had a career that spanned an amazingly diverse array of styles over 25 years, and though hailed by critics for their sophistication, his films are basically unknown to today's general public. Often featuring the character Bricolo (played by Bowers), the films are an astounding combination of silent comedy, strange contraptions and animation-based visual trickery. No wonder, then, that his fans have included André Breton and the Quay Brothers. The total remaining stocks of Bowers' films were only recently compiled and restored, and were the centrepiece of the 2003 Annecy Film Festival. MIFF presents the highlights of his life's work:

Nothing Doing (1927, 21mins)Love leads Charley to become a (particularly inept) policeman in order to ask for the hand of his boss' daughter.There It Is (1928, 17mins)Ace detective Charley Bowers is summoned from his yard in Scotland (Scotland Yard) to solve the mystery of the world's most surreal haunted house.

He Done His Best (1926, 24mins) For the love of his gal, Bricolo (Bowers) takes a job in a restaurant and rapidly becomes the man who does it all, via his finest invention: a machine that automates the entire restaurant.

Wild Oysters (1940, 10mins)Charley Bowers returns to animation, directing a story about a family of mice battling with a cat, only to be surprised by a militant battalion of oysters.

Egged On (1926, 24mins)Always looking for the invention that will make him rich, Bricolo tries to build a machine that makes eggs unbreakable.

L Silent w/English intertitles TD DVD/B&W/96mins