Tweet Melies Discovery

French archivists have announced the discovery of a previously unknown film by the great Georges Melies (1861-1938). Called Le Phartiste (1899), it is said to feature a very rare film appearance by the legendary Joseph Pujol (1857-1945), who was known professionally on the stage of the Moulin Rouge as "Le Petomane".

Le Phartiste is appropriately, if surprisingly, not a silent film, having been shot in a very early experimental sound process, with many startling special effects.

The explosively flammable nitrate print was discovered, uncut, in the cellar of a cheese shop in Marseille, Pujol's birthplace, in 2010.

Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg have teamed to fund the release of Le Phartiste in 2012, with undisclosed technical enhancements. The unusual score by Carl Davis will feature only wind instruments.

Jim Gettys

And you stayed up past midnight just to get it in first!

Happy April Fools Day


RICHARD M ROBERTS

French archivists have announced the discovery of a previously unknown film by the great Georges Melies (1861-1938). Called Le Phartiste (1899), it is said to feature a very rare film appearance by the legendary Joseph Pujol (1857-1945), who was known professionally on the stage of the Moulin Rouge as "Le Petomane".

Le Phartiste is appropriately, if surprisingly, not a silent film, having been shot in a very early experimental sound process, with many startling special effects.

The explosively flammable nitrate print was discovered, uncut, in the cellar of a cheese shop in Marseille, Pujol's birthplace, in 2010.

Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg have teamed to fund the release of Le Phartiste in 2012, with undisclosed technical enhancements. The unusual score by Carl Davis will feature only wind instruments.

Jim Gettys

I heard the film is a little corny.

[Christopher Jacobs]

An uncredited critic at The New York Times, in a relatively rare discussion of current film for that era, said "It stinks!" A journalist at a rare 1929 revival screening in Paris, shortly before the film again would disappear into oblivion, commented, "It's a little cheesy, but so very French!"

[Danny Burk]

I gather that this discovery happened while cutting the cheese in the cellar?

Robert M. Richards (if that really is your name), your shameless cynicism almost brings me to tears. How dare you question the legacy of a truly great man! You, who would be lucky just to sit down-wind of him!

Joseph Pujol was one of the top entertainers of all time. It would be surprising if he didn't appear in the early cinema of his era. Sandow and Little Egypt were dog acts by comparison. In fact, Pujol also performed before the Edison Kinetophone, although I'm confident that you will dismiss this incontrovertible evidence as a fake:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rIXipAV6Fs

Jim Gettys

Robert M. Richards (if that really is your name), your shameless cynicism almost brings me to tears. How dare you question the legacy of a truly great man! You, who would be lucky just to sit down-wind of him!

Joseph Pujol was one of the top entertainers of all time. It would be surprising if he didn't appear in the early cinema of his era. Sandow and Little Egypt were dog acts by comparison. In fact, Pujol also performed before the Edison Kinetophone, although I'm confident that you will dismiss this incontrovertible evidence as a fake:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rIXipAV6Fs

Jim Gettys

Ummm......yeah, especially since that guy looks nothing like the actual pictures of Le Petomane (and I believe there is indeed a cylinder recording of him performing Le Marsellaise).


RICHARD M ROBERTS

Now that it's April 2nd I feel I can post the following in safety, regarding Marius Sestier's 'Patineur Grotesque', filmed in Sydney in 1896:

Identification of the skater in Patineur Grotesque seems near impossible but he may well have been associated with either the new rink or with one of the shows in town. The skater is made up as a bearded but balding man and is smoking a large cigar. He wears a hat that he lifts on several occasions. Under his jacket he wears a plaid waistcoat with a fob watch in his pocket and he appears to be well padded around the torso. But the most distinctive thing about his appearance is the motif of a white hand on the seat of his pants, which he deliberately thrusts to the camera when he lifts his coat tails and appears to break wind at the camera.

(From http://www.latrobe.edu.au/screeningthepast/28/patineur-grotesque-marius-sestier-lumiere-australia.html)

I do not, however, propose that we turn this into another Murphy Beds thread.

I understand that Le Phartiste was also an early experiment with a process called Aroma-rama, but the recording medium has faded away over the years.

So sad. Gone with the wind.

Jim Gettys

So sad. Gone with the wind.

Jim Gettys

The song had ended, but the melody lingers on.........


RICHARD M ROBERTS

I don't believe an authentic Pujol recording has surfaced, but here's someone imitating his routine in 1903:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tixKopGjn5s" target="_blank

I don't believe an authentic Pujol recording has surfaced, but here's someone imitating his routine in 1903:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tixKopGjn5s" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

Well, imitation is the sincerest form of flatulence.......


RICHARD M ROBERTS

I don't believe an authentic Pujol recording has surfaced, but here's someone imitating his routine in 1903:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tixKopGjn5s" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

Well, imitation is the sincerest form of flatulence.......


RICHARD M ROBERTS

but if you listen I'm pretty certain that the flatulence is simulated- an early use of false farts.

I don't believe an authentic Pujol recording has surfaced, but here's someone imitating his routine in 1903:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tixKopGjn5s" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

Well, imitation is the sincerest form of flatulence.......


RICHARD M ROBERTS

but if you listen I'm pretty certain that the flatulence is simulated- an early use of false farts.

i'm aghast.

By the way, it seems that Joseph Pujol did not pass his unique gift to any of his 10 children. Except, perhaps, for Henri, his youngest son, a cheeky little fellow who grew up to be an expert fromagere on early French television. Although his TV career was cut short by a mere whiff of scandal concerning a round of sharp cheddar, he is still with us at the ripe old age of 97. However, he is said to be very easily winded, and he could pass at any time. If so, may he RIP.

Jim Gettys

Although his TV career was cut short by a mere whiff of scandal concerning a round of sharp cheddar

Jim Gettys

What, he couldn't (by)pass the cheese?

That stinks!!

I gather that this discovery happened while cutting the cheese in the cellar?

You are bad Danny ROFL