Lovesusti The Worst Film Ever

Grimerlana Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Merolliv I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

Dirtylogy It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

He_who_lurks First of all, this short isn't racist. I would agree with the reviewer who said it was all about color contrasts. Second of all, I have no idea why Melies titled this "Off to Bloomingdale Asylum". I mean, come on, all it is is some black guys transforming into white guys and back again. OH WAIT, IT'S THE AUDIENCE WHO ENDS UP AT THE ASYLUM AFTER WATCHING IT BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY'RE HALLUCINATING! YUCK YUCK YUCK!Okay, so that joke wasn't really very funny. Anyway, Melies doesn't appear to star anywhere in this one, odd because he mostly appears somewhere in these trick films. Is he one of the blackface minstrels? I dunno. As far as the story goes, it's just silly but has an interesting slapstick ending. The effects are good throughout.

Hitchcoc One could always consider the use of blackface as racist (it was), but I think Melies was looking for a black and white contrast, so as the clowns and the minstrels switch back and forth, it will be visually interesting. I don't suppose with things being what they were, Melies would ever consider using black actors. Of course, I don't know what the possibilities were in France. This is a bit less than some of his other films.

Horst in Translation (filmreviews@web.de) This one-minute film "L'omnibus des toqués blancs et noirs" may be considered racist because of the Blackfaces used in here, but I think these are too politically correct. Basically, this film only shows us what happens to stupid people, regardless which color. And color is a good keyword as Méliès proves here that, even without color in terms of film, it is very possibly to distinguish between all kinds of shades. This silent movie was made in the 20th century "already" by the famous French film pioneer and I would not count this among his best or worst works. Unfortunately, it's far more interesting visually than in terms of the story. As a whole, not recommended.

MartinHafer I love the films of Georges Méliès. He created so many great techniques and his movies were the best things being created at the time. So, while they seem a bit quaint today, back in 1901, it was pretty hot stuff--though this film isn't quite as fresh as some of his earlier films. And, while it will no doubt ruffle a few feathers today, you'll possibly be shocked at all the actors in black-face.A bizarre looking carriage arrives on a city street. Out pop four harlequins who dance about...and then the weird stuff begins. Using stop-motion, they appear to turn from very white to black men (of the minstrel variety) just by hitting or kicking each other. This goes back and forth for a bit until the remaining guy does what anyone would in this situation...he explodes. Goofy stuff...but entertaining.