The Last Cartridges (French: Les Dernières Cartouches, also released as Bombardement d'une Maison; Star Film Catalogue no. 105) is an 1897 French short silent war film directed by Georges Méliès, based on the 1873 painting of the same name by Alphonse de Neuville.[1] The film recreates the defense of a house at Bazeilles on 1 September 1870 at the Battle of Sedan during the Franco-Prussian War.

The Last Cartridges
Screenshot from the film
Directed byGeorges Méliès
Produced byStar Film Company
Distributed byStar Film Company
Release date
  • 1897 (1897)
Running time
1min 11secs
CountryFrance
LanguagesSilent
French intertitles
The Alphonse de Neuville painting that inspired the film

The film was a great success and inspired the Lumière, Pathé and Gaumont studios to film imitations.[2]

Synopsis

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A group of soldiers attempt to defend a derelict house, where a nun cares for their wounded, but the house is bombed as they fire the last of the rounds of ammunition they have gathered from the floor.

References

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  1. ^ Malthête, Jacques (1997). Georges Méliès, l'illusionniste fin de siècle?. Paris: Presses de la Sorbonne nouvelle. p. 80.
  2. ^ "A brief History: Bombardement d'une maison". Europa Film Treasures. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
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