Events

The Sprocket Society periodically hosts special film screening events in the Seattle area. Subscribe to our email list to receive future announcements.

Upcoming Events

Georges Méliès: Impossible Voyager

Special effects epics from the early 1900s, with unusual musical accompaniment.
Plus special guests Climax Golden Twins on dueling Victrolas!
Thurs. May 15, 2008 / 8:00 PM — one show only
At the Northwest Film Forum - 1515 12th Ave. (on Capital Hill between Pike and Pine)

Download the program notes as a PDF (1.9mb)
Thanks to everyone who came!

Still image from 'The Merry Frolics of Satan' (1906) Still image from 'Kingdom of the Fairies' (1903)

Spectacular sci-fi and fantasy epics made between 1901-1912 by the father of special effects, accompanied by unusual musical selections including early electronic music, avant garde jazz, and the Master Musicians of Jajouka. One film will be shown with a rare performance of its original 1904 narration, accompanied by live Victrola DJing by Climax Golden Twins.

Portrait of Georges Méliès

Long before Star Wars, King Kong, or even Birth of a Nation there was the greatest and most influential film illusionist of all time: a puckish French magician named Georges Méliès. One hundred years later, the whimsical "trick films" made by Monsieur Méliès include some of the most iconic images in movie history and continue to amaze and delight with their jaw-dropping creativity and vision.

On May 15 at 8:00 PM, the Northwest Film Forum and The Sprocket Society join to celebrate the magic of Georges Méliès with a program of his greatest sci-fi, fantasy, and adventure mini-epics made between 1901 and 1912. All films will be shown from hard-to-find 16mm prints. Included are well-known favorites like A Trip to the Moon and Conquest of the Pole, as well as rarely-shown delights such as The Merry Frolics of Satan, Palace of the Arabian Nights, and others.

As a special treat, 1904's The Impossible Voyage will be presented with a rare live performance (in English) of the original narration penned by Méliès himself. The musical accompaniment will be provided by the experimental group Climax Golden Twins, who will create an audio collage using 78 RPM records from their vast collection of rarities, played live on real Victrolas right there in the theater.

The remaining program includes two tinted and hand-colored prints, a rare extended version of A Trip to the Moon, and an equally rare "complete" print of The Kingdom of the Fairies. The musical selections chosen for these are as adventurous as the imagery they accompany, and include:

A brief introductory talk about Georges Méliès and his work will precede the films.

Please note that this program is not affiliated with Flicker Alley, although we do encourage you to check out their wonderful new Méliès DVD box set. All films shown tonight are 16mm prints; no video will be used.

Special thanks to David Shepard of Film Preservation Associates for permission to use his translation of Méliès' original narration for "The Impossible Voyage."

Movie Stills

Dancing skeletons
From: The Palace of Arabian Nights (1905)
Beauties load the moon craft into the giant cannon. A traveller emerges from the moon craft on the surface of the Moon.
From: A Trip to the Moon (1901)
The travellers' train flies into the heavens. Wreakage of the flying train inside the Sun.
From: The Impossible Voyage (1904)
A demonic carriage Méliès as Satan
From: The Merry Frolics of Satan (1906)
The Giant of the Snows (detail) Professor Maboul inspects the propellor of his flying machine.
From: Conquest of the Pole (1912)

Production Photos and Drawings

Interior and exterior views of the glass-house studio Méliès built in his garden at Montreuil, France — the first movie studio of its kind in the world. At far left, Méliès can be seen at work. The short extension with the sloping roof visible at far right is where the camera was placed.
Méliès (at right) and company at work building sets outside the Montreuil studio.
A rare behind-the-scenes photo showing an ornate set (from A Trip to the Moon) within the tight confines of the Montreuil studio. Below the dangling actor can be seen one of the numerous trap doors Méliès built into the floor.
Detailed construction plan for the life-sized Giant of the Snows puppet in Conquest of the Pole (1912).
Below, a set of Melies' own production drawings for A Trip to the Moon (1901) show his gift for illustration, which he had from an early age.

Past Events

Public Screenings

Backyard Movie Parties

The Sprocket Society had its genesis in a (so far) ongoing series of private backyard movie parties held in Ballard, beginning in 2005. Below is a list of our backyard movie parties to date, including links to available program notes.

Return to home.