The Crystal Casket
1905 French film
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Crystal Casket (French: Le Phénix ou le Coffret de cristal),[1] also known as The Magic Dice,[2] is a 1905 French silent trick film by Georges Méliès. It was sold by Méliès's Star Film Company and is numbered 686–689 in its catalogues.[1]
| The Crystal Casket | |
|---|---|
Surviving footage from The Crystal Casket | |
| Directed by | Georges Méliès |
| Based on | |
| Starring | Georges Méliès |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
| Country | France |
| Language | Silent |
Méliès is the magician in the film, which is based on a famous stage magic act, "Le Dé Grossissant", conceived by the illusionist Buatier de Kolta. De Kolta made a die grow before the audience's eyes, then made his wife appear out of it.[3] The tricks in Méliès's version are carried out using a combination of stage machinery and substitution splices.[3]
A fragment of the film still exists, and has been released on home video.[2]