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Lost Robot Film Rediscovered in Michigan
1 Mar
Summary
- A 45-second silent film from 1897 depicting a robot was found.
- The film, 'Gugusse and the Automaton', was rediscovered in Michigan.
- It's believed to be the earliest film showing a robot in motion.
A significant piece of film history, "Gugusse and the Automaton," has been unearthed in Michigan, offering a glimpse into early cinematic portrayals of robots.
This 1897 silent film, created by French pioneer Georges Méliès, is a mere 45 seconds long. It features a magician named Gugusse manipulating a child-sized automaton that grows to adult size, dances, and then shrinks back down after a playful altercation.
The film's rediscovery is credited to Bill McFarland of Grand Rapids, Michigan, who brought a box of films belonging to his great-grandfather to the Library of Congress for assessment.
His great-grandfather, William Delisle Frisbee, was a traveling showman who screened early motion pictures and magic lantern slides. His collection, preserved through generations, contained this remarkable Méliès film alongside other early works.
"Gugusse and the Automaton" is notable as it predates the coining of the word 'robot' in 1920, yet visually represents artificial men. The discovery reinforces that even films presumed lost forever can resurface, with technicians preserving it in 4K.
