Le royaume des fées

This is another epic on the scale of Melies' earlier Voyage to the Moon but which lacks the iconic images of that film which is perhaps why it is now relatively unknown. Without a doubt it is every bit as interesting and fantastic as Voyage with elaborate sets and costumes and typically exuberant performances from the actors. One thing about Melies' films is that everyone up there on the screen looks like they're having a whale of a time - a fact which adds to the viewers' enjoyment. The story is a typical fairy tale with a noble prince braving all manner of obstacles to save his beloved from the clutches of a wicked witch. The acting is of the 'hands in the air to express surprise/shock/fear' variety, but in this case that just adds to the enjoyment.

This is a great old short. The backgrounds are very intricate, fun and colorful. This is a perfect double feature with A Trip to the Moon (1903), especially if you're the kind of person that likes watching these extremely old films on youtube, like me.

One of Melies' elaborate story productions, ranking with VOYAGE TO THE MOON, using camera tricks, sleight of hand, elaborate costumes and interesting model work. Technically it will look primitive to the modern eye -- the sets are clearly sets, the models clearly models -- but it is all done with Melies' verve and dedication. Certainly, the grotto and underwater sets are beautiful; he knew how to draw stonework.

Melies, I feel, remains the most accessible of the oldest directors, in large part because of the sheer sense of showmanship and joy that is evident in these works. His scenes, when they are not sleight-of-hand magic, are essentially tableaux, punctuated by acrobats. His tableaux are much more elaborate than other directors who use the form, providing a feast for the eye. Working, as he does in this movie, with familiar images, he elaborates them, whereas in VOYAGE TO THE MOON, he invents them and suggest them. The effect is -- there is no other word for it -- magical.

Kingdom of Fairies, The (1903)

*** (out of 4)

aka Royaume des fees, Le

Epic film from Melies was meant to be in the same league as his A Trip to the Moon but it doesn't reach that level. In the film, a Prince is about to marry a Princess but before the wedding a witch comes and kidnaps the Princess. The Prince must then go on a dangerous journey to get her back. The film uses spoken narration to tell the story, which is certainly needed because without it the movie really doesn't make too much sense. I think the biggest problem with the film is its story, which I found rather weak and it really couldn't get me involved with the film. Even with that said this is a must see because of the beautiful costumes and art design, which are among the best from this era of film-making. The entire film is hand colored, which is another plus because it adds a lot of beauty to the film. The best sequence in the movie is an underwater one where we get to see large lobsters and a man eating whale. Most of the devils are colored either red or blue and this added effect makes for a lot of fun as well. The film runs 16-minutes, which was certainly epic in the day and it never really gets boring and again, this is due to the incredible look more than the story itself.

This is the most beautiful production I've seen from Melies. The visuals will have you mesmerized - simply stunning!

It's about a princess that is taken away from her home by and evil witch... a prince and his men will journey to rescue her.

Yes this film is worth the 15 minutes or so to watch!

9/10