Le Carnaval des vérités
Encyclopedia
Le Carnaval des vérités is a 1920
French silent film written and directed by Marcel L'Herbier
.
, Marcel L'Herbier was offered a contract to work on a prestigious series of films which would be known as "Gaumont Série Pax". Although the terms of the contract placed unwelcome restrictions upon his control over his work, L'Herbier realised that it also offered him an unparalleled opportunity to benefit from the international links of the Gaumont company and to work in the best technical facilities then available. His first project, which he was both to write and to direct, was Le Carnaval des vérités, a symbolist drama about the struggle between Truth and Falsehood.
The central role in the film was played by the stage actress Suzanne Desprès
, who was making her first appearance in a film. Other parts were taken by the experienced Paul Capellani
and two actors who would make regular appearances in L'Herbier's silent films, Marcelle Pradot
and Jaque Catelain
.
Great emphasis was placed on the visual design of the film, and one of the two set-designers was Claude Autant-Lara
, then aged 18 and undertaking his first job in cinema. His work included a "phantasmagoric" set for the climactic scene of the film which featured a masked ball.
1920 in film
The year 1920 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* November 27 - The Mark of Zorro, starring Douglas Fairbanks opens.-Top grossing films :-Films released in 1920:U.S.A. unless stated*The $1,000,000 Reward...
French silent film written and directed by Marcel L'Herbier
Marcel L'Herbier
Marcel L'Herbier, Légion d'honneur, was a French film-maker, who achieved prominence as an avant-garde theorist and imaginative practitioner with a series of silent films in the 1920s. His career as a director continued until the 1950s and he made more than 40 feature films in total...
.
Background
After completing a commercial film for Léon GaumontLéon Gaumont
Léon Gaumont was a French inventor, engineer, and industrialist who was a pioneer of the motion picture industry....
, Marcel L'Herbier was offered a contract to work on a prestigious series of films which would be known as "Gaumont Série Pax". Although the terms of the contract placed unwelcome restrictions upon his control over his work, L'Herbier realised that it also offered him an unparalleled opportunity to benefit from the international links of the Gaumont company and to work in the best technical facilities then available. His first project, which he was both to write and to direct, was Le Carnaval des vérités, a symbolist drama about the struggle between Truth and Falsehood.
Production
Filming took place on location on the Basque coast near Biarritz in November 1919 and subsequently at the Studios de La Villette in Paris.The central role in the film was played by the stage actress Suzanne Desprès
Suzanne Desprès
Suzanne Desprès , French actress, was born at Verdun, Meuse, and trained at the Paris Conservatoire, where in 1897 she obtained the first prize for comedy, and the second for tragedy....
, who was making her first appearance in a film. Other parts were taken by the experienced Paul Capellani
Paul Capellani
Paul Capellani was a noted French silent film actor. His brother was the director Albert Capellani.He starred in some 100 films between 1908 and 1930.In 1920 he appeared in Guy du Fresnay's De la coupe aux lèvres....
and two actors who would make regular appearances in L'Herbier's silent films, Marcelle Pradot
Marcelle Pradot
Marcelle Pradot was a French actress who worked principally in silent films. She was born at Montmorency, Val-d'Oise, near Paris. At the age of 18 while she was taking classes in dancing and singing in Paris, she was asked by Marcel L'Herbier to appear in his film Le Bercail...
and Jaque Catelain
Jaque Catelain
Jaque Catelain was a French actor who came to prominence in silent films of the 1920s, and who continued acting in films and on stage until the 1950s. He also wrote and directed two silent films himself, and he was a capable artist and musician. He had a close association with the director Marcel...
.
Great emphasis was placed on the visual design of the film, and one of the two set-designers was Claude Autant-Lara
Claude Autant-Lara
Claude Autant-Lara , was a French film director and later Member of the European Parliament .-Biography:...
, then aged 18 and undertaking his first job in cinema. His work included a "phantasmagoric" set for the climactic scene of the film which featured a masked ball.
Plot
Comtesse Della Gentia and her lover Paul attempt to seduce and blackmail a rich neighbour Juan, who is in love with a naïve young friend of theirs, Clarisse. Their plot fails; the Comtesse kills herself at a ball, and her lover re-covers her face with its mask.Cast
- Suzanne DesprèsSuzanne DesprèsSuzanne Desprès , French actress, was born at Verdun, Meuse, and trained at the Paris Conservatoire, where in 1897 she obtained the first prize for comedy, and the second for tragedy....
, as Madame Della Gentia - Paul CapellaniPaul CapellaniPaul Capellani was a noted French silent film actor. His brother was the director Albert Capellani.He starred in some 100 films between 1908 and 1930.In 1920 he appeared in Guy du Fresnay's De la coupe aux lèvres....
, as Paul Dorsenne - Jaque CatelainJaque CatelainJaque Catelain was a French actor who came to prominence in silent films of the 1920s, and who continued acting in films and on stage until the 1950s. He also wrote and directed two silent films himself, and he was a capable artist and musician. He had a close association with the director Marcel...
, as Juan Tristan - Marcelle PradotMarcelle PradotMarcelle Pradot was a French actress who worked principally in silent films. She was born at Montmorency, Val-d'Oise, near Paris. At the age of 18 while she was taking classes in dancing and singing in Paris, she was asked by Marcel L'Herbier to appear in his film Le Bercail...
, as Clarisse - Eugénie Nau, as Madame Aristoy
- Claude France
- Marcelle Chantal
- Philippe HériatPhilippe HériatPhilippe Hériat was a multi-talented French novelist, playwright and actor.-Biography:Born Raymond Gérard Payelle, he studied with film director René Clair and in 1920 made his debut in silent film...