East of Suez (1925)

알라딘과 쟈스민의 결혼식 날. 오랫동안 기다려온 공주의 결혼 때문에 아그라바는 온통 축제 분위기다. 신랑과 신부가 입장하고 결혼식이 거행되려는 순간 침입자가 나타난다. 이들은 악명높은 40인의 도적. 보물을 훔치려는 도적들과 이를 막으려는 수비대 때문에 궁궐에서는 한바탕 나리가 난다. 처음엔 도적들이 우세한 듯 싶더니 지니와 알라딘이 가세하여 싸우자, 도적들은 전의를 잃고 물러간다. 사태가 진정된 후, 알라딘은 도둑의 왕이 탐내던 지휘봉을 살펴본다. 그런데, 지휘봉에서 갑자기 예지의 전령이 나타나더니 물어보는 것은 무엇이든 알려준다고 한다. 자신의 과거가 궁금해진 알라딘은 고민 끝에 자신의 아버지가 있는 곳을 묻는다. 40인의 도적을 따라가라는 말에, 도둑들의 소굴로 몰래 잠입한 알라딘은 자신의 아버지이자 도둑의 왕인 카짐을 만나게 되는데...

바그다드 왕국의 왕자 아메드는 자파라는 사악한 대신에게 왕좌를 빼앗기고 지하 감옥에 갇힌다. 장터에서 음식을 훔치다 붙잡힌 아부 역시 같은 지하 감옥에 갇히면서 둘은 서로 만나게 된다. 죽음을 눈앞에 둔 이 둘은 감옥을 탈출해 바스라 왕국에 이른다. 이 왕국의 공주와 사랑에 빠지게 된 아메드. 한편 자파는 바스라 왕국의 공주와 결혼하려 하고 장난감 수집광인 왕에게 날아다니는 말을 선물함으로써 그의 환심을 산다. 하지만 이미 아메드와 사랑에 빠진 공주의 마음을 사기란 쉽지 않은 일. 난관에 처한 자파는 마법을 걸어 아메드를 눈 먼 장님으로 만들고 아부를 개로 변하게 하는데..

가상의 현재. 무정한 도시는 교활한 미스터TV의 저주에 빠져있다. 그는 대중의 목소리를 훔치고 그들의 생활을 낱낱이 감시한다. 한편 그는 텔레비전을 이용, 사람들의 마음을 통제할 수 있는 기계를 개발 중에 있다. 이 계획을 성공시키기 위해 미스터TV는 아직 ‘목소리’를 가진 마지막 사람을 납치해야만 한다. 독일 표현주의 무성영화에 영감을 받은 는 실험성이 돋보이는 작품으로 고전 무성영화 감상의 즐거움을 상기시키는 작품이다. 사진작가 출신으로 평소 이미지를 통한 의사소통에 관심을 가지고 있던 감독은 영화에서 대사를 효과적으로 제거, 우리를 영상에 집중하게 만든다.

어른이 된 그는 [투르 드 프랑스]경기에 참여하지만 대회 도중 납치를 당한다. 강아지와 함께 사라잔 손자를 찾아나선 그의 할머니, 마담 수자. 프랑스 마피아의 근거지인 낯선 항구도시 ‘벨빌’에 도착한 그녀는 그곳에서 젊은 시절에는 배우였고 현재는 재즈그룹으로 활동하는 세 쌍둥이 자매를 만나는데…

A very heavy turret is transported on a truck drawn by a long line of horses. The inscription “Charlemagne 53790K” readable on the turret suggests that this view was shot in the vicinity of Saint-Chamond, a town where there are factories specializing in the construction of heavy steel. It is certainly a turret intended for the battleship “Charlemagne”. In addition, a view projected by the Aléthorama on January 20, 1898 in Saint-Étienne, and entitled “Transportation of the armored turret of Saint-Chamond by a team of 80 horses”, could represent the same event.

A boat returns to port, where passengers are helped ashore.

From Edison films catalog: Taken during the Klondike excitement. The streets are crowded with miners buying outfits and supplies. Mule trains, trolley cars and hurrying pedestrians give life and bustle to the scene. 50 feet. $7.50. Advertised as part of the "Northern Pacific Railway Series" (Edison films catalog): The following pictures were taken by our artists at various points on the Northern Pacific Railway. We are greatly indebted to their officials who afforded us every opportunity in their power to obtain these splendid views. Many of the scenes are incident to the excitement prevailing at the time of the Klondike gold rush. They show the resources of this company for handling large numbers of people, baggage, freight and excursion parties, and give to prospective tourists and merchants an idea of the facilities with which this road handles traffic of all kinds (p. 9). (LoC)

From Edison films catalog: A long line of horses, mules and ponies are led, driven and ridden into the yards, where they are sold and distributed.

A marriage procession following the bride and her father enter a church.

“Shows the vessel after she has been fully turned and on her way across the Pacific. The boat shows large and clear with smoke coming from the stack. In the foreground is a constantly changing crowd of people composed of men, women and children. Action is added by some late comers who rush to the dock to wave their last farewell. Life-size, sharp and clear.” (F.Z. Maguire catalogue)

From F.Z. Maguire catalogue: The background of this picture is the Lick Observatory, Mount Hamilton, Cal. This observatory, the gift of James Lick, of Pennsylvania, was constructed at a cost of $700,000, being equipped with one of the most powerful telescopes that has ever been produced, and is famous the world over. The view of the Observatory is very complete, showing the style of architecture, including the glass covered dome in which are placed the various astronomical instruments. Every Saturday night throughout the year is set apart for visitors to inspect the Observatory and look through the great glass. This view shows a coach load driving up and alighting.

Three young women with dark, curly hair stand on a stage with a black background and patterned carpet or tile underfoot. They wear tights, ballet shoes, and frilly dresses to the knee with multiple petticoats and ruffled drawers. They begin by raising their right legs up by their heads, and then perform a dance with a variety of kicks and leg movements, their hands either in the air or pulling up their skirts. The sisters also grab their right legs again and hop in a circle, then do cartwheels and land on the floor in the splits. Jumping back to their feet, the women twirl in circles and around each other in circles in what appears to be a type of pirouette, while holding up their skirts and showing their bloomers in a manner similar to the cancan.

“Another view in which the figures show larger. A springboard furnishes the bathers with much amusement; also a toboggan slide.” (Edison film catalog)

“By the Leanders. The dress of one consists of a pair of wings and a bow and arrow; the other represents a fairy. Bathers in all stages of dress and undress watch the graceful dance.” (Edison film catalog)

Daily practice of life boat crew, showing boat being upset purposely by the men. As these boats are self-righting and self-bailing, the scene is particularly interesting.

In the Chicago stockyards, the gates of a pen of long-horn cattle are open and the cattle are being herded out by several cowhands.

Amusing cake walk of three men and two women (colored) in costume, showing the usual antics that occur in affairs of this kind.

Johan Carl Joensen, a Danish colonial manager in Greenland, drives his dog sled in Copenhagen’s Fælledparken. (stumfilm.dk)

“A clever characteristic dance called the 'Yellow Kid.' Very unique. Stage is in the Sutro Baths, San Francisco, Cal., and the audience is composed largely of bathers.” (Edison Catalog)

This early film made by Georges Hatot for the Lumière Company is a brief single shot-scene of the assassination of the French revolutionary writer, Jean-Paul Marat--who has the notorious distinction of having influenced the Reign of Terror.