6.7/10
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The House of the Devil (1896)

Le manoir du diable (original title)
Not Rated | | Short, Horror | 24 December 1896 (France)
The House of the Devil Poster
With the help of a magic cauldron, Mephistopheles conjures up a variety of supernatural characters.

Director:

Georges Méliès

Writer:

Georges Méliès

Stars:

Jehanne d'Alcy, Jules-Eugène Legris, Georges Méliès
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Photos

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Cast

Credited cast:
Jehanne d'Alcy Jehanne d'Alcy ... Young woman (as Jeanne d'Alcy)
Jules-Eugène Legris Jules-Eugène Legris ... Mephistopheles (unconfirmed)
Georges Méliès ... Mephistopheles
See full cast »
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Scenes. 1. The Route to the Depths of Perdition (a Dazzingly Sensational New Effect.) 2. The Fantastical Ride. 3. The Gloomy Pass. 4. The Stream. 5. The Entrance to the Lower Regions. 6. ... See full summary »

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Satan appears in a convent and takes the guise of a priest. Before long he is causing all manner of perturbation and despair.

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Storyline

A bat flies into an ancient castle and transforms itself into Mephistopheles himself. Producing a cauldron, Mephistopheles conjures up a young girl and various supernatural creatures, one of which brandishes a crucifix in an effort to force the devil-vampire to vanish. Written by Doug Sederberg <vornoff@sonic.net>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

vampire | monster | supernatural power | psychotronic film | mephistopheles | See All (32) »

Genres:

Short | Horror

Certificate:

Not Rated | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

May be the first horror and "vampire" film. See more »

Goofs

One of the ghosts (all of whom are wearing a white sheet over their head) cannot see where he is going, and walks right into a wall. See more »

Connections

Followed by The Devil's Laboratory (1897) See more »

User Reviews

 
Innovative horror film-making
16 February 2015 | by Leofwine_draca – See all my reviews

There really isn't much you can say about a silent, three minute short from 1896, is there? Must cinema buffs already know that Georges Melies was a cinema pioneer who single-handled devised many of the tropes that are now familiar to us as modern cinema-goers, and THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL is another example of his skill as a film-maker.

The story sees the Devil at work in his spooky old castle, summoning up various creatures in a bid to commit evil. Unfortunately he falls foul of an upright Christian, who uses the power of the cross to dispel his opponent.

The three minute running time is chock-full of the special effects work that Melies loved to put on screen, particularly the use of jump cuts to make figures appear and disappear at will. With a plethora of imps, spirits, bats, and ghouls, Melies single-handedly invented the horror genre, one which is still going strong all these years later.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Where can I watch this film?
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Details

Country:

France

Language:

None

Release Date:

24 December 1896 (France) See more »

Also Known As:

The House of the Devil See more »

Filming Locations:

Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Georges Méliès, Star-Film See more »
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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Color (hand-colored)| Black and White
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