Ballet Mécanique
Ballet Mécanique (1923–24) is a Dadaist post-Cubist art film conceived, written, and co-directed by the artist Fernand Léger in collaboration with the filmmaker Dudley Murphy (with cinematographic input from Man Ray). It has a musical score by the American composer George Antheil. However, the film premiered in a silent version on 24 September 1924 at the Internationale Ausstellung neuer Theatertechnik (International Exposition for New Theater Technique) in Vienna presented by Frederick Kiesler. It is considered one of the masterpieces of early experimental filmmaking.
Film credit and history
In her book Dudley Murphy: Hollywood Wild Card, film historian Susan Delson argues that Murphy was the film's driving force but that Léger was more successful at promoting the film as his own creation. However, after fighting at the front in World War I and spending the year of 1917 in a hospital after being gassed there, Fernand Léger exclusively made the dazzling effects of mechanical technology the subject of his art, and it is clear that he conceived of the film himself.
Ballet Mecanique
A thousand puppets
Waiting for a call
A thousand puppets
Afraid to fall
Try to walk, try to dance
Try to talk and wanna get their chance
One guy stands over there
He pretends to go somewhere
He shouts out
"Follow me
Only then you will see
What's it all, all about
Only then you will see
What's it all, all about
Hey you there, stop to shout
Stop to shout"
"Follow me and my advice
Stop to think
Ain't this nice?
I will tell you what to do
If you let me count for you
Un, deux, trois"
"Follow me and my advice
Stop to think
Ain't this nice?
I will tell you what to do
If you let me count for you
Stop to shout
Stop to shout"
I prefer to lose my mind
Not knowing what to do
Through your eyes I will be blind
Through your eyes and you
I don't wanna learn
Learn your dance
I don't care for this advance
I don't wanna learn your dance
I don't care for this advance
That's for now the one defense
Not to be caught behind your fence
I prefer to be a freak
And the world might call me weak
If you give me immediate sense
I know I move behind your fence
I know I move behind your fence