This is an interesting short film. Not because of the full-blown irony from a watered-down remake would set a precedent for the future of cinema (thanks...). It's a mysterious film that is actually hypothetically lost. George Albert Smith is attached to this forty second short, which is a direct remake of Méliès' three minute 'Le Manoir Du Diable'. But, history tells us that it was actually Méliès who directed this a year after his original. Smith seemingly purchased the film for British audiences, to which they all presumed he directed it. And so his name was forever attached. Fascinating how time skews works of art!
Anyway, the vital scenes of the skeleton appearing and transforming into a shadowy figure which then morphs into a ghost are still present. It just happens much much quicker. That's about it really. The editing is considerably more frantic, particularly the jump cuts, and the charm and creativity of the original is practically non-existent. The eccentric character movements are minimal and the magical horror elements are lacklustre to say the least. Oh, and either the end of the film is lost or Méliès/Smith couldn't be bothered to finish the film. It literally makes no sense to remake a film a year after the original, almost rendering this useless. An exercise in futility. It's best that we let time forget about The Haunted Castle.