The golden Beetle (1907) Ferdinand Zecca / Segundo De Chomon

The Golden Beetle was released in 1907 in France under the french name, "Le scarabée d'or." It was a hand colored silent film. A conjurer with white beard and turban moves about in front of a building with an elaborate facade. He spies a golden beetle, about the size of a human infant, leaning against the wall. He snatches it up, conjures a fire, and tosses the beetle in. It escapes the fire in the form of a fairy, her six wings beating as she rises above the flames. The fairy, to the conjurer's consternation, has magical powers of her own. A fountain appears, first spraying water; then, things heat up for the turbaned villain.