Au Secours! (1923) - Abel Gance

Now we're talking. Clocking in at a whopping 23 minutes, this gem is definitive French Impressionism. Gance the experimentalist makes this "haunted house" a ridiculous odyssey in false perspectives, rapid editing, subjective camera moves, and everything else he can find. A near perfect film if nothing else for its endless experimentation. Max Linder stars and also co-wrote the story.

La Folie du Docteur Tube (1916) - Abel Gance

Also included on the same Image DVD as the above two films, this one is considered by some to be the birth of avant-garde French cinema. Gance uses a mad scientist story to be able to distort everything. The film is short, and appears like it may have some missing footage, but for its format its worthwhile. Albert Dieudonne, who later played Napoleon stars.