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L'Atlantide
1921 Fantasy / Drama
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Credits
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Director: Jacques Feyder
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Script: Jacques Feyder, Pierre Benoît (novel)
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Photo: Victor Morin, Amédée Morrin, Georges Specht
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Music: M. Jemain
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Cast: Jean Angelo (le capitaine Morhange),
Stacia Napierkowska (la reine Antinea),
Georges Melchior (le lieutenant de Saint-Avit),
Marie-Louise Iribe (Tanit-Zerga),
Abd-el-Kader Ben Ali (Cegheir ben Cheik),
Mohamed Ben Noui (le guide Bou-Djema),
Franceschi (l’archiviste),
André Roanne (Segheïr ben Cheïkh),
René Lorsay (Ferrières),
Genica Missirio (Aymard)
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Country: France
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Language: French
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Runtime: 212 min; B&W; silent
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Aka: Lost Atlantis; Missing Husbands
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Summary
In the Sahara desert, the unconscious body of Lieutenant Saint-Avit is discovered by
his fellow legionnaires. When he recovers, he is questioned about the disappearance
of his comrade, Captain Morhange, who accompanied him on his last expedition in the desert
to look for the lost city of Atlantis. Saint-Avit finally tells his story to a
fellow officer. He reveals how he and Morhange discovered the lost city, how they
met Antinea, the Queen of Atlantis, and relates the horrific ordeal that followed.
No man can resist the charm of Antinea. As soon as he saw her, Saint-Avit fell in
love with the all-powerful queen – but she chose to take Morhange as her husband.
When Morhange refused to yield to Antinea’s amorous desires, the queen coerced Saint-Avit
into murdering him...
Review
Jacques Feyder’s first notable film was this grand adaptation of Pierre Benoît’s
controversial and popular novel of the same title. What is most striking about this
film is its truly epic scale. With most of the film shot on location in the Sahara
desert – an extraordinary achievement for the time – L’Atlantide
has a breathtaking realist feel that is almost unique in silent cinema. The
film was very badly received by some critics, mainly because of Feyder’s misguided
decision to cast the far from beautiful Stacia Napierkowska in the role of Queen Antinea.
Although the film feels protracted and slow in some places it contains some stunning
moments of brilliance, and the location photography is as remarkable as the sumptuous
set design for the interiors.
© James Travers 2004
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