Faust in the Underworld (Faust aux enfers) 120 years old

The German legend of a scholar's unholy pact with the Devil would have been very familiar to most moviegoers (at least European ones), so Georges Méliès' early cinematic treatment likely got away with simply offering a fancifully illustrated late episode without the earlier narrative context (however, spoken narration provides some of the latter in this restored print). Tempted by Mephistopheles with all kinds of dancing and ethereal babes, Faust is at first excited and then terrified by the sight of various demons and monsters. The painted-set designers really went hog wild on this one, depicting the (sometimes sexy) torments of subterranean Hell with in bold terms (even when ballerinas prance in the foreground). (Dennis Harvey, Fandor)

Credits

Faust in the Underworld Cast

Name Character
Georges Méliès He was 42, 76 years old when he died as Mephistopholes

Faust in the Underworld Crew

Name Department
Georges Méliès as Director. He was 42 (76) years old when He died Directing
Faust in the Underworld (120 years)

  • Release day: Saturday, December 12, 1903
  • Runtime: 7 minutes