George Eastman’s Attic September 12, 2010

Founded in 1949, the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film is housed in the mansion and gardens that George Eastman, founder of the Eastman Kodak Company, called home from 1905 to 1932. World-renowned for its photography and motion picture archives, the museum is also a leader in film preservation and photograph conservation, educating archivists and conservators from around the world. The GEH Motion Picture Department now holds more 30,000 titles, including the collections of Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee, Kathryn Bigelow and Merchant Ivory Productions.

George Eastman’s Attic: “The Skipping Cheeses” (aka “Les Fromages Automobiles”) (1907, 5 min.) Directed by Georges Méliès and featuring the director’s trademark special effects, this short offers an early 20th century warning to anyone boarding French public transport who might be sensitive to smell.

“A Western Girl” (1911, 10 min.) Starring director John Ford’s influential older brother, Francis Ford, this film is one of the few surviving films from the lesser-known American outpost of Méliès’ Star Film Company in San Antonio, Texas.

“Early 28mm Animation” (1918, 5 min.) A product of a pioneering animation company, the Bray Studios, this short features a young character who, as is the case in many cartoons, spends most of his time inciting havoc and chaos in his neighborhood.

FEAR AND DESIRE, 1953, 72 min. Numerous rumors surround the creation (and near disappearance) of director Stanley Kubrick’s first feature film - some true, some less so. Often thought to be a student film, it was later disavowed and destroyed by its director, but not before it played in a few art house cinemas at the time of its release. A forgotten film in its day, this 35mm print from the George Eastman House collection offers a rare opportunity to see a young, self-educated filmmaker’s first foray into heavy themes - war, gender politics and more. Look for writer-actor-director Paul Mazursky making his screen debut in this film!

Discussion following with Paul Mazursky.