There are a number of pretty good visual effects in this otherwise simple (and rather bland) Georges Méliès feature. Most of it just shows the conjurer 'Tchin-Chao' performing a stage act. In itself, the act is bland in some places, interesting in others. From a technical viewpoint, the camera tricks are generally effective, and are usually convincing because most of them are seamless.
Despite the quality, this is not among the best of Méliès's films, because there just isn't a lot to it. It's easy to appreciate (and at times to admire) the careful technique that you come to expect from the great cinema pioneer, but aside from that, there just isn't very much to get excited about in terms of the way that the camera effects are worked into the rest of the situation. Overall, the feature is mostly of interest as an example of technical skill with the camera.
Despite the quality, this is not among the best of Méliès's films, because there just isn't a lot to it. It's easy to appreciate (and at times to admire) the careful technique that you come to expect from the great cinema pioneer, but aside from that, there just isn't very much to get excited about in terms of the way that the camera effects are worked into the rest of the situation. Overall, the feature is mostly of interest as an example of technical skill with the camera.