Georges Méliès’ ice giant is still cinema’s coolest monster, almost 100 years later

In his 1912 silent film La Conquête du Pôle ( “ The Conquest of the Pole ” ) , pioneering French managing director Georges Méliès introduced audience to one of the most underrated freak in motion picture chronicle — the man - run through frosting goliath of the North Pole .

The pic , which is based on Jules Verne ’s 1866 novel The Adventures of Captain Hatteras , follows a trajectory similar to that of Méliès ’s most famous cinema , 1902’sLe Voyage Dans La Lune , which drew inspiration from Verne ’s From the Earth to the Moon . In La Conquête du Pôle , Professor Maboul ( played by Méliès himself ) leads an expedition to the North Pole , where his traveller run afoul of a hungry ice giant . Of course , Maboul ’s crew ’s first instinct is to pelt the creature with snowballs . Can you charge the heavyweight for chowing down on them ?

This scenery is beyond awesome . I love how he easy rises out of the ground like an former - school Nintendo chief . His gaze is so soulless and strange , and apparentlyhe was a giant puppet .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uhP5whbckY

you’re able to take in the entire 30 - minute film ( including some gonzo flight sequences ) over atEuropa Film Treasures . Thanks for the link , Alain !

[ Photo viaMOMA ]

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