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.
Known For
| Birth Location | Paris, France |
|---|---|
| Born | 1861-12-09 |
| Died | 1938-01-21 |
Movies
Melies: Tales of Terror
as The Melomaniac
2021
The Méliès Mystery
as Lui-même (archives)
2021
El hombre que quiso ser Segundo
as Self (archive footage)
2014
The Cinemagician, Georges Méliès
as Self (archive footage)
2012
The Extraordinary Voyage
as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
2011
Méliès' Magic Show
as Divers
1997
Cinematógrafo 1900
as Self (archive footage)
1979
Violons d'Ingres
as Himself (archive footage)
1939
The Knight of the Snow
as Devil
1912
The Conquest of the Pole
as Le professeur Mabouloff
1912
Whimsical Illusions
as The Magician
1909
1909
The Diabolic Tenant
as Le locataire diabolique
1909
Tribulations; or, The Misfortunes of a Cobbler
as The Roman
1908
The Indian Sorcerer
as The Fakir
1908
Satan in Prison
as Satan
1907
Ali Barbouyou and Ali Bouf, In Oil
as Ali Barbouyou
1907
The Eclipse: Courtship of the Sun and Moon
as Professor of Astronomy
1907
1907
The Witch
as The Fairy Carabosse
1906
1906
The Hilarious Posters
as The Bill Poster
1906
The Merry Frolics of Satan
as Satan
1906
Rip's Dream
as Rip Van Winkle
1905
The Palace of the Arabian Nights
as The Sorcerer Khalafar (uncredited)
1905
1905
The Living Playing Cards
as The Magician
1905
The Impossible Voyage
as Mabouloff
1904
1904
The Firefall
as Satan
1904
1904
The Untamable Whiskers
as Man with whiskers
1904
A Wager Between Two Magicians, or, Jealous of Myself
as The Magician / The Double
1904
1904
1904
The Christmas Angel
as The Rag-and-Bone Man / Beggar on Crutches / Coal Seller
1904
1904
1904
Faust in the Underworld
as Mephistopholes
1903
The Infernal Cauldron
as Devil
1903
1903
The Kingdom of the Fairies
as Prince Bel-Azor
1903
1903
1903
1903
1903
The Marvellous Wreath
as Musketeer
1903
Misfortune Never Comes Alone
as Lamplighter
1903
The Infernal Cakewalk
as Devil
1903
1903
1903
A Trip to the Moon
as Professor Barbenfouillis / The Moon
1902
Robinson Crusoe
as Robinson Crusoé
1902
The Human Fly
as The Hindoo Magician
1902
1902
The Prince of Magicians
as Excelsior
1901
The Man with the Rubber Head
as The Chemist / The India Rubber Head
1901
Bluebeard
as Barbe-bleue
1901
The Christmas Dream
as Beggar
1900
Joan of Arc
as Père de Jeanne
1900
The Artist and the Dummy
as Artiste
1900
The Magic Book
as The Magician
1900
The Triple Conjurer and the Living Head
as Conjurer
1900
A Fantastical Meal
as The Man
1900
1900
Up-to-Date Spiritualism
as Le comique excentrique
1900
Going to Bed Under Difficulties
as The Man
1900
The Fat and Lean Wrestling Match
as Wrestler
1900
The One-Man Band
as All the members of the orchestra
1900
The Dreyfus Affair
as Fernand Labori
1899
Cinderella
as The Gnome of the Clock / The Swiss at the Entrance to the Church
1899
1899
A Midnight Episode
as The Sleeping Man (uncredited)
1899
1899
Cleopatra's Tomb
as un profanateur de la tombe de Cléopâtre
1899
The Mysterious Portrait
as L'illusioniste
1899
The Mysterious Knight
as Le chevalier mystère
1899
The Conjurer
as Magician
1899
The Devil in a Convent
as The Devil
1899
The Magician
as Le Sculpteur
1898
The Famous Box Trick
as The Magician
1898
Pygmalion and Galatea
as Pygmalion
1898
The Astronomer's Dream
as Astronomer
1898
The Four Troublesome Heads
as Conjurer
1898
Faust and Marguerite
as Méphistophélès
1897
Between Calais and Dover
as The Man in the Checked Suit
1897
Naval Combat in Greece
as The Captain
1897
The Bewitched Inn
as The Traveler
1897
1897
A Nightmare
as Man
1896
The Haunted Castle
as Mephistopheles
1896
Conjuring
as Himself
1896
Playing Cards
as Un joueur de cartes
1896
The Vanishing Lady
as Magician
1896
A Terrible Night
as L'homme qui essaie de dormir
1896
Movies
Melies: Tales of Terror
Producer
2021
Melies: Tales of Terror
Director
2021
ORG
Thanks
1979
The Voyage of M. Bourrichon
Director
1913
The Knight of the Snow
Director
1912
Cinderella or The Glass Slipper
Director
1912
The Conquest of the Pole
Director of Photography
1912
The Conquest of the Pole
Producer
1912
The Conquest of the Pole
Screenplay
1912
The Conquest of the Pole
Director
1912
1911
The Diabolical Church Window
Director
1910
Whimsical Illusions
Production Design
1909
Whimsical Illusions
Screenplay
1909
Whimsical Illusions
Producer
1909
Whimsical Illusions
Director
1909
The Diabolic Tenant
Production Design
1909
The Diabolic Tenant
Screenplay
1909
The Diabolic Tenant
Producer
1909
The Doctor's Secret
Director
1909
The Spider and the Butterfly
Director
1909
The Diabolic Tenant
Director
1909
A Tricky Painter’s Fate
Director
1908
1908
1908
Sideshow Wrestlers
Director
1908
His First Job
Director
1908
The Woes of Roller Skaters
Director
1908
Why That Actor Was Late
Director
1908
Grandmother's Tale and Child's Dream
Director
1908
The Genii of Fire
Director
1908
The Broken Violin
Director
1908
The Miser
Director
1908
The New Lord of the Village
Director
1908
The Mischance of a Photographer
Director
1908
1908
Not Guilty
Director
1908
Buncoed Stage Johnnie
Director
1908
In the Barber Shop
Director
1908
Long Distance Wireless Photography
Director
1908
The Good Luck of a 'Souse'
Director
1908
The King and the Jester
Director
1908
The Indian Sorcerer
Director
1908
The Knight of Black Art
Director
1908
Justinian's Human Torches
Director
1908
L'agent gelé
Director
1908
Humanity Through the Ages
Director
1908
Pharmaceutical Hallucinations
Director
1908
In the Bogie Man's Cave
Director
1908
French Cops Learning English
Director
1908
The Dream of an Opium Fiend
Director
1908
The Prophetess of Thebes
Director
1907
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
Director
1907
Satan in Prison
Director
1907
Sightseeing Through Whisky
Director
1907
Tunneling the English Channel
Production Design
1907
Tunneling the English Channel
Producer
1907
Tunneling the English Channel
Director
1907
How Bridget's Lover Escaped
Director
1907
Rogues' Tricks
Director
1907
Ali Barbouyou and Ali Bouf, In Oil
Director
1907
The Skipping Cheese
Director
1907
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Director
1907
Good Glue Sticks
Director
1907
1907
The Witch
Production Design
1906
The Witch
Producer
1906
The Witch
Writer
1906
The Witch
Director
1906
Robert Macaire and Bertrand
Director
1906
Jack the Chimney Sweep
Director
1906
The Tramp and the Mattress Makers
Director
1906
A Mix-Up in the Gallery
Director
1906
A Roadside Inn
Director
1906
Soap Bubbles
Director
1906
Punch and Judy
Director
1906
The Merry Frolics of Satan
Screenplay
1906
The Merry Frolics of Satan
Production Design
1906
The Merry Frolics of Satan
Producer
1906
The Hilarious Posters
Producer
1906
The Luny Musician
Director
1906
A Desperate Crime
Director
1906
The Merry Frolics of Satan
Director
1906
The Hilarious Posters
Director
1906
The Mysterious Retort
Director
1906
The Lilliputian Minuet
Director
1905
Rip's Dream
Screenplay
1905
Rip's Dream
Production Design
1905
Rip's Dream
Producer
1905
Rip's Dream
Director
1905
The Magic Dice
Director
1905
STOP THIEF!
Director
1905
An Adventurous Automobile Trip
Director
1905
The Palace of the Arabian Nights
Production Design
1905
1905
The Palace of the Arabian Nights
Producer
1905
The Palace of the Arabian Nights
Director
1905
A Crazy Composer
Director
1905
An Improvised Fireworks Display
Director
1905
The Inventor Crazybrains and His Wonderful Airship
Production Design
1905
1905
1905
The Black Imp
Producer
1905
A Mesmerian Experiment
Director
1905
1905
Ulysses and the Giant Polyphemus
Director
1905
The Black Imp
Director
1905
The Living Playing Cards
Director
1905
The Scheming Gambler's Paradise
Director
1905
The Enchanted Sedan Chair
Director
1905
The Impossible Voyage
Production Design
1904
The Impossible Voyage
Screenplay
1904
The Impossible Voyage
Producer
1904
The Impossible Voyage
Director
1904
The Devilish Plank
Director
1904
The Firefall
Director
1904
Tchin-Chao, the Chinese Conjurer
Director
1904
A Moonlight Serenade
Director
1904
Faust and Marguerite
Director
1904
A Miracle Under the Inquisition
Director
1904
The Clockmaker's Dream
Director
1904
The Bewitched Trunk
Director
1904
The Untamable Whiskers
Director
1904
The Fugitive Apparitions
Director
1904
1904
Every Man His Own Cigar Lighter
Director
1904
Tit for Tat
Director
1904
The Terrible Turkish Executioner
Director
1904
The Wonderful Rose Tree
Director
1904
The Wandering Jew
Producer
1904
1904
1904
The Christmas Angel
Producer
1904
The Wonderful Living Fan
Director
1904
The Christmas Angel
Director
1904
The Wandering Jew
Director
1904
The Imperceptible Transmutations
Director
1904
The Cook in Trouble
Director
1904
The Mermaid
Director
1904
Faust in the Underworld
Director
1903
Comical Conjuring
Director
1903
The Ballet Master's Dream
Director
1903
Alcofribas, The Master Magician
Screenplay
1903
Alcofribas, The Master Magician
Director
1903
Bob Kick, the Mischievous Kid
Director
1903
Ten Ladies in an Umbrella
Director
1903
Jupiter's Thunderballs
Director
1903
Jack Jags and Dum Dum
Director
1903
The Infernal Cauldron
Screenplay
1903
The Infernal Cauldron
Production Design
1903
The Infernal Cauldron
Producer
1903
The Infernal Cauldron
Director
1903
Apparitions
Director
1903
The Kingdom of the Fairies
Screenplay
1903
The Kingdom of the Fairies
Production Design
1903
The Kingdom of the Fairies
Producer
1903
The Kingdom of the Fairies
Director
1903
The Melomaniac
Director
1903
A Spiritualist Photographer
Director
1903
The Oracle of Delphi
Director
1903
The Monster
Director
1903
The Mystical Flame
Director
1903
Les mousquetaires de la reine
Director
1903
Misfortune Never Comes Alone
Director
1903
The Marvellous Wreath
Director
1903
The Infernal Cakewalk
Director
1903
1903
The Drawing Lesson
Director
1903
The Witch's Revenge
Director
1903
The Mysterious Box
Director
1903
The Magic Lantern
Director
1903
The Inn Where No Man Rests
Director
1903
Extraordinary Illusions
Director
1903
The Enchanted Well
Director
1903
The Coronation of Edward VII
Director
1902
A Trip to the Moon
Editor
1902
A Trip to the Moon
Production Design
1902
A Trip to the Moon
Producer
1902
A Trip to the Moon
Screenplay
1902
A Trip to the Moon
Director
1902
Robinson Crusoe
Screenplay
1902
Robinson Crusoe
Production Design
1902
Robinson Crusoe
Producer
1902
The Human Fly
Producer
1902
The Flying Woman
Director
1902
1902
Une indigestion
Director
1902
The Prolific Magical Egg
Director
1902
Robinson Crusoe
Director
1902
1902
An Impossible Balancing Feat
Director
1902
The Human Fly
Director
1902
The Treasures of Satan
Director
1902
The Magician and the Imp
Director
1902
The Microscopic Dancer
Director
1902
The Colonel's Shower Bath
Director
1902
Off to Bedlam
Director
1901
Little Red Riding Hood
Director
1901
The Triple Headed Lady
Director
1901
Bluebeard
Production Design
1901
Bluebeard
Producer
1901
Bluebeard
Adaptation
1901
The Prince of Magicians
Producer
1901
The Man with the Rubber Head
Producer
1901
L'homme aux cent trucs
Writer
1901
L'homme aux cent trucs
Director
1901
The Man with the Rubber Head
Special Effects
1901
The Devil and the Statue
Director
1901
The Dwarf and the Giant
Director
1901
Hat of Many Surprises
Director
1901
The Prince of Magicians
Director
1901
The Bachelor's Paradise
Director
1901
The Magician's Cavern
Director
1901
An Extraordinary Dislocation
Director
1901
The Brahmin and the Butterfly
Director
1901
What Is Home Without the Boarder
Director
1901
The Man with the Rubber Head
Director
1901
Bluebeard
Director
1901
The Christmas Dream
Director
1900
Joan of Arc
Screenplay
1900
Joan of Arc
Production Design
1900
Joan of Arc
Producer
1900
Joan of Arc
Director
1900
The Artist and the Dummy
Director
1900
Crying and Laughing
Director
1900
1900
1900
Les miracles du Brahmine
Director
1900
The Misfortunes of an Explorer
Director
1900
The Two Blind Men
Director
1900
How He Missed His Train
Director
1900
The Doctor and the Monkey
Director
1900
Eight Girls in a Barrel
Director
1900
Going to Bed Under Difficulties
Director
1900
A Fantastical Meal
Director
1900
The Fat and Lean Wrestling Match
Director
1900
1900
Up-to-Date Spiritualism
Director
1900
The Magic Book
Director
1900
1900
1900
The Cook's Revenge
Director
1900
Addition and Subtraction
Director
1900
The One-Man Band
Director
1900
Extravagant Struggles
Director
1899
The Dreyfus Affair
Director
1899
Cinderella
Production Design
1899
Cinderella
Producer
1899
Cinderella
Director
1899
Dreyfus Leaving the Lycée for Jail
Director
1899
The Degradation of Dreyfus
Director
1899
Devil's Island - Within the Palisade
Director
1899
The Human Pyramid
Director
1899
Summoning the Spirits
Director
1899
Murder Will Out
Director
1899
A Midnight Episode
Director
1899
A Midnight Episode
Producer
1899
The Pillar of Fire
Screenplay
1899
The Pillar of Fire
Production Design
1899
The Pillar of Fire
Producer
1899
Le conférencier distrait
Director
1899
The Clown and Automobile
Director
1899
Christ Walking on Water
Director
1899
Lightning Change Artist
Director
1899
Fantastic Dining Room
Director
1899
Cleopatra's Tomb
Director
1899
The Mysterious Knight
Director
1899
The Court Martial at Rennes
Director
1899
The Fight of Reporters
Director
1899
1899
Dreyfus Meets His Wife at Rennes
Director
1899
Landing of Dreyfus at Quiberon
Director
1899
Suicide of Colonel Henry
Director
1899
Dreyfus Put in Irons
Director
1899
1899
The Mysterious Portrait
Director
1899
The Pillar of Fire
Director
1899
The Devil in a Convent
Director
1899
The Conjurer
Director
1899
The Cave of the Demons
Director
1898
1898
Panorama from Top of a Moving Train
Producer
1898
Panorama from Top of a Moving Train
Director of Photography
1898
Carrefour de l'opéra
Director
1898
A Woman Surprised
Director
1898
The Bridegroom's Dilemma
Director
1898
The Four Troublesome Heads
Special Effects
1898
The Four Troublesome Heads
Producer
1898
The Damnation of Faust
Director
1898
The Temptation of St. Anthony
Director
1898
The Astronomer's Dream
Director
1898
Adventures of William Tell
Director
1898
The Famous Box Trick
Director
1898
Panorama from Top of a Moving Train
Director
1898
1898
The Magician
Director
1898
The Four Troublesome Heads
Director
1898
Pygmalion and Galatea
Director
1898
The Hallucinated Alchemist
Director
1897
The Last Cartridges
Director
1897
On the Roof
Director
1897
The Bewitched Inn
Editor
1897
The Bewitched Inn
Production Design
1897
The Bewitched Inn
Producer
1897
The Bewitched Inn
Screenplay
1897
D. Devant, Conjurer
Director
1897
A Terrible Night (Remake)
Director
1897
The Grasshopper and the Ant
Director
1897
Fencing at the Joinville School
Director
1897
Boxing Match
Director
1897
An Irritable Model
Director
1897
Faust and Marguerite
Director
1897
The Devil's Laboratory
Director
1897
Naval Combat in Greece
Director
1897
After the Ball
Director
1897
The Bewitched Inn
Director
1897
Between Calais and Dover
Director
1897
The Surrender of Tournavos
Director
1897
The Haunted Castle
Editor
1897
The Haunted Castle
Production Design
1897
The Haunted Castle
Writer
1897
The Haunted Castle
Producer
1897
The Haunted Castle
Director
1897
A Nightmare
Production Design
1896
A Nightmare
Editor
1896
A Nightmare
Producer
1896
A Nightmare
Director
1896
The Haunted Castle
Production Design
1896
The Haunted Castle
Producer
1896
The Haunted Castle
Writer
1896
The Haunted Castle
Director
1896
Conjuring
Director
1896
A Soldier's Unlucky Salutation
Director
1896
1896
Miss de Vère - English Jig
Director
1896
The Vanishing Lady
Production Design
1896
The Vanishing Lady
Editor
1896
The Vanishing Lady
Producer
1896
Les tribulations d'un concierge
Director
1896
Watering the Flowers
Director
1896
A Serpentine Dance
Director
1896
1896
1896
Playing Cards
Writer
1896
Post No Bills
Director
1896
The Vanishing Lady
Director
1896
A Terrible Night
Production Design
1896
A Terrible Night
Producer
1896
A Terrible Night
Writer
1896
A Terrible Night
Director
1896
Playing Cards
Director
1896
