Beginning of the Serpentine Dance

Plot

In a elegant living room, four contemporary couples dance a waltz under the direction of a violinist played by Max Linder. The couples transition into a minuet when their costumes magically transform into period attire. A mysterious man enters, observes the scene with interest, and casts a spell that causes everything to vanish. Transforming into the devil, the visitor abducts the violinist and takes him to hell, where he conjures a large piece of silk from a cauldron. The silk unfurls to reveal a young woman in a flowing silk dress who performs the mesmerizing serpentine dance, soon joined by other women in a synchronized ballet before all disappear in bursts of flames.

Historical Background

1908 was a pivotal year in cinema's transition from novelty to art form. The film industry was rapidly professionalizing, with companies like Pathé establishing global distribution networks. This period saw the emergence of longer narrative films and more sophisticated storytelling techniques. The serpentine dance genre itself represented cinema's fascination with movement and transformation, themes that resonated with an era experiencing rapid technological and social change. In France, the Belle Époque was in full swing, with Paris being the undisputed capital of cinema and artistic innovation. The film's blend of contemporary waltz with historical minuet reflected the period's interest in time and transformation, while the supernatural elements tapped into enduring popular fascination with the occult and spiritualism, which was experiencing a revival in early 20th century Europe.

Making Of

The production of 'Beginning of the Serpentine Dance' showcased Pathé Frères' commitment to technical innovation and artistic ambition. Segundo de Chomón, who had previously worked as a projectionist and developed his own camera equipment, brought his technical expertise to bear on this complex production. The serpentine dance sequences required precise choreography and timing to synchronize the dancers' movements with the special effects. The hand-coloring process was particularly labor-intensive, with teams of women working in factory-like conditions to paint each frame by hand. The transformation scenes were achieved through careful editing and multiple exposure techniques that de Chomón had perfected during his time at Pathé. Max Linder's involvement, though brief, represented the studio's practice of using their established stars in even smaller fantasy productions to add star power.

Visual Style

The cinematography of 'Beginning of the Serpentine Dance' showcases the sophisticated techniques being developed at Pathé Studios. The film utilizes multiple exposure to create the magical transformations, with careful masking and timing to ensure smooth transitions between scenes. The camera work is notably static, as was typical of the era, but uses depth of field effectively to create layered compositions in the hell scenes. The serpentine dance sequences employ careful lighting to highlight the flowing fabric and create silhouettes that enhance the ethereal quality of the performance. The hand-coloring process adds another dimension to the visual style, with careful attention to color transitions that complement the movement of the dancers and fabric.

Innovations

The film represents several significant technical achievements for its time. The hand-coloring process, while labor-intensive, created some of the most sophisticated color effects of the era. The transformation sequences used multiple exposure techniques with remarkable precision, creating seamless magical effects. The serpentine dance effects were achieved through careful choreography combined with specialized lighting and camera techniques. The film also demonstrates advanced editing techniques for the period, with smooth transitions between scenes and effective pacing despite the short runtime. The creation of the hell scenes using painted backdrops and forced perspective showed an understanding of visual design that was ahead of its time.

Music

As a silent film, 'Beginning of the Serpentine Dance' would have been accompanied by live music during exhibition. The typical score would have included classical waltz music for the opening dance scenes, transitioning to more dramatic and mysterious compositions for the supernatural elements. The serpentine dance sequence would have been accompanied by flowing, impressionistic music, possibly works by composers like Debussy or Satie that were popular in Parisian salons. Many theaters employed small orchestras or at least a pianist to provide appropriate accompaniment, with the music often changing to match the on-screen action and mood shifts.

Memorable Scenes

• The opening waltz sequence where four couples dance in the elegant living room, representing contemporary society
• The magical transformation scene where the dancers' costumes change from modern to period attire
• The devil's entrance and spell-casting that causes everything to vanish
• The creation of silk from the cauldron in hell, showcasing early special effects
• The serpentine dance sequence where the woman emerges from the silk fabric, flowing and transforming in waves of color
• The final ballet with multiple women dancing in synchronized patterns before disappearing in flames

What Critics Said

Contemporary critics praised the film's technical achievements and visual beauty, with particular attention paid to the innovative use of color and the mesmerizing serpentine dance sequences. Trade journals of the era noted the film's sophistication compared to earlier trick films, recognizing de Chomón's growing mastery of cinematic techniques. Modern film historians view the work as an important example of early fantasy cinema, highlighting its role in the development of special effects and visual storytelling. Critics have noted how the film represents a bridge between the simple trick films of the early 1900s and the more complex narrative features that would emerge in the following decade.

What Audiences Thought

Audiences of 1908 were reportedly mesmerized by the film's magical transformations and flowing color effects. The serpentine dance sequences, in particular, drew enthusiastic responses, with viewers often expressing disbelief that such effects could be achieved through photography alone. The film was popular in both vaudeville theaters and dedicated cinema houses, often featured as part of mixed bills that showcased the latest technical innovations. Contemporary accounts suggest that audiences returned multiple times to study the effects and try to understand how they were accomplished. The combination of familiar dance forms with supernatural elements created a perfect balance of the recognizable and the fantastic that appealed to early cinema audiences.

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