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The Enchanted Well

Original title: Le puits fantastique
  • 1903
  • Not Rated
  • 4m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
524
YOUR RATING
The Enchanted Well (1903)
DramaFantasyShort

Denied a handout, a witch exacts vengeance by cursing the village well.Denied a handout, a witch exacts vengeance by cursing the village well.Denied a handout, a witch exacts vengeance by cursing the village well.

  • Director
    • Georges Méliès
  • Star
    • Georges Méliès
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.9/10
    524
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Georges Méliès
    • Star
      • Georges Méliès
    • 5User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos1

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    Georges Méliès
    Georges Méliès
    • Townsperson
    • Director
      • Georges Méliès
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews5

    5.9524
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    Featured reviews

    6JoeytheBrit

    Well, well...

    This Melies film actually has a story of sorts. A busy man unknowingly makes the wrong decision when he sees off an old crone begging near the village well. The crone is a witch who curses the well, turning it into a portal to the underworld from which various demons emerge. Now these demons, it has to be said, aren't exactly the most frightening movie creations we've ever seen, but Melies was attempting to create a spectacle for all ages and he pretty much succeeded. The set is of school play standards as are the various costumes, but it's all played out with such energy and enthusiasm that you can't help but be drawn in. Worth a look for fans of Melies and early cinema.
    7Hitchcoc

    You Don't Miss the Water.....

    We are introduced to a well in the town square. A poor old witchy woman tries to drink, but a man refuses to let her. He takes water for himself but it turns out to be like gasoline because the devil is at the bottom of the well. The remaining scenes involve this man doing battle with he Devil. At one point the well raises up and we find there are lots of devils inside the fortress. A decent story.
    7wmorrow59

    A memorable tale of revenge, told in three minutes

    This is a brief but enjoyable tale from that great French film-making pioneer, Georges Méliès. As usual, there are no title cards, and the camera sits so far from the actors you might feel like you're watching from the mezzanine of a theater, but this short is a treat anyhow. The plot is easy to follow and the various effects are highly amusing. The narrative concerns a witch's revenge on a man who refuses to give her a hand-out. When he scorns her, and turns his attention to drawing water from a well, he encounters snakes, demons, flame, and other signs of the witch's displeasure. It's basically a horror story, though not especially scary unless you're frightened by sock-puppets and men dressed as enormous frogs. Buffs will recognize the "Méliès dragon" which pops up in other films, such as his Palace of the Arabian Nights.

    My only problem with this film is the poor condition of the image. In surviving prints (or at least the one I've seen) the picture is grainy and badly washed-out, but once you've had a moment to adjust it's all right. After the Méliès operation went out of business during the Great War all his original negatives were scattered, literally hundreds of films lost, and it was many years before attempts were made to rescue and restore the survivors. Too bad, but the spirit behind these delightful works comes across, and we can still enjoy what's left.
    Michael_Elliott

    Enchanted Well

    Enchanted Well, The (1903)

    *** 1/2 (out of 4)

    aka Le Puits Fantastique

    A group of men, including Melies, walk past a well and all appears to be fine until one of the men takes an elderly woman's donkey and then the well comes to life with the Devil and various other monsters coming out of it. This is a highly entertaining short that once again deals with Melies fascination with the Devil. I'm really not sure why the Devil made so many appearances in Melies work but it's clear the director likes having fun with him. The special effects of the well turning into the Devil's furnace was nicely done and the overall pacing of the film is top notch. The various creatures coming out of the well are very well done and even the man-in-the-donkey-costume looks funny.
    7planktonrules

    His just desserts.

    The story of "Le Puits Fantastique" is a variation of the beginning of "Beauty and the Beast". An old beggar woman tries to get some coins from a man standing outside a well. But instead of helping her, he kicks her and sends her on her way. But in reality, she is a witch and for his nastiness, she curses his well. Then, the well begins to behave VERY strangely...even for a Georges Méliès film!

    Using stop-motion and a stage-like set, this film is very typical of many of the director's short films. This means it's quite fun for an early silent...the sort of thing that he did very well. Worth seeing...especially since the man did deserve all the nasty things that happened to him.

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    Storyline

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    • Trivia
      Star Film 462 - 464.

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • June 27, 1903 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • France
    • Language
      • None
    • Also known as
      • Фантастический колодец
    • Production companies
      • Georges Méliès
      • Star-Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      4 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Silent

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