Timetable

Le spectre rouge

The Red Spectre

Segundo de Chomón, Ferdinand Zecca

FR
1907
Silent film
10’
OW
Focus

In his weird and wonderful burlesque film The Red Spectre, Segundo de Chomón creates a feast of spectacular optical illusions. A ghostly skeleton hypnotises young women and then plays bizarre tricks on them. Suddenly though a rival illusionist appears, intent on freeing the skeleton’s captives. A contest ensues, with the women ultimately winning out. An emancipatory early piece of cinema history. With live musical accompaniment by Gunda Gottschalk.

Directors

Segundo de Chomón, Ferdinand Zecca

Script / Cinematography

Segundo de Chomón

Cast

Julienne Mathieu

Production

Pathé Frères

Contact

Museo Nazionale del Cinema

Segundo de Chomón

Segundo de Chomón (1871–1929) was a Spanish silent film director who specialised in optical illusions on camera. His technical mastery and artistic creativity shining throughout his prolific body of work made him a great film-maker of his time.

Ferdinand Zecca

Ferdinand Zecca (1864–1947) was a French film pioneer. He directed numerous films for Pathé, including Histoire d’un crime (1901), the first ever crime film in cinematic history. He was also an actor and producer.