Segundo de Chomon vs Melies

Danny · Post by **Danny** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 8:56 am

After watching the Segundo de Chomon short films on the "Saved From The Flames" DVD, I couldn't help but wonder what the competition was like between him and Melies. Has anyone noticed what differences there were between the two?

There is a great body of work by Melies available. But what about Segundo de Chomon? Does anyone know of a collection of his films available on DVD? I'd love to see more.

Danny

Micromegas · Post by **Micromegas** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 10:52 am

Danny wrote:After watching the Segundo de Chomon short films on the "Saved From The Flames" DVD, I couldn't help but wonder what the competition was like between him and Melies. Has anyone noticed what differences there were between the two?

There is a great body of work by Melies available. But what about Segundo de Chomon? Does anyone know of a collection of his films available on DVD? I'd love to see more.

Danny

What answers I can give are "to the best of my knowledge". I believe that German War Films (of all people) still sells a set with a whole lot of Segundo Du Chomon's films. Now don't expect Flicker Alley quality but they are not too bad. Not sure, but GWF might have merely taken them from various download sites. In any case, I guess that they do provide a reasonably complete public domain package of SDC's work.

I think SDC's film were generally pretty decent but Melies was still the master with SDC taking his cue from Melies. After all, SDC totally cloned A Trip to the Moon.

Steve

PS send me a private message regarding GWF if you want. The company gathered some, uh, lively discussion on another board.

boblipton · Post by **boblipton** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 11:46 am

There is a goodly amount on the Site Whose Name Must Not Be Spoken.

Bob

Danny · Post by **Danny** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 2:04 pm

Thanks a lot, guys. I found a comprehensive list at German War Films, but it says:
PURELY VISUAL EXPERIENCE; SILENT FILMS WITH NO MUSIC. INTERTITLES, WHERE PROVIDED, ARE IN SPANISH AND FRENCH. VERY EASY TO COMPREHEND WHAT IS GOING ON EVEN WITHOUT THEM.

No sound track is a disappointment. Perhaps Bob can give me a hint of the name that must not be named. (?)

Danny

frankebe · Post by **frankebe** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 5:03 pm

I bought the DVD referred to at this informative site:
http://thebioscope.net/2010/12/20/the-g ... de-chomon/" target="_blank

You need a region-2 or region-free dvd player to view it (I gave up and bought one some time ago). The movies are much better restored than the Melies; the accompaniments are... adequate to pretty good. Chomon movies are more repetitive than Melies, and do not have as fast a tempo or are as funny, but they are imaginative, entertaining, and in this case mostly in color! The DVD has English titles, and the notes of accompanying "book" include an English version. You can also watch a Chomon masterpiece (in my opinion) called "Weird Symphony" at europafilmtreasures.eu (it has superb accompaniment).

Danny · Post by **Danny** » Fri Jun 08, 2012 9:06 am

Thank you. I don't see any information on how to order on this page.

Danny

urbanora · Post by **urbanora** » Fri Jun 08, 2012 11:12 am

Here's a direct link to a Spanish site selling the DVD:

http://www.cameo.es/portal/lang__es-ES/ ... fault.aspx