This film is part of Free

Undressing Extraordinary; Or, The Troubles of a Tired Traveller

Entertaining example of early 'special effects'

Trick film 1901 2 mins Silent

Overview

In this effective and witty 'trick' film, a gentleman, tipsy and tired, tries to undress for bed, but each time he sheds a layer finds himself re-clad in a different costume. Filmmaker RW Paul was upfront in admitting this was a remake of an earlier film - in fact Méliès Déshabillage Impossible from 1900; "an exceptionally fine edition of and already popular and entertaining subject'.

Paul makes some improvements with a variety of theatrical costumes and as the man becomes increasingly hysterical, a skeleton appears, before the bed itself disappears and feathers rain down. The actor is Walter Booth, who starred in many of Paul's early films.