"An underappreciated counterpart to French silent-film hero Georges M é li è s, de Chom ó n took a special, proto-Surrealist pleasure in lampooning the young 20th century's rapid technological progress: in The Electric Hotel a stop-motion house comes alive, as luggage self-packs, letters home write themselves, and a massive control panel (an inspiration to Tati's Playtime?) makes furniture waltz."