Georges Méliès and Marie Menken Films at Anthology Film Archives Jan. 3rd-5th, 2020
/Georges Méliès and Marie Menken films featured in GME’s library of DVD distribution titles are being screened as part of Anthology Film Archive’s Essential Cinema Repertory series to kick off their new year of programming.
Georges Méliès built the world's first movie studio in 1896 near Paris; from it cascaded fantastic magic films, dream films, historical reconstructions, imaginary journeys, melodramas, slapstick comedies—even erotic films. A genuine virtuoso, Méliès produced and directed his films while also devising the narratives; designing the sets, costumes and props; and frequently performing the leading parts. His films as represented on several DVDs available from GME present both the breadth and the depth of his work, disclosing a highly imaginative artist's discovery of the possibilities of cinema.
“There is no why for my making films. I just liked the twitters of the machine, and since it was an extension of painting for me, I tried it and loved it. In painting I never liked the staid and static, always looked for what would change the source of light and stance, using glitters, glass beads, luminous paint, so the camera was a natural for me to try – but how expensive!”
— Marie Menken, c. 1966
According to the 2006 film documentary NOTES ON MARIE MENKEN produced by Martina Kudláček, it was Marie who schooled Warhol on using the 16mm Bolex. The film presents never-before-seen footage by Menken salvaged from basements and storage vaults, including a camera "duel" for Bolexes between Menken and Andy Warhol; the two are seen dueling on top of a New York City building, facing each other with Bolex Cameras and dancing in circles around each other while gliding across the roof-top of Menken's penthouse apartment. Menken later appeared in such Warhol films as SCREEN TESTS (1964), THE LIFE OF JUANITA CASTRO (1965) and CHELSEA GIRLS (1966), among others.
These films and others by Georges Méliès and Marie Menken are distributed by GME to the North American educational market.