The Films
L'Amant de la lune
director: Gaston Velle
year: 1905
country: France
history notes: Unidentified Film No. 040
alternative titles: Rêve à la lune

This film has been identified thanks to contributions from members of the Lost FIlms community.
Related Documents
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
Commentary
Teresa Antolin is correct. A selection of frames from another print of this film can be viewed on the Gaumont Pathé Archives website.
Oliver Hanley, Deutsche Kinemathek, 24.04.2009
As the poster enclose, i think that can be "L'amant de la Lune" or "Reve a la Lune" by Gaston Velle, 1905, Pathe Freres, mt.140
Teresa Antolin, 24.04.2009
The Deutsche Kinemathek holds three 16mm reduction prints of this film, originally part of founder Gerhard Lamprecht's private collection.
Lamprecht's surviving original index card notes that these prints were struck from a dupe negative that was made from his original 35mm nitrate print by the Berlin lab Fikopa in January 1948.
Unfortunately, the nitrate print has not survived but on the index card Lamprecht noted that it contained the same 'PATHÉ FRÈRES PARIS 1905' edgecode as the Hungarian National Film Archive's print.
Lamprecht also noted that in his print it was possible to see that the original negative's round Lumière style perforations printed through, again also evident in the Hungarian print.
The main title in this print, “Rêve à la Lune”, was tinted red while the rest of the film was partially coloured, mixing black and white shots with shots tinted either yellow/orange or blue/green and – in the brief moments when the drunkard, whilst flying through the air during a storm, gets struck by lightning – red.
In contrast, the surviving 16mm prints are all in black and white with main titles tinted light red.
All three prints have the Pathé logo (printed on reversal stock and, in one case, tinted red like the main title) spliced on at the end.
For curiosity, we have included a selection of scans from one of the 16mm prints here because, in certain sequences, one can notice differences to the Hungarian print already pictured – particularly with respect to the decor (for example, the shape of the door in the drunkard's apartment or the face of the moon in the backdrop to the scene in the park).
A precise explanation for these differences must still be determined. Perhaps a second version of the film was shot not long after the other one (but long enough that new scenery had to be constructed) to satisfy demand or for distribution in certain foreign territories but this is just one possibility.
Unfortunately, there is no mention of any differences in Lamprecht's notes.
So, if any visitors to the website are able to provide more information, we would certainly appreciate reading your comments.
Oliver Hanley, Deutsche Kinemathek, 09.10.2009
Login or register to make a comment.
The views expressed here belong to the author of the comment and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Deutsche Kinemathek.
Contribute
Do you have media, images or documents related to this film? Lost Films welcomes contributions of materials in digital format.

Login or register to upload your supplementary materials about his film.