MÉLIÈS GEORGES: (1861-1938)

MÉLIÈS GEORGES: (1861-1938)

`…leaders of the current committees, who do not even know the name of the pioneers of cinematography. Fat wine merchants, who have become cinema tenants...´

 

MÉLIÈS GEORGES: (1861-1938) French Film Director, a pioneer of cinema and innovator in the use of special effects. Rare and lengthy interesting A.L.S., G. Melies, four pages, small writing, 4to, Orly, 4^th January 1934, to Auguste-Jules Drioux, in French. A lengthy letter written by Melies during an illness convalescence at home, referring first to his health `Il y a 2 jours, environ, où cela semble aller un peu mieux, quoique je sois encore au lit et d´une très grande faiblesse, mais enfin j´ai pu manger un peu, et digérer, car depuis 6 semaines, rien ne passait! Il faut espérer qu´à force de purges , de lavements, de cataplasmes, de ventoses, sans compter tout le tremblement de cachets, potions, ampoules, etc…´ (“Since 2 days ago, approximately, things seem to be going a little better, although I am still in bed and very weak, but finally I was able to eat a little, and digest, because for 6 weeks, nothing passed through! It is to be hoped that by dint of purges, enemas, poultices, suction cups, not to mention all the trembling of tablets, potions, ampoules, etc..”) Melies further refers to his opinions and relationship with the Mutuelle du Cinema, an association which gets funds from the cinema itself, working for the cinema and its workers, and which should help its members when they get old if they need assistance or medical attention, and mentions also his personal difficult financial situation, and states in part `Vous me demandez de vous dire franchement et sans gêne si la société de la “Mutuelle” ou d´autres sont venus à notre aide dans ces circonstances. Quoi qu´il m´en coûte, je suis oblige de répondre: hélas, non! A un point que nous avons complètement épuisé nos bien maigres économies, et que depuis près de 3 semaines, j´ai du laisser tomber le médecin, n´ayant plus de quoi payer ses visites et les énormes factures de pharmacie qui suivaient invariablement les dites visites´ (“You ask me to tell you frankly and without embarrassment if the “Mutuelle” society or others have come to our aid in these circumstances. Whatever it will cost me, I am obliged to answer: alas, no! To the point that we have completely exhausted our very small savings, and for nearly 3 weeks now, I had to drop the doctor, having no money left to pay for his visits and the huge pharmacy bills that invariably followed the said visits”), further adding `Quant à l´oeuvre de la “Mutuelle”, qui est actuellement dans la plus grande “panade”, les presidents ont été prévenus de ma maladie par le directeur d´ici, mais, malgré qu´on ait pour Georges Mélies la plus grande consideration (en paroles et en écrits du moins) personne n´a daigné se déranger, on ne m´a même pas offert de m´envoyer un médecin, et encore bien moins de m´aider pécuniairement´ (“As for the work of the “Mutuelle”, which is currently in the greatest “mess”, the presidents were informed of my illness by the local director, but, despite the fact that we have for Georges Mélies the greatest consideration (in words and in writing at least) no one deigned to bother, I was not even offered to send me a doctor, and even less to help me financially”) Melies further explains that the Mutuelle cannot afford paying cleaners and cookers and that they have to take care of this too, and his wife who is doing all the work, is exhausted, very old and with no strength to even walk `Plus personne pour la cuisine et le ménage. Allez les vieux, collez-vous y de nouveau!... quand on est malade, et qu´on vous laisse froidement sans le sou, et sans soins, alors cela n´est plus rigolo du tout!..´ (“No one for cooking and cleaning. Come on old folks, stick to it again!... when you're sick, and you're coldly left penniless, and careless, then it's no longer fun at all!..”), and before concluding, sends his furious critics on the boarding directors and announces future protests he intends to lead, saying `il est bien difficile de se faire entendre des gros bonnets des comités actuels, qui ne connaissent, même pas de nom, les pionniers de la cinématographie. D´épais marchands de vin, devenus tenanciers de Cinéma…´ (“it is very difficult to be heard by the leaders of the current committees, who do not even know the name of the pioneers of cinematography. Fat wine merchants, who have become cinema tenants..”) A letter of very interesting content, explaining the difficult last years of Melies and his critics about the Cinéma Mutuelle and the future of the pioneers of the “Cinematographie”. Very small overall minor age wear with a very small area of paper loss and singeing to the upper left corner, not affecting the text or signature. G

 

Auguste-Jules Drioux was editor of the magazine Passez Muscade, publishing a special edition in 1929 entitled Georges Melies. Melies often collaborated with the magazine, publishing his Croquis-magiques.