Monday, April 28, 2014

The Coronation of Edward VII (1902)

Another historical re-enactment from Georges Méliès. Because cameras were not allowed inside Westminster Abbey, producer Charles Urban commissioned Méliès to stage his own version of the ceremony using actors inside his studio at Montreuil.

The resulting film (which was actually completed before the coronation took place, as the ceremony had been postponed) is a meticulous re-enactment of the actual events. Méliès even traveled to Westminster Abbey to obtain precise dimensions of the space to re-create in his studio. It's a good demonstration of Méliès' eye for detail and design and his talent for staging complex action within the frame.

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