The Cigar Box

Plot

In this early fantasy short film, a gentleman presents an oversized musical cigar dispenser to a group of elegantly dressed people. As he operates the mechanical device, figures begin to magically emerge from within the cigar box - first a woman in elaborate costume, then additional characters who appear and disappear with theatrical flourish. The dispenser continues to produce and retract performers in a mesmerizing display of cinematic magic, with each character appearing in different costumes and poses before vanishing back into the mysterious box. The film culminates in a grand finale where multiple figures emerge simultaneously, creating a spectacular illusion that showcases the technical wizardry of early special effects cinema.

Historical Background

1907 was a pivotal year in early cinema, marking the transition from simple actualities to more complex narrative and trick films. The film industry was consolidating around major studios like Pathé Frères, which dominated global distribution. This period saw intense competition between filmmakers specializing in magical effects, particularly between Georges Méliès and directors like Chomón who worked for Pathé. The public's fascination with spiritualism, magic, and mechanical novelties influenced film content, with audiences eager to see cinema push the boundaries of what was possible visually. The technology of film was still evolving, with cameras becoming more portable and editing techniques becoming more sophisticated, allowing filmmakers like Chomón to create increasingly complex illusions. This film emerged during the golden age of trick films, a brief but crucial period when cinema was establishing its unique language and capabilities.

Making Of

The production of 'The Cigar Box' required meticulous planning and execution of multiple photographic techniques. Segundo de Chomón employed substitution splices, where the camera was stopped, performers added or removed, and filming resumed to create the illusion of magical appearance and disappearance. The oversized cigar dispenser was constructed as a practical prop with mechanisms to allow performers to enter and exit unseen. The film was likely shot in Pathé's studio in Vincennes, using artificial lighting to control the magical effects. Chomón's background as a magician and illusionist greatly influenced his approach to filmmaking, bringing theatrical magic techniques to the new medium of cinema. The performers had to time their movements precisely with the mechanical operations of the prop and the stop-motion photography, requiring multiple takes to achieve the seamless effects that characterize the final film.

Visual Style

The cinematography of 'The Cigar Box' demonstrates the sophisticated use of multiple exposure and substitution splicing techniques that were hallmarks of Segundo de Chomón's work. The film employs a static camera position typical of early studio productions, allowing the focus to remain on the magical transformations occurring within the frame. Lighting was carefully controlled to ensure the visibility of the performers while maintaining the illusion of their magical appearance and disappearance. The composition centers the oversized cigar dispenser as the focal point, with performers arranged symmetrically around it to maximize the visual impact of the illusions. The cinematography required precise timing and coordination between the camera operator, performers, and mechanical effects to achieve the seamless transitions that characterize the film. The use of depth in the staging creates a sense of space within the confined studio environment, enhancing the three-dimensional quality of the magical effects.

Innovations

The film represents significant technical achievements in early special effects, particularly in the area of substitution splicing and multiple exposure techniques. Segundo de Chomón perfected the method of stopping the camera, making changes to the scene, and resuming filming to create seamless magical transformations. The mechanical cigar dispenser prop was an innovative creation that combined practical effects with photographic tricks to enhance the illusion. The film demonstrates sophisticated understanding of editing rhythms and timing, with each appearance and disappearance precisely calibrated for maximum impact. The coordination between mechanical effects and camera work shows an advanced level of planning and execution for the period. The film also showcases early color techniques, as some versions were hand-colored using Pathé's stencil process, adding another layer of technical sophistication to the production. These achievements contributed significantly to the development of cinematic special effects and established techniques that would influence filmmakers for decades.

Music

As a silent film from 1907, 'The Cigar Box' would have been accompanied by live musical performance during its original exhibition. The musical accompaniment would typically have been provided by a pianist or small orchestra in the theater, playing popular tunes of the era or classical pieces appropriate to the magical nature of the film. The musical element suggested by the cigar dispenser's description would have been reinforced through the live music, with performers possibly using sound effects to enhance the mechanical aspects of the prop. The score would have been synchronized with the visual action, building excitement during the magical appearances and providing dramatic punctuation for the disappearances. In some venues, a narrator might have provided additional context or explanation, particularly for audiences unfamiliar with trick film conventions. Modern screenings of the film typically feature newly composed scores or period-appropriate classical music to recreate the original viewing experience.

Memorable Scenes

• The magical sequence where multiple elegantly costumed figures emerge one after another from the oversized cigar dispenser, each appearing in a puff of theatrical smoke and disappearing just as mysteriously, creating a mesmerizing rhythm of appearance and vanishment that showcases the technical wizardry of early cinema special effects.

What Critics Said

Contemporary reception of 'The Cigar Box' was likely positive among trade publications and exhibitors, as trick films were highly popular with audiences of the period. The film was reviewed in trade journals like Pathé's own catalog and film industry publications, which praised its technical ingenuity and entertaining qualities. Modern film historians and scholars recognize the film as an exemplary work of early special effects cinema, frequently citing it in studies of Segundo de Chomón's contributions to film technique. Critics today appreciate the film for its sophisticated use of substitution splices and its place in the development of cinematic illusion. The film is often discussed in the context of the competition between Méliès and Pathé's magical films, with scholars noting Chomón's technical precision and innovative approach to established trick film formulas. Contemporary retrospectives of early cinema regularly include this film as representative of the sophistication achieved in special effects within just a decade of cinema's birth.

What Audiences Thought

Audiences in 1907 reportedly found 'The Cigar Box' delightful and magical, as trick films were among the most popular attractions of early cinema programs. The film's visual spectacle and seamless illusions would have been particularly impressive to viewers still adjusting to the possibilities of the new medium. The combination of mechanical props and photographic magic appealed to contemporary tastes for novelty and wonder. The film was likely shown in variety programs alongside other shorts, newsreels, and live performances, where it served as a highlight of the cinematic portion of the entertainment. Modern audiences viewing the film in retrospectives and archives often express admiration for the technical sophistication achieved with such primitive equipment, finding charm in the simplicity and directness of the magical effects. The film continues to entertain viewers interested in cinema history and the origins of special effects, serving as an accessible introduction to early trick films.

You Might Also Like