Encyclopedia of French Film Directors

1997 Comme des Rois / Krolowie zycia / USA: Kings for
a Day (also co-screenwriter; France / Poland)
2002 New Suit (USA)
2008 The Narrows (USA)
Television Filmography
1990 Le Mari de l’Ambassadeur (13 52'; also coscreenwriter)
1996 L’Instit’ (episode “Demain dès l’Aube”)
2005 Le Tuteur (episodes “Une Nouvelle Vie,” “Pour
le Sourire de Romain”)
2006 Le Tuteur (episodes “Le Pêcheur de Miracle,”
also screenwriter; “Leïla,” also screenwriter)
VELLE, GASTON (1872–1948, Paris, France)
A former illusionist, he was hired in 1903 by Pathé,
for which he shot trick movies. In 1906, he moved to
Italy with his crew and worked as an artistic director
for Cines. One year and several Italian fi lms later, he
returned to France and Pathé. After 1913, like many
other silent directors, he faded into obscurity.
Filmography
1903 La Métamorphose du Roi de Pique / USA: Metamorphosis
of the King of Spades / The King of
Spades (short)
1904 Le Chapeau magique / USA: The Magic Hat
(short)
La Danse des Apaches / USA: Ruffi an’s Dance
(short)
Danse du “Kickapoo” / USA: Kickapoo Dance
(short)
Danses plastiques / USA: Dance Plastiques
(short)
Les Dénicheurs d’Oiseaux / UK: Bird Nest Robbers
/ USA: The Nest Robbers (short)
Dévaliseurs nocturnes / UK: Burglary at Night /
USA: Burglars at Work (short)
Japonaiseries / USA: Japanese Varieties (short)
Métamorphoses du Papillon / UK: A Butterfl y’s
Changes / USA: A Butterfl y’s Metamorphosis /
Metamorphosis of a Butterfl y (short)
Le Paravent mystérieux / USA: The Mysterious
Screen (short)
Un Drame dans les Airs / USA: Drama in the Air
(short; also screenwriter)
La Valise de Barnum / USA: Barnum’s Trunk
(short; also actor)
1905 L’Album merveilleux / USA: Wonderful Album
(short)
VELLE, GASTON • 993
L’Antre infernal (short)
Les Cartes lumineuses / Les Cartes transparentes
/ USA: Transparent Cards (short)
Coiffes et Coiffures / USA: Different Hair Dresses
(short)
La Fée aux Fleurs / USA: Flower Fairy (short)
Le Garde Fantôme / USA: Phantom’s Guard
(short)
Les Invisibles / USA: Invisible Thief / The Invisible
Man (short)
John Higgins, le Roi des Sauteurs (short)
La Poule aux Oeufs d’Or / USA: The Hen That
Laid the Golden Eggs / The Hen with the Golden
Eggs (four parts, twelve scenes; fi rst part: “La
Loterie du Sorcier”; second part: “Le Poulailler
fantastique: La Basse-Cour,” “Le Poulailler,”
“Le Poulailler fantastique,” “Découverte
des Œufs d’Or,” “Les Deux Larrons”; third
part: “Richesse éphémère: La Cage mystérieuse,”
“L’œuf transparent,” “Le Caveau des
Trésors,” “La Ruine”; fourth part: “Le Châtiment
de l’Avare—Apothéose: La Misère,” “La
Fée de l’Or”)
Rêve à la Lune / L’Amant de la Lune / UK: Drunkard’s
Dream of Why You Sign the Pledge (short;
co-director with Ferdinand Zecca)
La Ruche merveilleuse / USA: Wonderful Behive
(short)
Sidney, le Clown aux Echasses / USA: Clown Sidney
on Stillts (short)
Un Drame en Mer / USA: A Tragedy at the Sea
(short)
1906 Il bazar di Natale (short; Italy)
Bicyclette présentée en Liberté / USA: The Riderless
Bicycle (short)
La confessione per telefono (short; Italy)
I conigli del dottore (short; Italy)
Cuori e patria (short; Italy)
Il dessert di Lulù (short; Italy)
Dopo un venglione (short; Italy)
L’Ecrin du Rajah / USA: The Rajah’s Casket
(short)
Les Effets de la Foudre / USA: Victims of the
Storm (short)
Fée aux Pigeons (short)
Les Fleurs animées / USA: Living Flowers
(short)
La Gitana (short; Italy)
Les Invisibles (short)
Nozze tragiche (short; Italy)