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L'Argent (Masters of Cinema Series)(2 disc)

 

 

Written and Directed by Marcel L'Herbier

France 1929 / Drama / Psychological / Ensemble / 164 min / Black & White / Dolby  5.1 / 1.37:1 Original Aspect Ratio / PAL / Silent with Orchestral Score



Pierre Alcover, Brigitte Helm, Henry Victor , Alfred Abel, Antonin Artaud, Marie Glory .

This French production was based on a novel by Emile Zola, of the same title. Pierre Alcover stars as Saccard, a ruthless and untrustworthy banker who is all but ruined by speculating on the European stock market. Exulting in Saccard's imminent destruction are two old enemies, rival businessman Gunderman (Alfred Abel) and cast-off mistress Countess Sandorf (Brigitte Helm). Briefly rescued from poverty when he aligns himself with Hamelin (Henry Victor) a war hero-turned-petroleum profiteer, Soccard once more faces ruination when Hamelin is reported missing and presumed dead. Upon being assured that Hamelin is safe, Saccard cold-bloodedly sets about to stab his new partner in the back and assume control of his petroleum holdings. But Saccard is foiled by the last-minute manipulations of Gunderman, who ends up inviting Hamelin to join his operation. L'Argent was adapted for the screen by Marcel L'Herbier.
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Bonus Features:

• A pristine transfer from a fine grain print struck from the original negative, featuring the director’s cut fought for by L’Herbier over many years, the film speed as projected in the late 1920s, and the entirety of each frame fully displayed

• New and improved English subtitles

• Newly improvised musical accompaniment by French composer and pianist Jean-François Zygel, who also provides a video introduction to the film and a documentary about accompanying silent cinema

• ABOUT L’ARGENT [AUTOUR DE L’ARGENT] (1928) – Jean Dréville’s 40 minute “making of” documentary

• Archival footage of star Brigitte Helm (fresh from Fritz Lang’s Metropolis) arriving in Paris for the shooting of L’Herbier’s film

• Archival screen-tests of the L’Argent actors

• MARCEL L’HERBIER: POET OF THE SILENT ART [MARCEL L’HERBIER: POÈTE DE L’ART SILENCIEUX] (2007) – a 54 minute documentary profiling the director

• A demonstration of L’Herbier’s innovative sound techniques, which used 78rpm records during key scenes of L’Argent