The Temptation of Saint Anthony (film)

The Temptation of Saint Anthony (French: La Tentation de Saint Antoine; Star Film Catalogue no. 169.) is a 1898 French short black-and-white silent drama film, directed by Georges Méliès, featuring Anthony the Great being visited by seductive women to test his faith and piety. The film, "contains a familiar collection of Georges Méliès’ trademark jump-cut-triggered appearing and disappearing acts," but, according to Michael Brooke of BFI Screenonline, "the overtly religious elements are entirely new."[1]

The Temptation of Saint Anthony
Screenshot from the film
Directed byGeorges Méliès
Release date
  • 1898 (1898)
Running time
1 min 10 secs
CountryFrance
LanguageSilent

Synopsis

Anthony the Great's devotions in a cave are disrupted by the sudden appearance of a young maiden who he banishes and returns to his prayer book. Two maidens then appear either side of him only to be quickly banished. The saint kisses a skull relic only for it to transform into a third woman, who is rejoined by the others to encircle him before vanishing. The saint kneels before an image of Christ on the cross only for this to transform into one of the maidens. He is finally saved by the appearance of an angel who returns all to normal.

Current status

Given its age, this short film is available to freely download from the Internet.

References
  1. Brooke, Michael. "The Temptation of Saint Anthony". filmjournal.net. Retrieved 2011-05-25.
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