ANCIENT SCIENCE FICTION: THE BARZEITSON EXPERIMENT (1888)

THE BARZEITSON EXPERIMENT (1888) – Written by female author Rebecca Rogers.

In Paris, ladies’ man and playboy Ambroise Schlegel strikes up a friendship with mad scientist Professor Barzeitson and his beautiful young wife. Ambroise has obvious designs on the woman, but she is unresponsive.

He persists and as an excuse to keep crossing paths with the lovely lady pretends to take an interest in what he thinks are the lunatic ravings of the professor. One day Barzeitson reveals to Ambroise the results of some of his secret works.

In the scientist’s private laboratory are stone replicas of crocodiles, huge snakes from the jungles and other deadly creatures. With a chemical spray applied to the animals they lose their petrified nature and come to life.

Ambroise is terrified but Professor Barzeitson sprays the beasts with a second spray, which returns them to their stone forms. The mad scientist explains to the playboy that the creatures were alive when brought to him and he perfected the two sprays – first to immobilize them and then to restore their freedom of movement.   

The professor sprays Ambroise at the latter’s request so he can experience a petrified state. It is painless and Barzeitson soon sprays him back to normal.

The playboy excitedly confides in his godson Paul about his amazing experiences with the scientist. Paul is skeptical and promises to show Ambroise that he must have been the victim of an elaborate hoax.

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The duo break into Professor Barzeitson’s laboratory after dark. They can find no evidence of fakery in the lab proper, but behind a curtain they find a beautiful stone woman of Egyptian descent. Ambroise sprays her to life and learns the professor discovered her preserved body in her homeland long ago and began his chemical experiments on animals hoping to one day restore her to life and mobility.

Ambroise seduces the ancient Egyptian woman and is caught in the act by Barzeitson. He is furious at the playboy for having sex with his secret mistress whom he can make mobile or immobile at will.

Mrs. Barzeitson is drawn to the locale by the uproar and discovers what has been going on. The Egyptian woman takes advantage of the chaos to escape into the night.

The professor’s wife walks out on him, declaring their marriage to be over. Ambroise and Paul flee before the outraged scientist can spray either of them with his chemical solutions.

Professor Barzeitson hunts down the Egyptian, who has taken up with the playboy’s godson Paul. He spirits the lady back to his laboratory pursued by Paul and Ambroise. As they approach the scientist’s laboratory he blows it up, killing himself and his Egyptian mistress.

The fallout of the explosion rains down some of the professor’s chemicals on the petrified animals. They come to life but before anyone can fall victim to them they attack and kill each other, conveniently enough.

The disgusted Mrs. Barzeitson is still not interested in Ambroise and eventually remarries to another man.

*** I enjoyed The Barzeitson Experiment and am disappointed it was never done as a silent movie short. The writing is mediocre but the storyline takes a reader to interesting and unexpected places.  

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