The Melies Mystery

From a young age, film pioneer Georges Melies was captivated by magic and illusions. He bought the Robert-Houdin Theatre, where ecstatic film enthusiasts gathered to witness his mesmerising shows. Eager to learn more about the emerging technology of moving images and inspired by the work of Louis Lumiere and Auguste Lumiere, Melies purchased a projector from England to transform his theatre into a cinema. His directorial debut with "Card Party (1896)" led Melies to establish the first film studio in France. A year later, he founded Star Film, his own production company, and created over 500 films. Despite early success, Melies faced hard times. The rise of large cinemas and the demand for new films, combined with the overwhelming competition from major film companies, eventually led to the loss of most of his fortune. As a result, Melies destroyed the original negatives of his early masterpieces in a fit of despair. However, nearly a century later, dozens of his films were rediscovered in the Library of Congress in the United States. But how did the legendary French illusionist pull off his last trick?