Le Manoir du diable

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Le Manoir du diable (The Devil's Castle) is a two minute long, b/w French film directed by Georges Melies. The film contained many traditional pantomime elements and was intentionally meant to amuse people, rather than frighten them. The film is often called other things by mistake, some of these include:

The Haunted Castle
The Devil's Manor
Manor of the Devil
The Manor of the Devil

It was released on Christmas Eve, 1896, at the Theatre Robert Houdin, 8 boulevard des Italiens, Paris. It was from this two minute short that the horror film was born.

Plot Summary

The film starts off with a large bat flying into a medieval castle. Once in, the bat circles slowly while flapping its monstrous wings before suddenly changing into Mephistopheles. After preparing a cauldron, the demon produces skeletons, ghosts, and witches from its bubbling contents before one of the summoned underworld cavaliers holds up a crucifix and Satan vanishes in a blast of smoke.

Cast & Crew

Director... Georges Melies

Producer... Georges Melies and Star Films

Writer... Georges Melies

Cinematographer... Phil Meheux, Bill Pope

Editor... Craig Herring

Starring... Jeanne d'Alcy, Georges Melies (as Mephistopheles)

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