The Four Troublesome Heads: Méliès’ 1898 Magic Trick

Behold "The Four Troublesome Heads" (Un homme de têtes), a 1898 French silent masterpiece by Georges Méliès, Star Film’s catalog #167. In this black-and-white marvel, Méliès plays a magician who gleefully detaches his head, sprouting three more in a surreal dance—all thanks to the first known use of multiple exposure on a black backdrop, a trick he’d wield prolifically. Released by Star Film, it was pirated in 1903 by Siegmund Lubin as "Four Heads Are Better Than One." This one-minute gem dazzles film buffs and history fans with Méliès’ groundbreaking wizardry and impish charm.