The X-Ray Fiend main backdrop
The X-Ray Fiend main poster

The X-Ray Fiend

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5.5/10 • 62

1897-10-010h 1m

ComedyHorror

A romantic couple are transformed into skeletons via X-Rays. The film combines two very recent innovations: Wilhelm Roentgen's discovery of X-rays in 1895, and Georges Méliès' accidental realisation of the special-effects potential of the jump-cut in 1896.

Directors
George Albert Smith
Writters
George Albert Smith

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Laura Bayley

    Laura Bayley

    Woman

  2. Tom Green

    Tom Green

    Professor

Reviews1

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RottenPop Avatar

RottenPop

Feb 21, 2017

4/10

The X-Rays (aka. The X-Ray Fiend) is another film from George Albert Smith. Smith directed The Haunted Castle, a remake of a George Melies film, earlier that year. The X-Rays shows us a young woman that gets confronted by an adoring older man. The older man flirts and blushes. Then an X-Ray camera floats in, or is attached to some figure in black, and presumably turns the couple inside out. Then they return to normal when the camera leaves. Fin. That is the entire short from beginning to end. It has no purpose or thought, the camera head man doesn't seem to return in this form to any other media. This was just an odd find that happened to fit rather nicely right after The Haunted Castle. The film takes advantage of an early “camera-trick,” the jump shot. The quick cut. The Quick Cut has actors stay in place when the director says “Cut!” They have to freeze every muscle in their body. Once something on the set has been changed the director resumes filming and the actors go about their actings. Usually surprised by the result of the cut. The finished product shows an article or sometimes a person disappearing or reappearing. This film is fun for the nostalgic factor and artistic quality. When the young couple is turned inside out they have some really cool costumes on. That is where the jump cut was used. For its time this was probably a really interesting and fun short. Kids on boardwalks all over have been pumping pennies into the Mutoscopes just to see this. I know I would have.

Media

  • The X-Ray Fiend poster
  • The X-Ray Fiend poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
skeletonsilent filmx rayed skeletonx-raytrick film