Assiettes tournantes

Plot

The film captures Félicien Trewey, a renowned performer of the late 19th century, as he demonstrates his remarkable skill with spinning plates. In this brief but mesmerizing performance, Trewey balances multiple plates on thin sticks, setting them in rapid rotation and maintaining their momentum through expert manipulation. The routine showcases his extraordinary dexterity as he moves between the spinning plates, adjusting and re-spinning them to keep them all in motion simultaneously. The film serves as a straightforward documentation of this popular vaudeville act, preserving Trewey's talent for future generations.

Historical Background

1896 was a pivotal year in the birth of cinema, just one year after the Lumière brothers' first public film screening in Paris. This period marked the transition from scientific curiosity and novelty to the beginnings of a new art form. The film was created during the Belle Époque in France, a time of great cultural and artistic innovation. The Lumière brothers were competing with other pioneers like Thomas Edison and Georges Méliès to develop and popularize motion picture technology. Films like 'Assiettes tournantes' were instrumental in demonstrating cinema's ability to capture and preserve ephemeral performances that previously existed only in live theater settings.

Making Of

The filming of 'Assiettes tournantes' represents the collaborative relationship between the Lumière brothers and professional entertainers of the era. Félicien Trewey, being a friend and associate of the Lumières, was one of the first performers to recognize the potential of cinema for documenting and preserving artistic performances. The film was likely shot in a single continuous take, as was common for early Lumière productions, using their innovative Cinématographe device. This camera could capture about 16-17 frames per second, resulting in the slightly jerky motion characteristic of films from this period. The production required careful staging to ensure Trewey's performance was clearly visible within the camera's limited field of view, and the lighting had to be sufficient for the relatively insensitive film stock of the time.

Visual Style

The cinematography of 'Assiettes tournantes' is characteristic of early Lumière productions, featuring a fixed camera position that captures the entire performance in a single continuous shot. The camera is positioned at an optimal distance to frame Trewey and his spinning plates clearly, demonstrating the Lumières' understanding of composition even in these early days of filmmaking. The lighting appears to be natural or basic studio lighting, sufficient to illuminate the performer but creating the high contrast typical of films from this period. The camera work is static and observational, reflecting the Lumière brothers' documentary approach to filmmaking and their interest in capturing reality rather than creating cinematic effects.

Innovations

The film represents several important technical achievements of early cinema, including the successful capture of rapid motion using the Lumière Cinématographe. The ability to record the spinning plates without excessive motion blur demonstrated the camera's relatively advanced shutter mechanism for the time. The film showcases the practical application of 35mm film with perforations, a format that would become the industry standard. The single-take filming approach, while technically simple, required precise planning to ensure the entire performance fit within the camera's limited film capacity. The preservation of such a dynamic performance on film was itself a significant technical accomplishment in 1896.

Memorable Scenes

• The entire film consists of Trewey's mesmerizing spinning plates routine, where he expertly balances and spins multiple plates on thin sticks, moving between them to maintain their rotation in a display of remarkable dexterity and concentration.

What Critics Said

Contemporary reception of 'Assiettes tournantes' was largely positive, as audiences were fascinated by the ability of cinema to capture live performances with such clarity. Early film enthusiasts praised the technical achievement of preserving Trewey's remarkable skill on film. Modern film historians and critics view the film as an invaluable document of early performance art and a testament to cinema's potential as a preservation medium. Critics today appreciate the film's straightforward approach and its role in documenting the work of important performers like Trewey. The film is often cited in scholarly works about early cinema and the relationship between film and live performance.

What Audiences Thought

Early audiences were reportedly mesmerized by 'Assiettes tournantes' and similar performance films, as they had never before seen such acts captured on film. The novelty of watching a recorded performance was a major attraction, and many viewers were amazed by the clarity with which the film preserved Trewey's intricate routine. The film was particularly popular among those who had seen Trewey perform live, as it allowed them to study his technique in detail. Modern audiences viewing the film today often express fascination with both the historical significance and the impressive skill demonstrated by Trewey, despite the primitive nature of the recording technology.

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