Films francais
     
 
L'Atlantide
1932 Drama
 
Credits
  • Director: Georg Wilhelm Pabst
  • Script: Alexandre Arnoux, Jacques Deval, Ladislaus Vajda, based on the novel by Pierre Benoît
  • Photo: Joseph Barth, Eugen Schüfftan
  • Music: Wolfgang Zeller
  • Cast: Brigitte Helm (Antinea), Jean Angelo (Capt. Morhange), Pierre Blanchar (Lt. Saint-Avit), Georges Tourreil (Lt. Ferrières), Florelle (Clementine), Mathias Wieman (Ivar Torstenson), Jacques Richet (Jean Chataignier), Tela Tchaï
  • Country: France
  • Language: French
  • Runtime: 94 min; B&W
 
 
 
Summary
Lieutenant Saint-Avit and Captain Morhange undertake an expedition to try to locate the lost city of Atlantis, which they believe to lie beneath the Sahara Desert.  They discover an entrance to the lost city and soon find themselves prisoners of the all powerful Queen Antinea.  Although Saint-Avit falls instantly in love with the queen, she instead chooses to marry the aloof Morhange.  When the latter resists her desires, Antinea takes her revenge, manipulating Saint-Avit into killing his friend…

Review
Although considerably less polished and memorable than some of Pabst’s other works, L’Atlantide is a compelling film with a strong visual style throughout.  The film is a remake of Jacques Feyder’s 1921 adaptation of Pierre Benoît’s novel, with some striking differences, particularly in the portrayal of the queen Antinea.  As was the case with Feyder’s film, this film uses extensive location photography and cost a fortune to make, even though its runtime is much shorter.  The film was made in three versions, one in French, one in German and another in English.  In the French version, the actor who played Morhange, Jean Angelo, played the same role in Feyder’s film.

© James Travers 2004


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