The Red Spectre (1907)

A demonic magician attempts to perform his act in a strange grotto, but is confronted by a Good Spirit who opposes him.

Directors:

Segundo de Chomón, Ferdinand Zecca (co-director)

Writer:

Segundo de Chomón

Star:

Julienne Mathieu

Cast

Cast overview:
Julienne Mathieu

Storyline

In a strange grotto deep in the bowels of the earth a coffin uprights itself, dances, then opens, and out steps a demonic magician with skeletal face, horns, and cape. He wraps two women (who appear to be in a trance) in fabric, levitates them, and causes them to burst into flames and disappear. As he gathers their ashes in a pitcher a Good Spirit [a young woman who resembles Peter Pan] appears, shakes her head No, and reveals the "souls" of the two women in a secret compartment deeper within the cave. The Good Spirit vanishes in a puff of smoke. The magician then produces 3 glass bottles on pillars, takes them downstage close to the camera, and reveals 3 tiny women in them; one woman beats a tambourine while the other two sway. The magician pours ashes (?) into the bottles, but the Good Spirit reappears and makes these trapped figures disappear in a flash, angering the magician, who chases her away. He makes an easel appear. There is an odd sort of screen on it bearing the Pathe ...

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Plot Keywords:

monster | damned | damnation | purgatory | evil | 

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Genres:

Short | Fantasy | Horror

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Has a link to the Ulli Lommel's Zodiac Killer (2005) case. A letter allegedly sent by the Zodiac Killer, who may have been a film buff, was signed "The Red Phantom" and could have referred to this film or to the color "Masque of the Red Death" sequence in Lon Chaney's 1925 The Phantom of the Opera (1925).

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Connections

Featured in Hollywood (1980)

User Reviews

Satan is a Magician

In 1907, we all agree, cinema audiences could be easily amused, so to say. But even today, to look at the pioneering cinema ways used to trick the human mind is somewhat fascinating. I, myself, get more of a kick from watching these old fashioned movie magicians than in a live magic show where everything is overdone. Here, the camera is still, Satan is a guy in a Halloween costume - but see how the frame is used to its fullest, the sets are so creepy and the eerie atmosphere kicks off right away, when we see a twirling coffin magically appear, and the magic show begins.

A treat for all fans of novelty early cinema.

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

17 August 1907 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Red Spectre

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pathé Frères

Technical Specs

Runtime:

9 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Color (hand-tinted) Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1