The Madness Of Dr. Tube (EOTWS)

End Of The Week Shorts #27 extract: The Madness Of Dr. Tube (1915)

A whimsical early short film from Abel Gance about a mad scientist that discovers a hallucinatory powder that distorts reality. 

Very reminiscent of Porter's 1906 film Dream Of A Rarebit Fiend, this is a highly impressionist trick film with elements of comedy and horror. Whilst Porter achieves his impressionistic effects through editing, Gance's camera work is all very tactile and in-camera: he uses mirrors to distort reality and give the sensation of hallucinatory inebriation. 

This all comes together to produce a mostly comedic, part sinister, absurd comedy that leaves almost more questions that it does raise any points. So, though this film lesser than Porter's film, which is almost a decade older than this, I'd recommend The Madness of Dr. Tube.