The Last Cartridges (1897)
"Les dernières cartouches" (original title)

An incident of the Franco-Prussian War. It shows the bombardment of a house at Bazeille. It is the animated reproduction of de Neuville's celebrated painting.

Director:

Georges Méliès

Storyline

An incident of the Franco-Prussian War. It shows the bombardment of a house at Bazeille. It is the animated reproduction of de Neuville's celebrated painting.

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Genres:

Short | War

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Details

Country:

France

Release Date:

1903 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Last Cartridges

Company Credits

Production Co:

Star-Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

1 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Trivia

Star Film Catalogue no. 105.

User Reviews

Great for 1897....

Georges Méliès was a genius. When other film makers (like Edison and the Lumiere Brothers) were filming the most mundane situations (babies being fed, trains arriving, employees leaving work, etc.), he was telling stories and creating the first special effects in the history of cinema. So, if you decide to watch a few of his films, try some of the competition first--and you'll be amazed at the difference.

This one recreates a scene from the Franco-Prussian War. I was actually surprised he chose this, as the French were totally embarrassed in their very quick loss to what amounted to only a portion of what later became Germany. Regardless, the film is set in a set painted like a building in ruins and men are huddled up trying to hold off the Hun. It looks a bit lame by today's standards but is actually very nice for 1897.