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A collection of rare French fairytale and fantasy shorts from the birth of cinema, with newly-commissioned scores from composers including Chris Watson, Philip Jeck and Fennesz.

Once upon a time, during the belle époque in turn-of-the-century Paris, a short-lived film form called scènes de feeries ('fairy films') were produced in great number by the Pathé Frères company. In jewel-like colours the films recreated the theatrical spectacles of the age with their fantastical settings, dancing girls, mythical beasts, supernatural brings and a plethora of stage illusion enhanced by the trickery of the new medium of film. Made to appeal to young and old spectators alike, these gorgeous films offer modern audiences a fascinating glimpse into the magical world of the nineteen-century theatre.

These breathtaking films are released here with newly-commissioned soundtracks composed by experimental artists from the leading British independent label Touch, including Chris Watson, Fennesz, Hildur Guðnadóttir, Ryoji Ikeda, Philip Jeck, and BJNilsen amongst others.

Special Features*

- Additional short films from the era
- All-new scores, featuring leading experimental composers such as Chris Watson, Philip Jeck and Fennesz
- Extensive illustrated booklet with contributions from silent cinema experts, including BFI curator Bryony Dixon
* Special features are subject to change

Fairy Tales
Early Colour Stencil films from Pathé

Once upon a time, during the belle époque in Paris, a short-lived film form called scènes de feeries, or fairy films, became popular thanks to the Pathé Frères company. Made to appeal to young and old alike, the films recreated the theatrical spectacles of the age in jewel-like colours. This collection, released on 3 December 2012, brings the films to DVD for the first time, each accompanied by a newly commissioned soundtrack by recording artists from the leading experimental music label Touch.

These gorgeous films feature fantastical settings, dancing girls, mythical beasts, supernatural beings and a plethora of stage tricks. Enhanced by the techniques of the then-new medium of film, they give modern audiences a fascinating glimpse into the magical world of the nineteenth-century theatre.

Presented here with original hand-colouring, the new soundtracks, all by recording artists from the Touch label, feature contributions from such acclaimed composers as Chris Watson, BJ Nilsen, Hildur Gudnadóttir, Philip Jeck and Fennesz. Their music, at times elegant and playful, at times intense and challenging, combines with these beautiful images, in often surprising ways, to create a unique and unforgettable experience.

Special features on the disc include films by Georges Méliès, Anson Dyer and more from the Pathé Frères company, along with nine alternative soundtracks to the film La Danse du diable.

This release should appeal to fans of Jan Švankmajer and Lotte Reiniger, or to anyone interested in early cinema or experimental film and music.

Film Titles and Soundtrack Composers
• Un Drame au fond de la mer (Drama at the Bottom of the Sea) (1901) – Jana Winderen
• Les Sept châteaux du diable (The Seven Castles of the Devil) (1901) – Joachim Nordwall and Henrik Rylander
• Ballet des Sylphides (1902) – Marcus Davidson
• Ali Baba et les quarante voleurs (Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves) (1902) – Leif Elggren
• Valse excentrique (Eccentric Waltz) (1903) – Marcus Davidson
• Japonaiseries (1904) – Pascal Wyse
• La Danse du diable (Weird Fancies) (1904) – Leif Elggren
• Métamorphose du papillon (Metamorphosis of a Butterfly) (1905) – Chris Watson
• La Poule aux oeufs d'or (The Hen That Laid the Golden Eggs) (1905) – Achim Mohné
• Martyrs chrétiens (Christian Martyrs) (1905) – Sarah Nicolls
• Loïe Fuller (1905) – Philip Jeck
• L'Album merveilleux (The Wonderful Album) (1905) – Oren Ambarchi
• L’Antre de la sorcière (The Bewitched Shepherd) (1905) – Maia Urstad
• La Peine du talion (Tit for Tat) (1906) – Christian Fennesz
• La Fée printemps (The Fairy of Spring) (1906) – Hildur Guðnadóttir
• Les Roses magiques (Magic Roses) (1906) – Sohrab
• Le Scarabée d'or (The Golden Beetle) (1907) – Michael Esposito and Mike Harding
• Cendrillon ou la pantoufle merveilleuse (Cinderella) (1907) – Philip Jeck
• Le Spectre Rouge (The Red Spectre) (1907) – Michael Esposito and Mike Harding
• Le Pied de mouton (The Talisman) (1907) – BJ Nilsen
• La Sorcière noire (The Black Witch) (1907) – Michael Esposito and Mike Harding
• La Belle au bois dormant (Sleeping Beauty) (1908) – Sarah Nicolls
• L'Oiseau bleu (The Blue Bird) (1908) – BJ Nilsen
• La Légende du fantôme (The Black Pearl) (1908) – The London Snorkelling Team
• Le Faune (The Fairies and the Faun) (1908) – Hildur Guðnadóttir

Special features
• Barbe-blue (1901): Georges Méliès’ telling of the Bluebeard tale with music by SAVX;
• Au Pays de l’or (1908): a trip to the magical underground gold foundry of the dwarves;
• Little Red Riding Hood (1922) Anson Dyer’s animation made for Hepworth Picture Plays with music by Rosy Parlane;
• La Danse du diable (Sint-Lukas versions): nine alternative scores by students from Sint-Lukas Brussels University College of Art and Design;
• Illustrated booklet with introductory essay by the BFI’s silent film curator Bryony Dixon, music essay by Touch’s Mike Harding, plus film notes and credits.

Product details
RRP: £19.99 / cat. no. BFIVD529 / U
France / 1901–1908 / stencil-coloured, tinted, and black and white / silent with music / 156 mins / DVD-9 / Original aspect ratio 1.33:1 / Dolby Digital stereo audio (320 kbps)

Considering the age and history of these films, the BFI DVD is a welcome treat for almost all of them. Only a tiny handful are taken from black and white prints, as most of them have the original color tinting and look pretty great. The constant barrage of wild, stylized hues is an intense experience after a few minutes, and it's a bit surprising that someone in the late '60s didn't think to stitch some of these together into a feature, slap on some psychedelic music, and market it to teens looking for another state of consciousness.

MichaelB wrote:Mondo Digital:

it's a bit surprising that someone in the late '60s didn't think to stitch some of these together into a feature, slap on some psychedelic music, and market it to teens looking for another state of consciousness.

The BFI have really done themselves proud with their latest offering, almost two and a half hours of pure belle époque movie magic.

Although it's impossible to place yourself in the shoes of audiences seeing these other-worldly short films at the dawn of the 20th century, the reaction they provoke now cannot be that different. Delight, surprise and then amazement. These films were meant to be magical, and remain so. Taking 19th century theatre in all its forms, capturing it on film and making it even more unreal with hand tinting and editing resulted in a unique strand of cinema.

peerpee wrote:I'm halfway through this (many of the films are only a few minutes) and it's absolutely incredible. Magical, crazy films from over 100 years ago. Gobsmacked.