The Fat and Lean Wrestling Match

Plot

In this whimsical short film, two wrestlers - one notably fat and one conspicuously lean - engage in a series of increasingly bizarre and magical matches. The performance begins as a seemingly ordinary wrestling demonstration but quickly transforms into a fantastical display of Méliès' signature cinematic tricks. The wrestlers defy physics as they change size, disappear and reappear, and perform impossible feats of strength and agility. The match culminates in a series of magical transformations that blur the line between athletic competition and supernatural spectacle, showcasing Méliès' mastery of early special effects and theatrical showmanship.

Historical Background

This film was created during the pioneering era of cinema, just five years after the Lumière brothers' first public screening in 1895. The year 1900 was particularly significant as it marked the Paris Exposition, where cinema was featured prominently and Méliès had a major presence. France was the world's leading film producer at this time, with Méliès as one of its most innovative and commercially successful directors. The film emerged during a period when cinema was transitioning from a technological novelty to an art form capable of narrative and spectacle. Wrestling was extremely popular as both sport and entertainment in Belle Époque France, making it an ideal subject for a film that combined popular entertainment with Méliès's magical cinematic innovations.

Making Of

Georges Méliès created this film during his peak creative period when he was producing dozens of short films annually. The production took place in his innovative studio in Montreuil-sous-Bois, which he had converted from a greenhouse to provide optimal natural lighting. Méliès, drawing on his extensive background as a stage magician at the Théâtre Robert-Houdin, adapted many theatrical illusion techniques for the camera. The wrestling theme was particularly clever as it provided a natural framework for the physical comedy and transformation effects that were his specialty. The costumes were designed to be visually striking and to facilitate the various magical effects, with special attention paid to how they would appear on film. The film was likely shot in a single day, as was typical for Méliès's short productions, with multiple takes to perfect the timing of the special effects.

Visual Style

The cinematography in this film exemplifies Méliès's theatrical approach to cinema, with a fixed camera position capturing a single, proscenium-like view of the action. The camera work is static and straightforward, allowing the focus to remain on the performers and the special effects. The lighting was natural, coming through the glass walls of Méliès's studio, creating a bright, clear image that was essential for the multiple exposure techniques. The visual composition was carefully staged to maximize the impact of the transformation effects, with the wrestlers positioned precisely to facilitate the magical transitions. The film was shot on 35mm film at approximately 16 frames per second, the standard for the era.

Innovations

This film showcases several of Méliès's pioneering technical innovations, particularly his mastery of multiple exposure to create magical appearances and disappearances. The substitution splice technique, which Méliès developed and perfected, allows characters to transform instantly through carefully timed cuts. The film also demonstrates early use of perspective tricks and forced perspective to create illusions of size change. Méliès's innovative studio design, with its glass walls and painted backdrops, allowed for consistent lighting and elaborate fantasy settings that were technically advanced for the period. The film's hand-colored versions, where each frame was individually painted, represent one of the earliest examples of color in cinema.

Music

As a silent film, 'The Fat and Lean Wrestling Match' had no synchronized soundtrack. During its original exhibition, the film would have been accompanied by live music, typically a pianist or small orchestra playing appropriate popular tunes of the era. The musical accompaniment would have been chosen to match the comedic and fantastical nature of the on-screen action, likely including lively, playful melodies during the wrestling sequences and more mysterious or magical themes during the transformation effects. In some venues, sound effects might have been created live to enhance the comedy, though this varied by exhibition location.

Memorable Scenes

• The climactic transformation sequence where the wrestlers magically change size and shape, showcasing Méliès's mastery of multiple exposure and substitution splicing techniques to create impossible physical transformations that delighted early cinema audiences

What Critics Said

Contemporary reception of Méliès's films was generally enthusiastic, with audiences marveling at the seemingly magical effects. Critics of the time, though still developing the language of film criticism, praised Méliès's imagination and technical innovation. The film was noted for its clever use of multiple exposures and substitution splices to create impossible transformations. Modern film historians and critics recognize this film as an important example of early cinematic fantasy and a showcase of Méliès's pioneering special effects techniques. It is frequently cited in studies of early cinema as an example of how filmmakers quickly moved beyond simple actualities to create imaginative, narrative-driven content.

What Audiences Thought

Early 20th-century audiences were captivated by Méliès's magical films, with this wrestling comedy proving particularly popular due to its combination of physical humor and impossible effects. Viewers, many of whom had never seen film before, were genuinely astonished by the transformation effects, which seemed like real magic on screen. The film's humor and spectacle made it a favorite in both fairground booths and more established venues. The wrestling theme resonated with contemporary audiences who were familiar with wrestling exhibitions as popular entertainment. The film's success led to numerous copies being made and distributed internationally, though often without Méliès's authorization or compensation.

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