The Bewitched Inn

Plot

A weary traveler arrives at an inn seeking rest for the night, but his peaceful slumber is repeatedly disrupted by supernatural occurrences. As he attempts to settle into his room, the bed mysteriously vanishes and reappears, candles explode in his face, his trousers fly through the air on their own, and his shoes walk away by themselves. The increasingly frustrated traveler tries to maintain his composure as each attempt to sleep is thwarted by another magical prank. The film culminates with the traveler being tormented by an increasingly chaotic series of impossible events, culminating in his eventual surrender to the bewitched room's supernatural forces. This early fantasy short showcases Méliès' mastery of cinematic trickery through multiple magical transformations and impossible physical actions.

Historical Background

Created in 1897, just two years after the Lumière brothers' first public film screening, 'The Bewitched Inn' emerged during cinema's infancy when filmmakers were still discovering the medium's possibilities. This period saw the transition from simple actualités (documentary-like recordings of real events) to narrative fiction films. Méliès, a professional magician who accidentally discovered the substitution splice technique when his camera jammed, became one of the first filmmakers to realize cinema's potential for creating impossible visions. The film was produced during the Belle Époque in France, a time of artistic innovation and technological progress. Cinema was still a novelty attraction shown at fairs and music halls, and Méliès's films were among the first to demonstrate that moving pictures could tell stories and create magic beyond simply recording reality.

Making Of

Georges Méliès created this film during the pioneering days of cinema, using his background as a magician and theater owner to revolutionize filmmaking. The production took place in his innovative glass-walled studio in Montreuil, which he built in 1897 specifically for making films with complex special effects. Méliès performed all the magical effects himself, using techniques he invented including multiple exposure, substitution splices, and time-lapse photography. The flying trousers sequence required careful wire work and precise timing, while the disappearing bed effect was achieved through the substitution splice technique that Méliès pioneered. As with all his early films, Méliès treated the camera as a recording device for a theatrical magic show, bringing his stage illusions to the new medium of cinema.

Visual Style

The cinematography was typical of Méliès's early work, featuring a single static camera position that recorded the scene as if from a theater audience's perspective. The camera was positioned to capture the full theatrical set, allowing Méliès to perform his magical illusions within the frame. The lighting was bright and even, necessary for the multiple exposure techniques used to create the special effects. The visual style was deliberately theatrical, with painted backdrops and props designed to be clearly visible to the camera. This approach reflected Méliès's background in stage magic and his belief that cinema should be a magical spectacle rather than a realistic representation.

Innovations

This film showcased several groundbreaking techniques that Méliès either pioneered or perfected, including the substitution splice (used for the disappearing bed), multiple exposure (for creating ghostly effects), and careful editing to create the illusion of impossible physical actions. The flying trousers sequence demonstrated early wire work techniques adapted from stage magic. Méliès's use of time-lapse photography for the walking shoes was innovative for the period. The film also demonstrated Méliès's mastery of controlling lighting and exposure to achieve consistent results across multiple takes, a significant technical challenge in 1897. These techniques established the foundation for special effects cinema that would evolve throughout the 20th century.

Memorable Scenes

• The sequence where the traveler's trousers mysteriously fly through the air and dance around the room, showcasing Méliès's innovative wire work and editing techniques
• The moment when the bed suddenly vanishes, leaving the traveler confused and standing in an empty room
• The climactic chaos where multiple supernatural events occur simultaneously, including exploding candles and walking shoes

What Critics Said

Contemporary reception from 1897 is largely undocumented, as film criticism was not yet established as a profession. However, the film was commercially successful and helped establish Méliès's reputation as a creator of magical films. Modern critics and film historians recognize 'The Bewitched Inn' as a pioneering work that demonstrated early cinema's narrative and technical possibilities. It is frequently cited in film studies as an important example of Méliès's contribution to cinematic language and special effects development. The film is praised for its creativity and technical innovation within the extreme limitations of 1897 filmmaking technology.

What Audiences Thought

Original audiences in 1897 were reportedly amazed and delighted by the film's magical effects, which were unlike anything they had seen before. The film was popular at fairgrounds and music halls where Méliès's films were exhibited. Modern audiences viewing the restored film often express surprise at the sophistication of the special effects given the film's age, and it remains a favorite among early cinema enthusiasts. The film's simple visual humor and magical transformations continue to entertain viewers over 125 years after its creation.

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