[Le Joyeux Prophète russe] 

1

[Le Joyeux Prophète russe]


El alegre profeta ruso

MEL 1904-A


The Fake Russian Prophet

In the interior of a small Russian cottage dwells a peasant who rejoices in the reputation of being able to foretell future events. A Japanese comes and finds him, and begs him to forecast the outcome of the war which now prevails between his own country and Russia. The peasant asks of him a very large sum of money and makes appear before his enraptured eyes a young Japanese woman who is enchaining an enormous white bear, which shows clearly that the Japanese will be the conquerors. The visitor, happy at what he has just seen, bestows upon him a large bag of money in gratitude for his services. Hardly has he departed when a Russian general, anxious to know the fate of the two countries, comes in person to consult the peasant. This time it is a woman personifying Russia who appears before the eyes of the General. Then there arrive successively a Japanese soldier and the white bear, who commence a struggle. The bear gets the best of it: that means that Russia will win. This forecast gives great satisfaction to the General, who pays the peasant most liberally for the consultation which the latter has given him. The peasant, after the departure of the General, holding in his hands the bags of money which he has extorted from his credulous visitors, executes a most crazy dance.

MEL 1905-A

2

1 Méliès 575-577  
2 Georges Méliès  
3 1904 60m/200ft
4 France  

3

       

4

 

Contacts