One of last films France's Pathe Studio movie pioneer Ferndinand Zecca directed by himself was October 1910's "Slippery Jim." Inspired by escape artist Harry Houdini, Zecca used every special effects trick existing in cinema at the time: Double exposures, stop-motion substitutions, reverse play, to produce a unique, visually exciting short film.
One of the movie's highlights is when Jim runs over a policeman with his bicycle. A nearby plasterer spots the officer split in half. Gluing both insides, he's able to magically put him together. Another scene reminds the viewer of "Terminator 2" when the alien, posing as a cop, walks literally through the jail cell bars. Zecca performed the visual trick 90 years earlier, with Slippery Jim going through the bars from inside to outside. What a visual treat--and all without CGI.
Zecca directed two more films by himself for Pathe before co-directing several additional ones later on. He eventually became an administrative director for both the United States and Paris Pathe Studios.
One of the movie's highlights is when Jim runs over a policeman with his bicycle. A nearby plasterer spots the officer split in half. Gluing both insides, he's able to magically put him together. Another scene reminds the viewer of "Terminator 2" when the alien, posing as a cop, walks literally through the jail cell bars. Zecca performed the visual trick 90 years earlier, with Slippery Jim going through the bars from inside to outside. What a visual treat--and all without CGI.
Zecca directed two more films by himself for Pathe before co-directing several additional ones later on. He eventually became an administrative director for both the United States and Paris Pathe Studios.