| Ten Ladies in One Umbrella | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Georges Méliès |
| Starring | Georges Méliès |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
| Country | France |
| Language | Silent |
La Parapluie fantastique, known in English asTen Ladies in One Umbrella,Ten Girls in One Umbrella, andTen Ladies in an Umbrella, is a 1903 Frenchsilenttrick film byGeorges Méliès.
Méliès plays the magician in the film, thespecial effects for which were achieved usingsubstitution splices anddissolves.[1]
The film is strongly influenced by thePygmalion myth, as is suggested by the inscription "Galathea Théâtre" on the set and various classical motifs, including Grecian costumes, classical musical instruments such as theauloi and thelyre, and a backdrop showing a classical landscape with atempietto. Classical scholar Martin M. Winkler concludes: "Méliès the filmmaker-wizard-creator is evidently a modern Pygmalion."[2]
The film was sold by Méliès'sStar Film Company and is numbered 506–507 in its catalogues. In America, the film was sold asTen Ladies in One Umbrella; in Britain, the title wasTen Girls in One Umbrella.[3] The variant titleTen Ladies in an Umbrella was used forDavid Shepard's 2008 restoration of the film.[4] Apaper print of the film survives at theLibrary of Congress.[5]
