A Disappointing Continuation

It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

This attempt to copy Georges Melies isn't bad, though for 1907 films like this were wearing off so I doubt it impressed anyone. By the time Segundo de Chomon stepped in magic shows weren't the fad so both directors, Chomon and Melies, were losing their popularity. However this one, like many Chomon films, is tinted with yellows which makes this film a decent watch. It's a basic magic show in which a Medieval-looking lord has an odd-looking parasol thing, supposedly a cigar box, set up and he basically uses this as a magic box to conjure up dancing girls. Earlier on he opens up the box to reveal giant cigars inside who turn into women. Not bad. I have no idea why I review Chomon's work as the director is practically forgotten today.

Segundo de Chomón made a lot of films that borrowed liberally from Georges Méliès' bag of tricks--in particular stopping and restarting the camera in order to make audiences believe things could appear and disappear. Audiences at the time must have loved the films, as both directors made dozens and dozens of film like this."The Cigar Box" is another one of these magical films--though the title might confuse you a bit. The magician in this one is dressed like a 17th century Frenchman and he is standing in front of a weird contraption that is sort of like a carousel but not exactly. The panels on the side open and close throughout the film to feature folks in costumes that magically change or they appear and disappear. It's actually pretty elaborate and quite lengthy (about four minutes) for one of these films. Additionally, the sets from the Pathé Frères company are a bit nicer and more elaborate than the ones you usually see from Méliès. Not a great film but well worth seeing.