''The Cavalier's Dream'' is an 1898

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

black-and-white horror silent one minute short film directed by

Edwin S. Porter Edwin Stanton Porter (April 21, 1870 – April 30, 1941) was an American film pioneer, most famous as a producer, director, studio manager and cinematographer with the Edison Manufacturing Company and the Famous Players Film Company. Of over 2 ...

in his directorial debut.

Plot

A cavalier sits asleep at a bare table; an old witch enters, raps three times, then disappears; the cavalier sees the table spread for a sumptuous repast.

Mephistopheles Mephistopheles (, ), also known as Mephisto, is a demon featured in German folklore. He originally appeared in literature as the demon in the Faust legend, and he has since appeared in other works as a stock character (see: Mephistopheles in t ...

appears, then the old witch, who suddenly

shapeshift In mythology, folklore and speculative fiction, shape-shifting is the ability to physically transform oneself through an inherently superhuman ability, divine intervention, demonic manipulation, sorcery, spells or having inherited the ...

s into a beautiful young girl. The changes and magical appearances are startling and instantaneous.

References

External links

* 1898 films 1898 horror films 1898 short films 1890s American films American supernatural horror films American black-and-white films American silent short films 1898 directorial debut films Films about witchcraft Demons in film Films about shapeshifting Films directed by Edwin S. Porter Silent horror films {{1890s-horror-film-stub