La dame masquée (1924) - full transcript

The Cinémathèque Française presents

A film reconstructed in London in 1986

by Françoise London

Albatros Films presents

The Masked Lady

with:

Scenario and staging by

Viatscheslav (Viktor) Tourjansky

Sets by

Ivan Lochakoff and Édouard Gosch

Photographed by Nicolas Toporkoff,

Joseph-Louis Mundwiller, Albert Duverger

The Masked Lady

First Part

In a little village in the south of

France.

I don't share your idea of making Hélène

an artist. I have very clear feelings

on the subject and you shouldn't count

on me to help you. Your sister, L. Doss.

Hélène, of a fanciful disposition,

loved the theatre ...

... and for the children of the

village ...

Hélène: Miss Nathalie Kovanko

Dressed by Lucie Schwob (Claude Cahun)

"Save mother ... save her!"

"I beg you ... save her!"

"Mama ... Mama!"

Orphaned and without resources, Hélène

decided to go to some relatives in Paris

... who hadn't yet been informed about

about the tragedy.

Uncle Michael, who hadn't succeeded in

life, had been taken in by his sister,

whose tyranny he suffered under.

Uncle Michael: Nicolas Koline

"Do you want some su ... sugar?"

"Hélène, it's you! What a nice surprise!

... and how is your mother?"

"Mother is dead ... our house

burned down!"

Madame Doss, a domineering and churlish

woman, lived luxuriously and presided

over an association of "good souls".

Madame Doss: Mme. Jeanne Brindeau

"Hélène would like to speak with you!"

"Well, hallo, Hélène ... so you are

passing through Paris."

"No, aunt ... I've come to live with

you ..."

"You are my only family ... for my

poor mother ..."

"Well then, we'll see about that ... for

the moment, go and rest,

your uncle will show your to your room."

"Jean ... it's your cousin Hélène!"

Jean, the only son of Mme Doss:

René Maupris

"Who is that other young man?"

"Mr. Girard, a friend of your cousin!"

Girard: Sylvio de Pedrelli

"How handsome he is!"

"This evening I'll take you to a very

exclusive club where the games are

high-stakes ... I spend all

my nights there."

"My dear child, don't hesitate to

confide in me ...

I will try to make this house a

pleasant place for you."

Li, manager of the Chinese club.

Li: Nicolas Rimsky

"Dear Monsieur Li,

may I present my friend Girard,

who you may trust as you trust me."

"I am willing to lend you that amount,

on the condition that you return it

to me, at the latest, in a fortnight."

"Come and sign a receipt for me!"

The next morning.

"Aunt, can you give me a task ...

I'd like to make myself useful!"

"Don't worry ... don't imagine that I'll

keep you here with nothing to do!"

"Clean them well ..."

"Who will get rid of that clumsy oaf!"

While Aunt Doss sought only to humiliate

Hélène, her Uncle Michel, to the contrary,

was nothing but considerate.

My dear cousin,

It's with sorrow that I must inform you

of the death of our uncle Alexander Doss

... none of us figure in his will. The

entirety of his great fortune is left

to Hélène Doss, for whom we are

searching at the moment.

"My dear man, I can't wait much longer

... I absolutely need the sum

that I lent you."

"Our financial situation doesn't allow

me to support your extravagances ...

but I have a scheme to propose to you ..

read this letter."

"Marry her!"

"Oh, mother ... are you joking? You

can't imagine me marrying

that little twit ... what would

people say?"

"Allow me three weeks grace and I

swear that you won't regret it."

"Cousin ... allow me to present

my friend Monsieur Li."

Overnight, Hélène's existence was

different.

"Michel, come and take part in our

game of dominos."

"Monsieur Girard, may I ask that you

no longer bring your friend."

"He lacks manners and compromises

the reputation of my club."

"We must leave, old boy ... our presence

causes, it seems, a serious stain

on the good name of this dive."

"The truth is that you're furious at

seeing us winning ..."

"Well, don't get smart with me ... I've

not only found a way for you to get some

money, but also a way to shut you up

whenever I want you to!"

"My dear.. you must marry Jean- he loves

you, and you can show your gratitude."

"Well, aunt ... since it's absolutely

necessary, I consent."

"And now, mother, advance me some funds

... I'm completely dry."

"What does all that mean? ... oh,

I absolutely have to know!"

The marriage was celebrated as soon

as legally possible.

"Jean doesn't realize his good fortune

... you are delicious, Madame!"

"Excuse him, please ... he's such an

eccentric!"

.. in regard to the inheritance: none of

us figure in his will. The entirety of

his great fortune is left to Hélène Doss

for whom we are searching at the moment.

"My poor girl!"

"I sympathize with you with my whole

heart, my dear child!"

Second Part

A year has passed.

En route to the ball, Hélène

remembered the unhappy days

that she had spent during her marriage.

"How beautiful you are today!"

"I know why you have married me!"

"You wanted my money? You have it!

What more is there?

Don't ever cross the threshold

of my bedroom."

"I won't consent to a divorce, at any

price ... you can tell her that."

"Nothing doing ... I won't budge!"

"We're almost there ... get ready."

"No fancy dress, Madame, could

diminish your charms."

"In half an hour, I will wait for you

at my place."

"Have you seen Girard? It's him who is

disguised as Molière's doctor."

"Take care, Madame ... the man who just

spoke to you is dangerous ..."

"Yes, my boy ... in an hour, I will have

the fifty thousand francs that I lack!"

"I have a plan ... and in a month,

I will be a millionnaire!"

"I hope that you won't forget your

friend from the bad old days?"

"Here is one hundred thousand francs ...

I still need fifty notes."

"How can I sleep soundly with

such a sum?"

"You're lucky to be a good-looking guy

... all the girls are crazy about you!"

"... and what's more, you're rich!"

"Take my disguise and mingle among the

dancers ... I have an interest

in being believed to be at the ball

the whole time."

"People will never take me for you if I

don't have a penny on me!"

"My darling ... you haven't forgotten to

bring me what you promised?"

"Today, I wasn't able to ... but ..."

"Do you know who the man

in that mask is?"

"It's Girard!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

"And now, I hope, Madame, that you

won't refuse to listen to me."

"Where were you? I've been looking

for you for an hour!"

"Uncle ... accompany me to the buffet."

"Why did you leave me alone?

That Chinese man continuously

forces his attentions upon me."

"I would very much like to know how that

Girard has such success with women?"

"Which women do you want to talk about?

The old dowagers that support him?"

"Look at all the women

surrounding him ..."

"What's wrong, Hélène .. your pallor

worries me ... rest for a minute ..."

"Let's leave ... I feel drained ...

I danced too much!"

"If I am found here ... I will be

the one who is accused."

"Madame, there's a man asking to talk

to you ... a serious matter ..."

"My friend Girard has been

assassinated!"

"Why are you telling ME this?

Inform the police!"

"I'm afraid of being accused of the

crime ... and I'm innocent.

Take pity on me ... save me ..."

"Uncle ... take care of this man and

do what is needed."

"Let's go, that's enough. I will

accompany you to your place."

The prosecutor's office were already at

the scene of the crime.

"You may retire .. I will undress myself,

but when my uncle returns,

tell him to come and see me."

"Yes ... have they found any leads?"

"Suspicions have fallen on this Robin,

who indeed seems to me

to be a disreputable sort."

"As for me, I think that a

woman killed him ...

he always lived at the expense of a

certain kind of woman."

"No, I don't believe that .. theft seems

to have been the motive for the crime,

because of the disappearance of the

hundred thousand francs he was carrying."

"No ... no ... it's impossible!"

"What do you know about it?"

"I simply meant that I don't believe

that he had such a great sum on him!"

"Calm down ... be reasonable, sleep

soundly ..."

"I'ill force you to give me that money

... I've got those letters of yours ..."

"Wretch ... so you just wanted

my money!"

"Careful - it's loaded."

"Don't come any closer ... you

fill me with horror!"

"You're a coward ... tomorrow, I'll

redeem my honour ... but let me leave."

Public Treasury - Ten thousand francs

National Defense Bond

In one year, the Paymaster General will

pay the bearer 10,000 francs.

"Don't burn that money ... it could be

very useful to us!"

"How would you like me to reveal the

name of Girard's assassin?"

"What does that have to do with me?"

"But ... these letters ... this money?"

"How ... you know?"

"I saw everything!"

"What do you expect from me?"

"It's you that I want!"

"Don't try to escape ... you are in

my power!"

"Hélène, are you asleep?"

"What is it, uncle?"

"I've become convinced that Robin isn't

guilty, and I've asked the judge

to let him out on bail."

"You're right, uncle ... that man

couldn't have committed this crime!"

Tomorrow, at 3pm, I will wait for you

at the 'Rising Sun' tavern.

"This time, I am lost!"

At 3pm the next day, uncle Michel

obtained bail for Robin,

against whom the law had found

no evidence.

"You must be hungry ... we'll stop at

the next restaurant we come to."

"Over there, that's the man who runs

the nightclub ... in the basement,

there's a gambling den ...

I know him well."

"... and some wine ..."

"I absolutely must know, who is

that woman?"

"I beg you ... take it all ...

but spare me!"

"No, I love you ... I've loved you

for a long time ..."

"Let's be careful ... here, everyone

obeys him blindly!"

"We must save her at any cost ...

go and get the police!"

"No, never. Denounce me instead!"

"Too late ..."

"Follow me ... I will save you!"

"It's her ..."

"He arranged this rendez-vous, because

he knew that I had killed ..."

"Be quiet ... be quiet ... I know

everything ..."

"Look, Michel!"

"For them, life .."

"... for me ..."

"Why?"

The End