About Georges Méliès

Georges Méliès, born in Paris in 1861, displayed an early passion for the arts, securing a place at the Ecole des Beaux Arts where he explored stage design and puppetry. During his studies in London in 1884, at his parents' insistence, he developed a fascination for stage conjury after witnessing the work of Maskelyne and Cooke. Managing his father's factory and acquiring the renowned Theatre Robert Houdin in 1888, Méliès, upon witnessing the Lumière brothers' Cinématographe unveiling in 1895, embarked on a cinematic journey. Despite initial setbacks in purchasing the device, his perseverance led him to construct his own, presenting his inaugural film screening in 1896. Pioneering cinematic techniques with a blend of traditional theatrical elements, Méliès explored the manipulation of time and space through innovative special effects. Despite later financial struggles and a transition to variety theater, his cinematic contributions were eventually recognized, culminating in the receipt of the Legion of Honour in the late 1920s. Georges Méliès passed away in 1938, leaving behind a remarkable legacy with over five hundred films to his credit.