The film follows the adventures of an ambitious engineer who abandons his family and responsibilities when he barters with the Devil (played by Méliès himself) for superhuman powers.

An English engineer and inventor, William Crackford, is visited in his workshop by a messenger, who tells him that the famous alchemist Alcofrisbas is interested in selling him a powerful talisman.

Arriving in Alcofrisbas's mysterious laboratory, where they are attacked and confused by magically moving and transforming pieces of furniture, Crackford and his servant John explain to the alchemist that they hope to make a high-speed trip around the world.

Crackford, in his excitement, does not read the terms of the contract he is asked to sign, and so remains blissfully unaware that he has just sold his soul to the Devil.

In a burst of lava and flames, the infernal carriage is shot into the sky and makes a voyage through space, flying past stars and planets.

On 16 February 1839, Les Pilules du diable, a stage spectacular written by Ferdinand Laloue, Auguste Anicet-Bourgeois and Clement-Philippe Laurent, premiered at the Théâtre National de Cirque-Olympique in Paris.

[6] This version of the play, though still in the féerie tradition of elaborately staged fantasy, introduced a modernized setting as well as an element of skeptical satire to the story.

[9] For Les Quatre Cents Coups du diable, De Cottens and Darlay commissioned Méliès to make two short films to be projected as part of the entertainment.

[10] The Merry Frolics of Satan was released by Méliès's Star Film Company and is numbered 849–870 in its catalogues, where it is advertised as a grande pièce fantastique en 35 tableaux.

In his dedication to the individual process, Méliès would continue to stand in sharp contrast with the larger studios in the ensuing years.