Molière (1909)
Directed by Léonce Perret

Drama / Biography / History / Short

Film Review

Abstract picture representing Moliere (1909)
Léonce Perret barely had half a dozen short films to his name as a director before Gaumont landed him with one of his most ambitious productions, a biographical account of the life of France's most important playwright, Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, better known as Molière.  It was the rival company Film d'Art, which was committed to quality productions such as its L'Assassinat du duc de Guise (1908), that led Gaumont to up its game and commit to more lavish period productions of this kind.  With its ornate sets and extensive use of real locations (something that would become a hallmark of Perret's cinema), Molière is a sumptuous looking piece that is among cinema's first worthwhile biopics.

One noteworthy aspect of the film is that it was a collaborative effort between three of the great pioneers of the new medium of cinema working in France at the time.  With Perret, one of Gaumont's most promising talents, in the director's seat, the scriptwriting duties fell to Louis Feuillade and Abel Gance, two of the most important cineastes of the following decades.  Gance - who appears briefly in the film as the young Molière - would ultimately outshine both Feuillade and Ferret with his epic melodramas and own great historical biopic, Napoléon (1927).  Cinematography was by Georges Specht, who worked on many of Perret's films and brought a striking modernity to his work - evidenced by the sequences in Molière that were filmed in the stately environs of the Château de Versailles.  In common with most silent films of this time, Molière consists of tableaux, scenes shot usually in a single take, with a camera fixed in one position, but the visual compositions are so perfect that rarely does the film appear static.  On the contrary, the film has a vibrant quality and realism that sets it apart from most cinematic offerings of this period.
© James Travers 2015
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.
Next Léonce Perret film:
L'Automne du coeur (1911)

Film Synopsis

Paris, 1642. In his father's upholstery shop, Jean-Baptiste Poquelin is reading his first comic verses to his brothers and sisters.  An impromptu visit by the actor Scaramouche makes up Jean-Baptiste's mind to pursue an acting career.  Some months later, Jean-Baptiste, under his adopted name Molière, has founded a travelling theatre company which tours the provinces.  It is not long before he is performing at the royal court of Versailles, for the pleasure of King Louis XIV.  With the king's patronage, Molière is destined to become the leading playwright of his time...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.


Film Credits

  • Director: Léonce Perret
  • Script: Louis Feuillade, Abel Gance
  • Cinematographer: Georges Specht
  • Cast: André Bacqué (Molière), Abel Gance (Molière jeune), René d'Auchy (Louis XIV), Amélie de Pouzols (Armande Béjart), Mary Brunel (La servante de Forest), Madeleine Sézanne (La muse de Molière), Fabienne Fabrèges, Jeanne Marie-Laurent, Léonce Perret, Valentine Petit
  • Country: France
  • Language: French
  • Support: Black and White / Silent
  • Runtime: 21 min

The best French Films of the 1910s
sb-img-2
In the 1910s, French cinema led the way with a new industry which actively encouraged innovation. From the serials of Louis Feuillade to the first auteur pieces of Abel Gance, this decade is rich in cinematic marvels.
The very best of German cinema
sb-img-25
German cinema was at its most inspired in the 1920s, strongly influenced by the expressionist movement, but it enjoyed a renaissance in the 1970s.
The brighter side of Franz Kafka
sb-img-1
In his letters to his friends and family, Franz Kafka gives us a rich self-portrait that is surprisingly upbeat, nor the angst-ridden soul we might expect.
The Carry On films, from the heyday of British film comedy
sb-img-17
Looking for a deeper insight into the most popular series of British film comedies? Visit our page and we'll give you one.
The greatest French film directors
sb-img-29
From Jean Renoir to François Truffaut, French cinema has no shortage of truly great filmmakers, each bringing a unique approach to the art of filmmaking.
 

Other things to look at


Copyright © filmsdefrance.com 1998-2024
All rights reserved



All content on this page is protected by copyright