We are back in that house where the chimpanzee went berserk. He has been replaced by a group of men who live upstairs. They blast a hole in their floor and cause all kinds of lunacy. Why? I don't know. It is perpetual motion with no justification. I think Melies just wanted to occupy his audience for a minute or so with these hijinks.
4 Reviews
Fine police work circa 1901!
planktonrules9 September 2020
Although the style of film here is quite nice, the execution left a bit to be desired. I do appreciate how "La Maison Tranquille" was made...it was quite innovative for 1901 and Georges Méliès only made a few films where you saw the inside of an apartment or train via a cut out wall. Here, you see an apartment AND the ones above due to the elaborately constructed set (similar to the one used many decades later by Jerry Lewis in "Cinderfella").
The story begins with some buffoon falling partially through the floor and his leg dangles in the apartment below. The tenants run away when all the plaster comes down on them. Soon, the guy who's stuck has an idea...to go completely into the apartment below and steal some stuff. Soon he's grabbing everything in sight but climbs back into his apartment when the policeman shows himself. Soon, he's throwing stuff down on the cop.
It's all supposed to be quite funny. It isn't. Plus if you think about it, it really makes no sense. Floors are not that fragile and it's not exactly like it's a brilliant crime to then rob the apartment...as everyone will know who did it! The bottom line is that the technique was great....the execution was a bit stupid and exaggerated.
The story begins with some buffoon falling partially through the floor and his leg dangles in the apartment below. The tenants run away when all the plaster comes down on them. Soon, the guy who's stuck has an idea...to go completely into the apartment below and steal some stuff. Soon he's grabbing everything in sight but climbs back into his apartment when the policeman shows himself. Soon, he's throwing stuff down on the cop.
It's all supposed to be quite funny. It isn't. Plus if you think about it, it really makes no sense. Floors are not that fragile and it's not exactly like it's a brilliant crime to then rob the apartment...as everyone will know who did it! The bottom line is that the technique was great....the execution was a bit stupid and exaggerated.
Le Slapstick
boblipton13 March 2008
Melies pretty much invented the trick film and has good claim to likewise coming up with the stag film and the religious film, but in this one as well in LE SAVANT ET LE CHIMPANZE, we see some very early slapstick, a form of comedy for which his frequently boisterous and acrobatic staging would well suit him for. No, he didn't invent slapstick, that was several centuries old, and certainly variations of the Chimney Sweep and the Baker, in which they pelt each other with coal and flour were used in the previous decade. but this sure looks like slapstick to me. And wonderful slapstick, too.
This is one of the many previously lost or infrequently seen Melies pictures that have been made available by Serge Bromberg, David Shepherd and a myriad of other hands in the newly issued DVD set GEORGES MELIES: FIRST WIZARD OF CINEMA. Required viewing for anyone interested in the history of movies ..... and a lot of fun.
This is one of the many previously lost or infrequently seen Melies pictures that have been made available by Serge Bromberg, David Shepherd and a myriad of other hands in the newly issued DVD set GEORGES MELIES: FIRST WIZARD OF CINEMA. Required viewing for anyone interested in the history of movies ..... and a lot of fun.
What is Home Without the Boarder
Michael_Elliott28 March 2008
What Is Home Without the Boarder (1901)
** 1/2 (out of 4)
aka La Maison tranquille
Mildly entertaining film from director Melies has the action taking place on a two story set. The floor falls in and the people on the second floor start to terrorize those below them. There's really nothing too special about this film, although it remains mildly amusing throughout. There are several planks played on the people on the first floor but none of it really struck me as being funny.
This was recently released by Flicker Alley as part of their Meiles box set, which features five discs and 173 different films.
** 1/2 (out of 4)
aka La Maison tranquille
Mildly entertaining film from director Melies has the action taking place on a two story set. The floor falls in and the people on the second floor start to terrorize those below them. There's really nothing too special about this film, although it remains mildly amusing throughout. There are several planks played on the people on the first floor but none of it really struck me as being funny.
This was recently released by Flicker Alley as part of their Meiles box set, which features five discs and 173 different films.
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