Japanese Butterflies (1908)

• 56%
• 1908
• Fantasy
• Segundo de Chomón

A Japanese magician and two boys bring to life a silkscreen of a woman. The woman then gets on a pedestal and the man wraps her in paper. He sets fire to the paper, and she disappears. He jumps in the fire and also disappears. Five women materialize with umbrellas. They disappear, and the umbrellas float up and disappear. The magician and the woman reappear. They tear up paper, tossing into the air the pieces which turn into butterflies. Two magician and two women then draw a silk worm on a screen. From Moving Picture World: "The animal takes life and starts spinning its cocoon and is soon hidden in its silken prison. The cocoon being now fully in view, it suddenly splits open and a beautiful butterfly takes its flight. After having fluttered for a while the magnificent insect comes back to earth and then undergoes a number of changes, presenting to the astonished eye of the spectator the most glorious display of colors, which blend from the darkest shades into the most delicate hues. This marvelous color dream over the butterfly transforms itself once more and a charming young woman makes one soon forget the beauties of the previous wonder by eclipsing it with a most graceful and fascinating Loie Fuller dance. This feat at an end the woman disappears as by enchantment, and the last scene shows a thousand butterflies rising towards heaven.