Nouvelles luttes extravagantes
1900 Comedy / Fantasy
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Credits
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Summary
Two attractive young women are transformed into two male wresters who begin an extravagant
wrestling match with relish. One combatant throws his opponent into the air and,
when he recovers, the second wrestler knocks the first over and pulls off his arms and
legs. Once the first wrestler has been reassembled, the two men bow and another
pair of wrestlers - one fat, the other thin - take the stage. The fat wrestler
falls onto his thinner opponent, squashing him flat. The thin wrestler springs
back to life and kicks the fat man into the air, before jumping on his body, causing his
arms and legs to fall off. The fight ends amicably with the two wrestlers restored
to their former selves.
Review
This film is nothing less than ninety seconds of pure high-grade slapstick - a daring
piece of surreal comedy which brilliantly satirises what was, at the time, a popular sport
in France. Gratuitous violence is taken to its extreme limits as two able bodied
men literally knock the stuffing out of each other in the name of entertainment.
Georges Méliès stars in the film with his future wife, Jeanne d'Alcy, the
former magician’s stage assistant who is credited as the first film star. Thanks
to its impressive special effects, energy and sheer manic sense of fun, this has to be
one of Méliès’ most entertaining and memorable films.
© James Travers 2003 Write a review for this film... |
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