L'Arroseur arrosé
(1896)

AKA: The Sprinkler Sprinkled

Country: France

Genre: Comedy, Short

Synopsis

A gardener is watering some plants. A mischievous boy stops the flow of water by stepping on the hose, causing the gardener to look into the nozzle. The boy takes his foot off the hose and the gardener is soaked. The gardener chases the boy, catches him and administers a spanking.

Notes

• There were two versions of this film. The 'boy' in the original version was played by a young man by the name of L?on Trotobas. This version (which is available to view on Youtube) features a boy by the surname of Duval (his first name variously given as Beno?t and less often as Daniel, is not known for certain).
• The poster for L'Arroseur arros? (see Gallery) has the distinction of being the first ever poster designed to promote an individual film. It is illustrated by Marcellin Auzolle, and depicts an audience reacting with delight as the film is projected against a screen. Both the point of view of the camera on the action being filmed, and the fact that the 'petit espi?gle' is a young man, show that the artist was probably inspired by the first version of the film.
• The film was originally known as "Le Jardinier et le petit espi?gle" ("The Gardener and the Little Rascal"). The second version was named "Arroseur et arros?" ("Sprinkler and Sprinkled"), a slightly confusing title given that in this instance 'Sprinkler' and 'Sprinkled' are the same person. However, it became known (rather more logically) as "L'Arroseur arros?", variously translated as "The Sprinkler Sprinkled", "The Hoser Hosed" and "The Waterer Watered". In English, the film has also been referred to as "The Tables Turned on the Gardener".
• The movie is the first ever used to portray a fictional story, as well as being the first known instance of film comedy. Le petit Duval is the first movie boy actor in history.
• This film was remade in 1896 by Georges Meli?s, and in 1897 by Alice Guy.

Gallery

• BA Gallery