AllMovie

This compilation film of 36 early silents from 1896-1909 -- 15 of them by Georges Melies -- provides an entertaining view of fantasy and reality as understood at the turn of the 20th century and the beginning of the film era. A Trip to the Moon (1902 and 1903 versions) is among the shorts, as well as The Man with the Rubber Head (1902), and Through the Keyhole (1902) which feature an occasional risque scene and composite and trick photography that still entertain today. Some of the films were tinted and some are in an excellent state of preservation. While indeed fascinating as an historical record of early film artistry, audiences may still find the two-hour running time a bit long.