Calino courtier en paratonnerres
Plot
In this silent comedy short, Calino, an earnest but incompetent lightning rod salesman, visits several bourgeois homes attempting to sell his wares. He demonstrates his product with great enthusiasm, unaware that the lightning rods suffer from a critical factory defect that causes them to attract lightning rather than repel it. As Calino makes his rounds, each installation results in catastrophic consequences for the wealthy homeowners, with lightning strikes destroying property and creating chaos. The film culminates in a series of disastrous lightning strikes that expose the faulty merchandise while showcasing Calino's oblivious persistence in his salesmanship.
Director
Cast
About the Production
This film was part of the popular 'Calino' comedy series produced by Gaumont. The lightning effects were created using practical special effects techniques common in early cinema, including multiple exposures and electrical effects. The film was shot in a single day typical of short productions of this era, with minimal sets and props to maximize efficiency.
Historical Background
This film was produced during a pivotal period in French cinema history, just before World War I would dramatically change the European film landscape. 1912 was the peak of Gaumont's dominance in European film production, with the studio releasing hundreds of shorts annually. The era saw the rise of the feature film, but short comedies like this remained popular in cinema programs. The film reflects the growing urbanization of French society and the emergence of a consumer culture, with door-to-door salesmen becoming common figures in modern life. This period also saw the development of more sophisticated cinematic language, with directors like Durand pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling.
Why This Film Matters
As part of the Calino series, this film represents an important early example of character-driven comedy in cinema. The series helped establish the template for recurring comic characters that would influence later comedy stars like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. The film's satire of bourgeois attitudes and consumer culture reflects the social tensions of pre-WWI France. Its preservation of early French comedy techniques provides valuable insight into the development of cinematic comedy as an art form. The film also demonstrates how early cinema used simple premises to explore complex social themes through visual humor.
Making Of
The production was typical of Gaumont's efficient studio system in 1912, with films often completed in a single day. Director Jean Durand was known for his innovative camera work and willingness to experiment with comedic timing. The lightning effects were achieved through a combination of practical effects including spark generators, flash powder, and clever editing. Clément Mégé's Calino character was developed through improvisation during filming, with the actor contributing many of the physical comedy elements. The bourgeois interiors were simple sets that could be quickly reconfigured for different scenes, allowing for rapid production.
Visual Style
The cinematography by an uncredited Gaumont cameraman utilizes static shots typical of the period, but with careful composition to maximize the comedic effect. The camera placement emphasizes the contrast between Calino's earnest demeanor and the chaos he unwittingly causes. The lightning strike sequences use multiple exposure techniques to create visual impact. The film employs the standard 1.33:1 aspect ratio of the era, with framing designed to capture both the actors' performances and the special effects within the same frame.
Innovations
The film's most notable technical achievement was its sophisticated use of special effects to create convincing lightning strikes for 1912. The effects team used a combination of electrical devices, flash powder, and careful editing timing. The production also demonstrated Gaumont's efficient studio system, capable of producing quality shorts on tight schedules. The film's editing, particularly in the sequence of multiple lightning strikes, shows an understanding of comedic timing that was advanced for the period.
Music
As a silent film, it would have been accompanied by live musical performance in theaters. The typical accompaniment would have been a pianist or small orchestra playing popular musical pieces of the era, with lively, comedic music during the sales scenes and dramatic music during the lightning strikes. Some theaters might have used sound effects manually created during projection to enhance the impact of the lightning sequences.
Famous Quotes
(Silent film - no dialogue)
Memorable Scenes
- The sequence where Calino demonstrates the lightning rod to the first bourgeois customer, followed by an immediate catastrophic lightning strike that destroys the property while Calino remains oblivious to the destruction he has caused
Did You Know?
- This was one of approximately 20 films featuring the character Calino, played by Clément Mégé
- Director Jean Durand was a pioneer of early French comedy and one of the first directors to regularly use chase sequences
- The film was produced during the golden age of Gaumont's comedy productions
- Gaston Modot, who appears in this film, would later become a prominent actor in French poetic realism films of the 1930s
- The lightning effects were considered quite sophisticated for 1912, using techniques developed by early special effects pioneers
- Calino was one of the first recurring comic characters in French cinema, predating more famous characters like Max Linder
- The film's premise satirized the growing consumer culture and the rise of door-to-door salesmen in early 20th century France
- Only a few prints of this film are known to survive, making it a rare example of early French comedy
- The bourgeois characters were played by actors from the Comédie-Française, adding theatrical credibility to the production
- The film was distributed internationally, with versions shown in the United States and Britain
What Critics Said
Contemporary reviews in French film trade publications praised the film's inventive special effects and Clément Mégé's comic performance. Critics noted the cleverness of the premise and the effectiveness of the lightning strike sequences. Modern film historians consider the Calino series important for understanding the development of French comedy cinema, though the films are rarely seen today due to their age and limited availability. The film is often cited in scholarly works about early French cinema as an example of Gaumont's comedy production values.
What Audiences Thought
The film was well-received by contemporary audiences, who enjoyed the slapstick comedy and spectacular lightning effects. The Calino character had developed a following among French cinema-goers, and each new installment was anticipated. The film's appeal crossed class boundaries, with both working-class and bourgeois audiences finding humor in the situations. The combination of physical comedy and social satire resonated with early cinema audiences who appreciated films that reflected their daily experiences and social observations.
Film Connections
Influenced By
- Georges Méliès' trick films
- Max Linder comedies
- French theatrical comedy traditions
- American slapstick comedy
- Commedia dell'arte character archetypes
This Film Influenced
- Later Calino series films
- Jean Durand's subsequent comedies
- French comedy shorts of the 1910s
- Early works of Jacques Tati
- Physical comedy traditions in French cinema
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Film Restoration
The film is partially preserved in the Gaumont-Pathé archives. While not completely lost, only fragments and incomplete prints are known to exist. Some portions have been restored by French film preservation institutions, but the complete version may be lost. The surviving elements have been digitized and are occasionally shown at silent film festivals and archival screenings.