Why That Actor Was Late is a 1908 French shortsilentcomedy film produced by Georges Méliès, and probably directed by Méliès's assistant, an actor credited as Manuel.
Production
Henri Vilbert, a headlining star of the Parisian music hall Parisiana and the Folies-Bergère, plays the lead role of the actor. The film was made for performances when Vilbert was appearing; it was screened just before he entered the stage for his live act.[1] Vilbert also appears in Méliès's film The Hilarious Posters.[2]
The actors Gallois and Emile Gajean appear in the film as mechanics.[2] Since the film shows a realistic sensibility, markedly different from the theatrical style and rhythm used by Méliès, it was probably directed not by Méliès himself but by his production assistant, the actor Manuel.[2]
Release
In addition to its screenings before Vibert's performances, the film was released in the United States as a standalone item by Méliès's Star Film Company. It is numbered 1073–1080 in its catalogues.[1]
References
^ abMalthête, Jacques; Mannoni, Laurent (2008), L'oeuvre de Georges Méliès, Paris: Éditions de La Martinière, p. 231, ISBN9782732437323
^ abcEssai de reconstitution du catalogue français de la Star-Film; suivi d'une analyse catalographique des films de Georges Méliès recensés en France, Bois d'Arcy: Service des archives du film du Centre national de la cinématographie, 1981, pp. 295–6, ISBN2903053073, OCLC10506429
