Film & TV Database

Using the substitution trick, the film shows Jehanne d'Alcy, later Georges Méliès' wife, changing into a skeleton. The illusion is related to the conjuror de Kolta's trick, The Vanishing Lady.

Trick film. A lady in Victorian Dress, is seated in a chair, against an elaborately moulded wall. The magician (played by Mélìes) drapes her body. When the cloth is removed the lady has vanished, and in her place is a skeleton.

TRICK. The conjuror leads a woman on top the stage, invites her to sit down a chair and throws a cloak over her. When he removes the cloak she has vanished, leaving only the chair. He twirls the chair around several times with great dexterity, replaces it on the floor, and waves his hands over his head, gesturing dramatically towards the chair. At this, a skeleton appears seated up it. The conjuror then covers it with a cloth, waves his hand over its head and when he removes the cloth the skeleton has vanished and the lady is seen sitting sedately upon the chair. They join hands, bow, and leave the stage, then return to take another curtain call (74ft).