The Assassination of the Duke de Guise

Ok, I must say I write this review after a systematic approach. In the last weeks I've rewatched 180 films made before 1908 (more or less in order). Then I started this one, unaware about that I was about to watch one of the first Film d'Art. In my opinion it's really worth the name!

From modern standards it's difficult to appreciate, but it really feels great for its time. Méliès and Chomón did great "filmed theater" years before, and Williamson surprised me by his cinematic eye, much more advanced than their theatrical approach. Griffith, Fitzhamon, Zecca, Smith,... they all were slowly mastering the medium and building up the craft. But they were still producing for the audiences that attended vaudeville theaters and nickelodeons. In this film Calmettes borrows their craft and forges something for a "higher" audience, the ones used to the more refined western theater tradition.

Technically it feels like an average 1908 movie, leaning rather towards the theater side. The plot isn't the most interesting one (especially for non-french viewers) although it's pretty good for its time. But the visual flow and the performances of the actors are brilliant. Much, much better than most of any previous film I could find yet. And of course, nowadays it can't be compared with better films that were to come. However, in my opinion, is one of the first examples of the seventh art. And it's definitely a worthy title to watch for those who already have a trained eye on very early cinema.