There’s so much to admire in this collection that was surely a labor of love for Film Preservation Associates and all those involved in bringing these 5 films back to public conciousness. Not only are we treated to 5 virtually forgotten French films of the silent era but we are given a glimpse at the other side of the Russian cinematic coin. Say Russian silent cinema to any film enthusiast and they’ll immediate think Soviet silent cinema with its trilogy of great directors Sergei Eisenstein, Vsevolod Pudovkin, and Alexander Dovzhenko. Those with a little more knowledge will mention pre-Revolution Russia cinema with such names as Evgueni Bauer and Ladislav Starewicz.
However hardly anyone talks about or is probably even aware of the Russian filmmakers and artists who fled to the West settling mostly in Paris which makes sense as that’s where a huge Russian colony already was thanks to Serge Diaghilev and the internationally famous Ballets Russes. There were a large number of them and they brought lots of skill and polish to the French cinema of the time. Until this set came out, I was completely unfamiliar with Films Albatros who produced all these movies. Now I’m glad to have made their acquaintance.
Of the 5 films in the set, 3 feature Russian born actor-director Ivan Mosjoukine (1889-1939). The one film he directed, the avant-garde THE BURNING CRUCIBLE, was just not my cup of tea. I admire the skill and the daring but now that I’ve seen it, I don’t need to see it again. The same does not hold true of the two other Mosjoukine films KEANE and especially THE LATE MATHIAS PASCAL. KEANE (1924), about the legendary stage actor Edmund Keane is very similar to John Barrymore’s BEAU BRUMMEL released the same year. Lavish sets and period costumes with an incredible visual scene set in a tavern. The acting is over the top but then it’s meant to be.
The real jewel is THE LATE MATHIAS PASCAL which is nearly 3 hours long but is never boring. It has great use of Italian locations and some amazing visual compositions. I can’t wait to watch that one again. The remaining two films are by the French filmmaker Jacques Feyder (1885-1948) best remembered in America for THE KISS with Greta Garbo. GIBICHE is a well made tale about a young French boy who is adopted by an American socialite. It features Jean Forest, the young star of an earlier Feyder film VISAGE D’ENFANTS. THE NEW GENTLEMEN is sophisticated silent comedy at its finest. The films are lovingly restored with proper tints and a number of fine scores from different composers. Yet another winner from Flicker Alley.
The Capsule Critic 