A sketch artist dressed as a clown does a 'lightning sketch' stage act in which he draws a woman's bust.... and then takes the bust and places into on a table. He then draws arms and adds them, until an entire woman is revealed. It's a Melies film, is it not? Fans of early films have seen various Melies pieces like this..... but did Melies invent this sort of novelty film, or was it created across the Channel, in Robert Paul's studio by ex-stage magician Walter Booth? Who did what first and who stole it from whom? Was it even theft, when there was no such thing as copyright for films for more than decade afterward? It's hard to tell who invented what in this period, but enquiring minds want to know -- and may never find out. Never mind. It's fascinating to watch.
