Lost Méliès Film "Gugusse et l'Automate" Discovered and Restored

The Library of Congress has announced the discovery and restoration of "Gugusse et l'Automate" (Gugusse and the Automaton), a silent film created by French filmmaker Georges Méliès circa 1897.

The 45-second film, which had been presumed lost for over a century, is notable for what experts suggest may be the first depiction of a robot in a moving image.

The film was part of a collection donated in September by Bill McFarland of Michigan.

Discovery and Restoration Journey

The film's restoration was completed by the Library of Congress after it was donated as part of a collection of 10 reels. The pre-World War I nitrate film artifacts were in a delicate, deteriorated state, with some parts crumbled, stuck together, or rusty, which rendered them unsafe for projection. A lab technician had advised Mr. McFarland to contact the Library of Congress due to the sensitive nature of the materials.

The donation originated from Mr. McFarland's great-grandfather, William Frisbee, who had acquired the films in the late 19th century and reportedly used them for public screenings.

Film Content and Historical Significance

"Gugusse et l'Automate" is a 45-second, one-reel short that depicts a child-sized robot clown growing to adult size. This robot clown then attacks a human clown with a stick, after which the human clown destroys the machine with a hammer.

Library of Congress moving image curator Jason Evans Groth has suggested this film may represent the first depiction of a robot in a moving image.

This predates the coinage of the word "robot" in 1921 by Karel Čapek.

Some film historians, including Douglas Menville and R. Reginald, described the work in their 1977 book "Things to Come: An Illustrated History of the Science Fiction Film" as potentially the "first true science fiction film." Archivist Rick Prelinger has also noted that the film reflects early considerations of robots, similar to contemporary discussions surrounding artificial intelligence.

Uncovering a Lost Collection

George Willeman, head of the Library's nitrate film vault, oversaw the inspection and identification of the reels. The collection, which included "Gugusse et l'Automate," also contained another Méliès film, "Nouvelles Luttes extravagantes" (The Fat and Lean Wrestling Match), and portions of an early Thomas Edison work, "The Burning Stable."

The team, assisted by an external expert, identified "Gugusse et l'Automate" as a Méliès creation by a star logo painted on a pedestal visible in the film, which was the emblem for Méliès' Star Film Company.

Méliès' Enduring Legacy

Georges Méliès is recognized for his profound contributions to early cinema. He is widely known for his 1902 work, "Le Voyage dans la Lune" (A Trip to the Moon), and is credited with popularizing special effects such as multiple exposures and time-lapse photography.

"Gugusse et l'Automate" had been presumed lost for over a century prior to its discovery and restoration.