Film Review
Forfaiture is a noteworthy remake of Cecil B DeMille's 1915 silent film
The
Cheat, with the majestic Sessue Hayakawa reprising the central male role. Marcel
L'Herbier's approach to filmmaking could hardly be further from DeMille's, and consequently
this film is far darker, somewhat more atmospheric than the original, and with a noticeably
greater emphasis on character. As in many of L'Herbier's early films, there is striking
a sense of scale, reflected in the grand palace interiors, the bustling Oriental street
scenes and widespread use of location sequences, more than satisfying the public appetite
for adventure-melodrama in exotic locations. This contrasts with use of confined,
under-lit shadowy interiors, which help to convey a sense of trauma and imprisonment,
reflecting the increasingly desperate mood of the film's heroine. Most memorable
is the harrowing death sequence at the end of the film - a scene that is filmed with an
almost visceral relish, and which still has the power to mesmerise and shock its audience.
© James Travers 2006
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.
Next Marcel L'Herbier film:
Nuits de feu (1937)
Film Synopsis
As the engineer Pierre Moret devotes himself to working on a major road
construction project in Mongolia, his wife Denise lends her support to charity
work in the little town that has become her new home. One day, the
young woman allows herself to be lured into a busy gambling den.
Here, carried away by the febrile atmosphere of the place, she begins placing
a few bets, and in next to no time she has throw away all the money she has.
The shame of this discovery compels Denise to request a loan from the rich
and powerful Prince Hu-Long.
Unbeknown to the French woman, the prince has fallen deeply in love with
her and wants nothing more than to possess her. Instead of a loan, he
gives her a large sum of money as a gift. Unwittingly, Denise gladly
accepts the money, but when she realises her mistake she hastily tries to
return it - too late. By taking the money from the prince, she knows
now that she has made herself his property. There is only one way that
Denise can free herself from this pact, and that is by killing the prince...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.
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Film Credits
- Director: Marcel L'Herbier
- Script: Jean-Georges Auriol, Jacques Companéez, Herbert Juttke, Jacques Natanson (dialogue),
Hector Turnbull (novel)
- Cinematographer: André Dantan, Eugen Schüfftan
- Music: Michel Michelet
- Cast: Victor Francen (Pierre Moret),
Sessue Hayakawa (Prince Hu-Long),
Louis Jouvet (Valfar),
Lise Delamare (Denise Moret),
Lucas Gridoux (Tang-Si),
Ève Francis (Mrs. Curtis),
Lucien Nat (Maître Ribeyre),
Pierre Magnier (Le Président de la société),
Jean Brochard (Félicien),
Sylvia Bataille (Ming),
Marie-Jacqueline Chantal (Dame à l'audience),
Guy Decomble (Un joueur),
Marcel Duhamel (Casaux),
Ky Duyen (Le caissier de banque),
Tsugundo Maki (Su-Hong),
Albert Malbert (Le Gall),
Paul Oettly (Le président du tribunal),
Martial Rèbe (L'avocat général),
Titys (Le bagagiste),
Georges Morton
- Country: France
- Language: French
- Support: Black and White
- Runtime: 94 min
- Aka: The Cheat