19th century silent film that first captured a robot attack

8 hours ago

The Library of Congress has restored a long-lost silent film by Georges Méliès titled 'Gugusse et l'Automate'.
The 45-second film, made nearly 130 years ago, features a robot clown attacking a human clown, marking possibly the first depiction of a robot in film.
The film was discovered in a box of rusty reels donated by Bill McFarland, whose great-grandfather used to screen films in the late 19th century.
The reels were in poor condition, with some nitrate film stock crumbled or stuck together, requiring careful restoration.
The collection also included other Méliès films and early works by Thomas Edison, identified by Méliès' Star Film Company logo.
Georges Méliès was a pioneer in cinema, known for special effects and the iconic 'Le Voyage dans la Lune'.
The rediscovery of 'Gugusse et l'Automate' is significant for science fiction and early cinema enthusiasts, as it was previously presumed lost.

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