Digital Studios: / pbsdigitalstudios
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 326

  • @NewNew-qn7kh
    @NewNew-qn7kh 7 років тому +614

    Been in love with Melies after seeing Hugo, such a wonderful filmmaker

    • @californiumblog
      @californiumblog 7 років тому +47

      Ben Macdowall, Hugo is a great movie! Scorsese's clear love of the material really elevated it.

    • @spacepopeXIV
      @spacepopeXIV 7 років тому +4

      Ben Macdowall too true,

    • @siddals7920
      @siddals7920 7 років тому +4

      same!

    • @pancake-th7qy
      @pancake-th7qy 7 років тому +8

      Read the book scrub.

    • @lululyric
      @lululyric 7 років тому +2

      YASSSS HUGO!!

  • @sandradermark8463
    @sandradermark8463 7 років тому +187

    Also, glad you acknowledged Alice Guy and her pioneering films!!!

  • @Tyrannosaurus_Wrexx
    @Tyrannosaurus_Wrexx 7 років тому +413

    Can you get a Thomas Edison figurine, and punch it, instead of the eagle? Edison damned sure deserves it

  • @creativeusername6453
    @creativeusername6453 7 років тому +278

    you guys will probably never read this and it will most likely get buried under a mountain of other commitments but this series was the #1 reason I was able to finish my research paper on film history

    • @madLphnt
      @madLphnt 7 років тому +3

      damn...it just started 3 weeks ago man. must have been a short project ;)

    • @creativeusername6453
      @creativeusername6453 7 років тому +8

      MaDeLapHnT the stuff about early film was all I really needed. It would have been the hardest part of the research without these videos

    • @slendy9600
      @slendy9600 7 років тому

      creative username good luck with the paper

    • @madLphnt
      @madLphnt 7 років тому +1

      gotcha...this whole channel is incredible, and scishow

    • @ninab2509
      @ninab2509 7 років тому +1

      this series basically is my research on film history

  • @vp21ct
    @vp21ct 7 років тому +162

    Next time you go watch the Avengers, or Star Wars, or anything else.
    This man. This man started it all.

  • @sandradermark8463
    @sandradermark8463 7 років тому +60

    I luv Méliès's moon!! That Moon with a space capsule on its eye is an icon of scifi history!!

    • @unvergebeneid
      @unvergebeneid 7 років тому +2

      We've come a long way in inter-species diplomacy since A Voyage to the Moon, however ;) Let's hope the aliens see both that film _and_ Star Trek before they get here.

  • @Daffolyn
    @Daffolyn 4 роки тому +31

    Melies didn't just want to buy the device, he offered lumiere to give everting he owned; his entire fortune, his house and even his FAMILY lmao

  • @californiumblog
    @californiumblog 7 років тому +179

    I'm LOVING this series. Thanks Craig and CrashCourse!

  • @TheBronyCraft
    @TheBronyCraft 7 років тому +1046

    As if i already got enough reasons to dislike Thomas Edison.. come on man.

    • @helmiazizm
      @helmiazizm 7 років тому +4

      The BronyCrafters what are the other reasons? I don't read that much lol

    • @AStrangeTree
      @AStrangeTree 7 років тому +79

      it's like... where to even begin

    • @swiftlymurmurs
      @swiftlymurmurs 7 років тому +147

      thanks He stole basically everyone's inventions and claimed them as his own, most notably Nikola Tesla's, one of the greatest inventors ever, who was largely underappreciated for his contributions to modern radio and electricity thanks to Edison

    • @ElfRulerr
      @ElfRulerr 7 років тому +64

      He also poisoned our water supply, burned our crops, and delivered a plague unto our houses.

    • @swiftlymurmurs
      @swiftlymurmurs 7 років тому +41

      ElfRuler And he took our jobs!

  • @eliasheid947
    @eliasheid947 7 років тому +46

    Aside from Hugo itself, I highly recommend viewers get and read a copy of the book it's based on "The Invention of Hugo Cabret".
    been a while since i watched Hugo, so can't really remember it, but the storytelling and artwork of The Invention is definitely something everyone should experience at least once.

  • @justicecurry3658
    @justicecurry3658 7 років тому +186

    Be honest, you learned most of this from Hugo

    • @Crlarl
      @Crlarl 7 років тому +32

      People have studied film history since before _Hugo._

    • @fullofherair2627
      @fullofherair2627 7 років тому +13

      i t s a j o k e

    • @RodrigoBarbosaBR
      @RodrigoBarbosaBR 7 років тому +26

      No they have not. No one ever studied any film history before Hugo.
      I would provide you with references, but since no one studied, there are no references.
      Also, a sphere is round.

    • @fullofherair2627
      @fullofherair2627 7 років тому +4

      oh sorry you're right

    • @olelain
      @olelain 6 років тому

      I don't get the point with this Hugo ? Who is he ? Famous american character I suppose.

  • @Xargosss
    @Xargosss 6 років тому +6

    Georges was my great great grandfather, and I have to say your video is awesome, the best in this format I have seen for a long time. Thanks a lot.

  • @michaellyden2580
    @michaellyden2580 7 років тому +39

    I'm looking forward to your upcoming lessons on the Silent Film era, particularly on the films Nosferatu, The Lost World, and Metropolis.

    • @Yosi-Berman
      @Yosi-Berman 7 років тому +2

      My guess is 3 episodes: Next one will be about D.W Griffith and the rise of filming techniques like camera angles and cut-on-action.
      After that Russian montage and Eisenstein.
      Than German expressionism including the Cabinet of Dr. Caligary, Nosferatu, and Metropolis.
      If the Lost World gets mentioned it would be in the next episode, but I'd guess Crash Course would rather mention King Kong as part of the golden age of Hollywood and the studio system

  • @darcymccusker3681
    @darcymccusker3681 7 років тому +19

    Love this CC series! But holy s***, Alice Guy-Blaché is fascinating. Thanks for including her, even after your first editing was done. I wouldn't have known about her otherwise. Now I wonder how fast a biographical film of her will be made, because there is a lot of good narrative to be mined.

  • @milese3620
    @milese3620 7 років тому +7

    This is by far my favourite Crash Course opening! Keep up the great work!

  • @RavenwolfFoxtrack
    @RavenwolfFoxtrack 7 років тому +39

    I'm waiting for Craig to feature his movie, "Eagle Punch: The Movie"

    • @akinmytua4680
      @akinmytua4680 7 років тому +3

      Ravenwolf Foxtrack I like the Edison punching idea from another comment

  • @WithintheBeyond
    @WithintheBeyond 7 років тому +22

    David Bowie is Nikola Tesla in the prestige and it's unbelievable. I didn't know this before but wow now I couldn't unsee the way I watch prestige. it was him all the way.. salute Ziggy stardust!

  • @SidV101
    @SidV101 7 років тому +11

    D'aww real life happy endings are the best

  • @NickBriz
    @NickBriz 7 років тому +2

    Alice Guy-Blaché!!! Omg I saw her stuff in class once a literal decade ago && have been trying to find her work since ( by the time I could appreciate what I had seen I had forgotten her name && lost contact w/the professor ) so xcited to rewatch everything I can find of hers again!!! Thank u crash course!!!

  • @carlewen-lewis3305
    @carlewen-lewis3305 6 років тому +1

    What a beautiful story about Melies. Thank you Crash Course.

  • @LuEdPaDo
    @LuEdPaDo 7 років тому +1

    Gotta say this series' intro is without a doubt my favorite out of all the crash course intros

  • @landondergler4959
    @landondergler4959 6 років тому +3

    I haven't laughed out of pure joy in a long time. Thanks you! Beautiful editing and scripting. Thank you for that honest, full felt laugh.

  • @unigirl3070
    @unigirl3070 4 роки тому +1

    THANK YOU FILM HISTORY! These videos were the only reason I was able to do my project in time. Thank you!

  • @A06K11
    @A06K11 6 років тому

    Just today I watched Hugo and came into this playlist by coincidence, now I'm completely in love with Méliès' work

  • @itz_eliatardecer2797
    @itz_eliatardecer2797 6 років тому +2

    Happy birthday Georges Mélies!

  • @matthewdockter2424
    @matthewdockter2424 7 років тому

    I missed you on Crash Course ever since your Civics stuff was done, Craig. You're rapid stream of consciousness style is easy for me to intake, I don't get bored and wander off having to keep up with your minutiae.

  • @fh9061
    @fh9061 Рік тому +1

    Honestly as a 21st century watcher who recently saw a trip to the moon I have to see it's still pretty impressive and magical

  • @gonzesse1437
    @gonzesse1437 7 років тому

    LOVE THIS SERIES. LOVE YOU WHEEZYWAITER

  • @renatestyvepettersen7356
    @renatestyvepettersen7356 7 років тому

    I absolutely adore this!

  • @MyHotshot7
    @MyHotshot7 4 роки тому +1

    I have a film history exam tomorrow and im using this series to help me pass, i hope it works :)

  • @praseet0
    @praseet0 Рік тому

    today i am watching and still quality is awesome.

  • @ptegegn1
    @ptegegn1 7 років тому +4

    this guy is awesome

  • @carolkoshimuraAM
    @carolkoshimuraAM 6 років тому +2

    Thank you for mentioning Alice Guy-Blache! She's so important to the history of cinema yet I don't see people talking about her at all! I feel like she's been quite erased of history.

  • @NanZingrone
    @NanZingrone 7 років тому

    Such a great series!

  • @KieranIsCamera
    @KieranIsCamera 7 років тому +5

    Great series! With so much of what you're talking about wildly out of copyright and on UA-cam, it might be nice to have an ongoing 'Films Mentioned in Crash Course Film History' playlist. Even if it just ends up as trailers as we get deeper into the series.
    Also if this already exists, a link would be smashing.

  • @WhatsinTheFrameilovemoviees
    @WhatsinTheFrameilovemoviees 7 років тому

    This serie is so f*cking awesome ! i love you Craig

  • @kathleencoulter5091
    @kathleencoulter5091 7 років тому

    I love this series.

  • @highfatcheese7668
    @highfatcheese7668 7 років тому +1

    please keep it up I learned so much from crash course

  • @shamneo23
    @shamneo23 7 років тому +2

    i just watched Hugo! this is perfect

  • @nosugarforyou4008
    @nosugarforyou4008 7 років тому

    this is one of those videos that I watch all the way

  • @DarkElectroGames
    @DarkElectroGames 7 років тому +1

    Hey, I remember him from a book called Hugo Cabret. Thanks for expanding my knowledge on him CrashCourse!

  • @maxscameraguy
    @maxscameraguy 7 років тому

    I love the recaps.

  • @LikBug51124892
    @LikBug51124892 7 років тому +1

    I read a passage in Toefl practice about George Melies. It is pretty amazing to listen to this video and really get the ideas of all his inventions. The double exposure is fun too ;)

  • @TheZapan99
    @TheZapan99 7 років тому +1

    Fun Fact, the théâtre Robert Houdin, owned by Meliès, was named after Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin, the french magician that inspired the stage name of the escape artist Harry Houdini.

  • @itsdaksha
    @itsdaksha 4 роки тому

    Literally so helpful. This is my paper ❤️

  • @cinemapure.e
    @cinemapure.e 7 років тому +36

    I see that "Fault In Our Stars" copy in the intro scene, John ya big promoter.

  • @jotarokujoandstarplatinum1280
    @jotarokujoandstarplatinum1280 7 років тому

    YEEEAH TONIGHT, TONIGHT'S MY JAM.

  • @ChrisAndersen
    @ChrisAndersen 7 років тому +1

    Great series. I'd love you to do a series on comic books. Scott McCould's Understanding Comics would be a good blueprint for the series.

  • @lizzeerr
    @lizzeerr 7 років тому

    I really really love this :3

  • @syystomu
    @syystomu 6 років тому +1

    Needs more Alice Guy-Blaché. (Okay okay I'm glad she at least got a token mention. I was worried you might just skip her)

  • @arielcurra7647
    @arielcurra7647 5 років тому

    Good episode

  • @casir.7407
    @casir.7407 7 років тому

    i love the thumbnail picture, with all the little georges. also, cool tat, matt!

  • @xooperz
    @xooperz 4 роки тому

    Dude did all this over 100 years ago. What a legend. Without any prior knowledge or technology. Just makes you respect early 20th centrury and prior inventors even more.

  • @rehananurmahi1089
    @rehananurmahi1089 7 років тому

    Wish i had this when i was doing my early film module last semester!

  • @bluetannery1527
    @bluetannery1527 7 років тому +8

    *flashbacks to The Invention of Hugo Cabret*

  • @PinkChucky15
    @PinkChucky15 7 років тому +31

    Not enough Matthew Gaydos.

  • @Mask60YT
    @Mask60YT 7 років тому +1

    wait this guy actually existed, i thought he was a fictional character from the book that turned into the movie hugo, thats one of my favorite books

  • @megancser5813
    @megancser5813 7 років тому +1

    Hugo is one of my favorite books

  • @Mantzy_AUS
    @Mantzy_AUS 7 років тому +27

    If Thomas Edison was around today he'd be a troll

    • @Kabodanki
      @Kabodanki 7 років тому +2

      or a steve jobs or a bill gates...

  • @BladeRedwind
    @BladeRedwind 7 років тому +1

    I really hope you cover Singin' in The Rain and how it related to the death of the silent film era, especially the stars that were left behind because their voices would not mesh with their characters.

  • @BlueSugarMaple
    @BlueSugarMaple 7 років тому +2

    May the Fourth be with you, Craig.

  • @ArturoStojanoff
    @ArturoStojanoff 7 років тому

    Oh my... Finally a story with a happy ending in history.

  • @kierankelly3314
    @kierankelly3314 6 років тому

    Happy birthday Georges

  • @bearabubo8156
    @bearabubo8156 7 років тому +8

    who else thought the lil dudes in the thumbnail were supposed to be craig

  • @mochrimek
    @mochrimek 7 років тому +1

    @7:45 I want that same tattoo! Thanks, Matt's arm!

  • @Atypical-Abbie
    @Atypical-Abbie 7 років тому +1

    I always wondered where the moon thing came from. I have seen it before but thought it was maybe a painting or art piece, never thought it came from an old movie. I learned so much today.

  • @geoffreywinn4031
    @geoffreywinn4031 7 років тому

    Cool video!

  • @rongrant3500
    @rongrant3500 6 років тому +1

    Just to add to the Edison Bashing, he didn't even invent the light bulb. He took the invention, and he did improve on it, but his real genius was the business end & marketing. (The light bulb was invented by Henry Woodward in 1874 in Toronto, Canada. Woodward then sold the patent to Edison.)

  • @vijayarya9528
    @vijayarya9528 Рік тому

    Thank u all very much

  • @WakkaMadeInYevon
    @WakkaMadeInYevon 7 років тому

    I think my first big "change of perspective" moment was reading The Alchemist in my first year of high school
    Great book

  • @vivekmudgalglobalcitizen.1279
    @vivekmudgalglobalcitizen.1279 6 років тому

    ~ wow : really great man .. !!

  • @weldin
    @weldin 7 років тому

    I never noticed that "Netflix and chill of the 1930s" in the intro until now.

  • @timsmythfilmsandanimations
    @timsmythfilmsandanimations 5 років тому

    Really amazing video series, thanks so much for making it. Like the Lumiere's were not the first to hold a public screening George was not the first to use the stop the camera, and make a substitution, and start the camera back up trick. The first film I think to use it was called The Execution of Mary Queen of Scots from 1895. Still, George probably discovered on his own, like he described. While he did use the double exposure trick ( a lot) along with the substitution trick, and a quick edit to match them up, I do not believe he used the split screen effect, or the Matte effect you mentioned in the video. If you want to show me proof, I will look at it, but all the films I have seen from him are just Double Exposures, beautifully executed, but still not Splits or Mattes. That is why there is so much black on his stage, so that he can just run the unexposed film through the camera again, and place another image in the black area of the stage, no need for Mattes or Splits. Many claim that Four Troublesome Heads used these Mattes, but they would never work in the real world scenario of that film, as George himself is moving around too much for his head to be cut off by a Matte. Edwin S. Porter's The Great Train Robbery certainly used Mattes, but they did not use glass either, as that would cut off portions of the frame that are simply still there, no digital roto-scoping to help them out. Other than than great video, and great series.

  • @D0NTREPLY
    @D0NTREPLY 10 місяців тому

    the awards statue they use in the highest honor in hollywood visual effects is the moon head from trip to the moon.

  • @these2menrgannadoit
    @these2menrgannadoit 7 років тому +4

    Craig is the best crash course guy

  • @Rasselas_Urasawa
    @Rasselas_Urasawa 7 років тому +1

    please make an episode where you talk about the greatest film movements, I.e. Nu velle vogue, classic hollywood, german mysticism, and some of the "considered" greatest films of all time.
    -thanks C:

  • @mothman84
    @mothman84 7 років тому +1

    I watched _Hugo_ a few years ago, without ever having heard of Méliès before. For most of this video I had this thought buzzing in my head, _I know I've already heard a similar story before, but where?_

  • @funnytableman4727
    @funnytableman4727 5 років тому +1

    Such a wonderful man I read the book the invention of hugo cabaret wonderful book

  • @gabrielofficial7859
    @gabrielofficial7859 Рік тому

    Here after reading and seeing Hugo 🎥❤️

  • @greysongolda2
    @greysongolda2 6 років тому

    Yay! I've been saying his name right for years!

  • @movinglifechannels8866
    @movinglifechannels8866 6 років тому

    the story is best , Iam learning from you

  • @TheElitedeath
    @TheElitedeath 7 років тому

    A trip to the moon is actually on netflix for anyone who was unaware and wants to see it.

  • @pandaant
    @pandaant 6 років тому

    you know the movie Hugo, there is a mention of Georges Melies; Fly me to the Moon... its a pretty good movie

  • @masterspork3735
    @masterspork3735 Рік тому

    Double exposure- running the film negative through the camera twice before developing it
    Both images appear, second one appears faded
    Split frame-cover half the frame and shoot twice to have same actors do different things
    Matting basically the same as the split frame but cover whatever you want by painting the plate however you wanted
    George Melies what can you really say he was an stage magician, he innovated the game with ambitious storylines, editing, lavish costumes, sets 25-75 films a year, founded a production company called Star Film and made a studio. He quit but then was recognized by Louis Lumiere
    Also films were being colored by painting films whatever
    -A Trip to the Moon
    Alice Guy Blaché was a female filmmaker that's about it
    Matthew Gaydos's arm

  • @thegiodude1717
    @thegiodude1717 7 років тому +1

    May the 4th be with you

  • @qtulod5833
    @qtulod5833 7 років тому +9

    Is Melies like Zach King?

  • @Leotique
    @Leotique 7 років тому

    Congratulations for being a daddy Craig !!! :)

  • @scdont_interupt_boi8091
    @scdont_interupt_boi8091 5 років тому

    Watching this for a school Project :P

  • @DrDress
    @DrDress 7 років тому

    7:45 Matt just vanished into thin air! What kind of sorcery is this?!

  • @esteban.r11
    @esteban.r11 7 років тому +8

    My guess is that next time you're gonna talk about Sergei Eisenstein. Am I right, Crashcourse? Do I get a cookie?

    • @thelonelydirector
      @thelonelydirector 7 років тому +2

      estebanrueda1 nope. We've got three other videos before we get to Montage :)

  • @crazycommentwriter1829
    @crazycommentwriter1829 7 років тому

    Uhh weezy waiter, had not expected you here :D

  • @bikeh
    @bikeh 6 років тому +1

    There's a book about this. The Invention of Hugo Cebret. (I don't know if I'm spelling it right.)

  • @madLphnt
    @madLphnt 7 років тому

    "Can you make me float up"? haha...i like the faint "we cant do that"

  • @jackyoh971
    @jackyoh971 7 років тому

    Melies the inventor of the cinema as a art form the fist of all the Movies pioneer...

  • @MrLeo10
    @MrLeo10 7 років тому

    I didnt know I was into Film History... untill now

  • @nedkuczmynda3782
    @nedkuczmynda3782 7 років тому

    Thats freaky, the bus turning to a hearse.

  • @josephercanbrack8393
    @josephercanbrack8393 6 років тому

    Mysterio is probably Melies' biggest fan.

  • @ZeroKage69
    @ZeroKage69 7 років тому

    The moon is referenced in Futurama, the best show ever... That's how I knew of it.

  • @Quintinia
    @Quintinia 7 років тому +1

    I have one little nitpick-- the city in France you referenced at 7:57 is not pronounced Mon-trell but more like a cross between Mon-troy and Mon-trey, with a rolled r.

  • @alyg3044
    @alyg3044 7 років тому

    And that is even without delving into the Houdini connection