LE BALLET MÉCANIQUE

by Fernand LÉGER & Dudley MURPHY
1924 / tinted b&w / sound / 1S / 18' 00

"Fernand Léger (and Dudley Murphy), in BALLET MÉCANIQUE, took a surprising step towards the discovery of the filmic object instead of the script, of naturalistic and dramatic action, the real and plastic form. They completely liberated the object from its rational, anecdotal and symbolic meaning, to build the film on the object's plastic value alone, without worrying about its current meaning." - Hans Richter
“The abstract film is an invigorating inquiry into the nature of cinema and visual perception in the guise of unfettered play. One of the first films to be acclaimed as avant-garde, BALLET MÉCANIQUE presents an exuberant, determinedly low-tech fantasia on the machine age—whirling pastry whisks, pumping pistons, and all.” - Susan Delson

Music by George Antheil

4 PRINTS IN DISTRIBUTION


titre BALLET MECHANIQUE
distribution format Digital file on server (2K)
version restored version
duration 16' 31
notes 2K digital restoration from 35mm prints preserved 2015 at ALPHA-OMEGA digital with EYE Film Institute Netherlands and Film Preservation Associates. Music by George Antheil from original 1924-25 score "Ballet pour instruments mécaniques et percussions," adapted and arranged by Paul D. Lehrman, re-mixed 2015 by Gustavo Matamoros. Sound mix 1.

screen 1,37 - Standard (single screen)
speed 23,976 fps
sound sound
original language French
rental fee 262,00 €

titre BALLET MECHANIQUE
distribution format Digital file on server
version restored version
duration 17' 00
notes SD restoration, 2005
Music by George Antheil (1924), edited by Paul D. Lehrman (2001)
screen 4/3 (single screen)
sound sound
original language French
rental fee 105,00 €

titre BALLET MECHANIQUE
distribution format Digital file on server (2K)
version restored version
duration 16' 40
notes 2K digital restoration from 35mm prints preserved 2015 at ALPHA-OMEGA digital with EYE Film Institute Netherlands and Film Preservation Associates. Music by George Antheil from original 1924-25 score "Ballet pour instruments mécaniques et percussions," adapted and arranged by Paul D. Lehrman, re-mixed 2015 by Gustavo Matamoros. Sound mix 2.
screen 4/3 (single screen)
speed 24 fps
sound sound
original language French
rental fee 262,00 €

titre BALLET MECHANIQUE
distribution format DCP on server (INTEROP 2K)
version restored version
duration 16' 31
notes 2K digital restoration from 35mm prints preserved 2015 at ALPHA-OMEGA digital with EYE Film Institute Netherlands and Film Preservation Associates. Music by George Antheil from original 1924-25 score "Ballet pour instruments mécaniques et percussions," adapted and arranged by Paul D. Lehrman, re-mixed 2015 by Gustavo Matamoros.
screen 4/3 (single screen)
speed 24 fps
sound sound
original language French
rental fee 262,00 €