Title: L’Hôtel électrique English Title: The Electric Hotel Release Year: 1908 Director: Segundo de Chomón Studio: Pathé Frères Runtime: Approx. 8 minutes Country: France Language: Silent Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Stop-Motion, Short --- Overview: L’Hôtel électrique is a whimsical French silent short film directed by pioneering filmmaker Segundo de Chomón. One of the earliest examples of stop-motion animation, the film explores futuristic automation through a comedic lens. A couple checks into a modern hotel where all functions—from brushing hair to unpacking luggage—are performed by electrically powered machines. As things spiral out of control, the film morphs into an early sci-fi farce showcasing Chomón’s technical wizardry. --- Content Summary: When the protagonists arrive at the titular electric hotel, they are awed by its high-tech conveniences. Their luggage unpacks itself, hairbrushes float to life, and clothes are laid out without human assistance. But as with all good early sci-fi, the automation begins to misbehave. Shoes dance, beds bounce, and the once-comfortable stay devolves into chaos. The film ends with the guests fleeing, comically overwhelmed by the very technology meant to serve them. --- Cinematography & Techniques: Chomón was known as the “Spanish Méliès,” and this film showcases his mastery of early special effects. Stop-Motion Animation: Used extensively to bring everyday objects to life. Pixilation: A technique where live actors are animated frame-by-frame, seen here as they interact with moving objects. In-Camera Effects: All of the film’s effects were achieved practically, frame by frame, without post-production editing. The film’s use of visual storytelling to imply electricity and automation is especially clever for its time. --- Historical Significance: One of the first films to depict automated or robotic domestic life, predating modern sci-fi tropes by decades. Among the earliest examples of narrative stop-motion animation. Illustrates the early 20th-century fascination with electricity, automation, and futurism. Segundo de Chomón is now recognized as one of the great visual innovators of early cinema alongside Georges Méliès. The film was released by Pathé, one of the dominant studios of early cinema. --- Preservation Status: Public domain. Restored versions are available via the BFI, Cinémathèque Française, and numerous online archives. It is often included in retrospectives of early sci-fi and animation. --- Trivia: De Chomón’s techniques laid the groundwork for modern animation and special effects. The film’s ideas mirror real-world innovations such as automation and smart homes, more than a century ahead of their time. Was hand-tinted in some prints to enhance the surreal, magical atmosphere. Often compared to Méliès but with a more grounded, mechanical aesthetic rather than fantasy-magic. Likely inspired by popular fascination with electricity at exhibitions like the 1900 Paris Exposition. --- Hashtags: #LHotelElectrique #SegundoDeChomon #1908Film #StopMotion #SilentFilm #FrenchCinema #EarlySciFi #Automation #ComedyShort #FantasyFilm #PathéFrères #PublicDomainFilm #Pixilation #HandTintedFilm #TechGoneWrong