France, 1897
20 meters, 65 feet
35mm film, black and white
silent
A French science fiction film directed by Georges Méliès. Douglas Menville and R. Reginald have made the claim that this was the first film to feature robots and the first science fiction film. 1Things to Come: An Illustrated History of the Science Fiction Film p.3 It is believed to be a lost film.
Plot Summary
A clown is startled by the appearance of an automaton.
Credits
Crew
Directed by: Georges Méliès
Star-Film
Alternative Titles
The Clown and the Automaton
Gugusse and the Automaton
References
Books
- Artificially Arranged Scenes: The Films of Georges Méliès by John Frazer p.244 – note
- Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Science Fiction by Phil Hardy (ed) p.19 – credits, note
- Fighting Robots: A Guide to Radio-Controlled Combatants by Michael Benson p.15 – note
- Marvellous Méliès by Paul Hammond p.137 – note
- Reference Guide to Fantastic Films by Walt Lee p.178 – credits
- Science Fiction Film: A Critical Introduction by Keith M. Johnston p.55 – note
- Things to Come: An Illustrated History of the Science Fiction Film by Douglas Menville and R. Reginald p.3 – note
