The Enchanted Screen

The Unknown History of Fairy-Tale Films

Jack Zipes

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2011
• Print ISBN: 9780415990615
• eBook ISBN: 9781135853945
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Literary Criticism
• Index: Literature

The Enchanted Screen: The Unknown History of Fairy-Tale Films offers readers a long overdue, comprehensive look at the rich history of fairy tales and their influence on film, complete with the inclusion of an extensive filmography compiled by the author. With this book, Jack Zipes not only looks at the extensive, illustrious life of fairy tales and cinema, but he also reminds us that, decades before Walt Disney made his mark on the genre, fairy tales were central to the birth of cinema as a medium, as they offered cheap, copyright-free material that could easily engage audiences not only though their familiarity but also through their dazzling special effects.

Since the story of fairy tales on film stretches far beyond Disney, this book, therefore, discusses a broad range of films silent, English and non-English, animation, live-action, puppetry, woodcut, montage (Jim Henson), cartoon, and digital. Zipes, thus, gives his readers an in depth look into the special relationship between fairy tales and cinema, and guides us through this vast array of films by tracing the adaptations of major fairy tales like "Little Red Riding Hood," "Cinderella," "Snow White," "Peter Pan," and many more, from their earliest cinematic appearances to today.

Full of insight into some of our most beloved films and stories, and boldly illustrated with numerous film stills, The Enchanted Screen, is essential reading for film buffs and fans of the fairy tale alike.

Filmography

The filmography has been divided into the following sections:

Silent Films

Feature Animated Films

American Cartoons

DEFA Shorts and Cartoons

Animated Shorts

Live-Action Fairy-Tale Films

Directors and Producers

Canonical Fairy-Tale Films

Studios, Series, Selected Countries

I have listed the films in each section either chronologically or alphabetically, and in some cases, a film might appear in two sections. However, I have tried to avoid double listing. For instance, none of the canonical fairy-tale films are noted in the “Feature Animated Films” nor under “Live-Action Fairy-Tale Films.” There are many excellent directors and producers of fairy-tale films whom I have not listed in the section “Directors and Producers,” which had to be kept to a small size. However, I have listed their films. There may be errors and omissions in the filmography. For the most part, I consider this a first “stab” at trying to compile a comprehensive list.

Silent Films

The Devil’s Castle (Le Manoir du diable, 1896/97)
Director: Georges Méliès

Blue Beard (Barbe-bleue, 1897)
Studio: Lumière

Cinderella and the Fairy Godmother (1898)
Director: George Albert Smith

Cinderella (Cendrillon, 1899)
Director: Georges Méliès

The Philosopher’s Stone (La Pierre philosophale, 1899)
Director: Georges Méliès

The Rajah’s Dream, or The Betwitched Wood (Le Rêve du Radjah ou la Forêt enchantée, 1900)
Director: Georges Méliès

The Sorcerer, the Prince, and the Good Fairy (Le Sorcier, le Prince et le Bon Génie, 1900)
Director: Georges Méliès

Coppelia, the Animated Doll (Coppélia ou la Poupée animée, 1900)
Director: Georges Méliès

Little Red Riding Hood (Le Petit Chaperon rouge, 1900/01)
Director: Georges Méliès

The Sorceress’s Home (Chez la sorcière, 1901)
Director: Georges Méliès

Bluebeard (Barbe-Bleue, 1901)
Director: Georges Méliès

Little Tom Thumb (Le petit Poucet, 1901)
Studio: Pathé

The Dwarf and the Giant (Nain et Géant, 1901/02)
Director: Georges Méliès

The Enchanted Basket (La Corbeille enchantée, 1902/03)
Director: Georges Méliès

The Little Match Seller (1902)
Director: James Williamson

Jack and the Beanstalk (1902)
Director: Edwin S. Porter

Sleeping Beauty (La Belle au bois dormant, 1902)
Director: Lucien Nonguet, Ferdinand Zecca

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (Ali Baba et les quarantes voleurs, 1902)
Director: Ferdinand Zecca

Little Tom Thumb (Le Petit Poucet, 1903)
Director: Sigmund Lubin

Puss in Boots (Le chat botté, 1903)
Director: Lucien Nonguet, Ferdinand Zecca

Alice in Wonderland (1903)
Director: Percy Stow

The Enchanted Well (Le Puits fantastique, 1903)
Director: Georges Méliès

The Sorcerer’s Revenge (Le Sorcier, 1903)
Director: Georges Méliès

The Kingdom of the Fairies (Le Royaume des fées, 190...

Table of contents

• Table of Contents
• List of Figures
• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• Prologue
• I
• II
• III
• Endnotes
• Bibliography
• Filmography
• Index