L'autre aile (1923) - full transcript

A film restored by the

Cinémathèque française

from the original nitrate

negative in its collection.

Colors have been restored

thanks to the Desmetcolor process,

with the help of tinting

indications noted on the negative

and tinted strips of nitrate positive.

The plot of this film could be

reconstructed thanks to the visual novel

published at the time and preserved

in the Cinémathèque's archive.

The Other Wing

Adapted from Canudo's novel

With Mr. Andreani

as director

Cameramen:

Mssrs. Dantan and Cohendy

Under the artistic direction

of Mr. Dal Medico

Illustrated titles designed by

Sach

The technical part of the aviation was

carried out with the kind cooperation of

Count Brocard, the founder of

the glorious Escadrille des Cigognes.

The other wing

Of neither silk nor wood

nor bleeding light...

An enthusiastic crowd

gathered at the airfield

to witness the exploits

of the famous aviator Raymat.

It's for her line and her light

that Hélène Tarnière was so dearly

loved by the aviator Raymat.

Hélène Tarnière:

Ms. Marthe Ferrare

Costumes by Poiret

Raymat:

André Bertoux

- For our sake...

be careful, my friend.

It was her entire reason for existing that

burned down with the smoking wreckage.

Everything had become gloomy

at Hélène's house,

once one of the glories of

Parisian salons.

Hélène did not cry, but the human

torch that was ablaze in the skies

was still ablaze in her aching eyes.

Madam, thank you for thinking of Raymat's

friend to help you find the rest you seek.

I won't presume to discuss your decision

But I'm afraid of this life for you,

a beautiful life, but a rough one.

In any case, come when you please

and do me the honor of trusting

the total devotion of your servant.

Robert Vraie.

Only the Countess of Aibet

was granted access to her.

The Countess of Aibet:

Mrs. Claude France

- What do you want me to become?...

There was a time that I would've buried

my pain in the silence of a convent.

- Today, as a modern woman, I rely on

action to help me forget the pain.

In the camp of the flying priests.

Robert Vraie:

Mr. Jean Murat

- My life, my energy,

all that I have left,

I offer it to the place

that killed my love.

- I will be stronger than him.

- I have already given up

my life as a woman for good.

That is not what scares me.

And Hélène Tarnière locked up her suppleness,

destroyed the elegance of her lines

in a work suit.

You know Gaston Lager...

a lifelong friend... an enthusiast.

Gaston Lager:

Charles Vanel

Mrs. Diana.

(Ms. Mary Harald)

Do you really think you are

cut out for this life as a boy?

- It's your first journey in the air...

Are you ready?

- The air has done me all possible harm,

it can do nothing more to me.

- Another blowhard!

- Head towards the sun,

don't change directions...

head towards the sun...

it's burning like a great fire.

Active life brought some relief

to Hélène Tarnière.

- See to it that you don't

hunt on my lands, will you?

It was the eve of the day

she was to fly solo for the first time.

- The fool!...

He looks rather annoyed!

- So touching!

- I'm not fooled by your grand airs...

Don't think that you are

the queen of aviation yet.

- Are you still mad at me?

Because of you...

I can't live with Diane anymore...

she knows that I admire you...

A blind resentment,

multiplied by jealousy,

pushed the dancer

to criminal insanity.

- Idiot, I'm only doing this

to prevent Hélène from flying

and may be killing herself.

Do you want me to believe that it's not

jealousy that made you do this?

- You won't say a word, will you?

The next morning,

the directors visited to the camp

on the occasion of Hélène's first flight.

- My dear Vraie, a splendid acquisition...

Great publicity for us!

- We didn't sleep all night...

What a party my friend!

- Good heavens... my dear...

Looks like you're going to fly too.

Hélène's growing fame had aroused

the interest of a large competitor.

- At any cost... we must get this

Hélène Tarnière to come work for us.

- God, you are beautiful!

- Let me go...

Up there... Up there...

Look...

in the murderous air...

- Look at the burning sun...

There is a man's face in the middle.

Reporters from major newspapers

sought the honor

of interviewing of the star of the moment.

... and if you would be kind enough

to fix an appointment with us,

we'll let you know about the brilliant

contract that we are ready to sign

to have you head our team of high-flyers.

The management, L. Lirard

- Think about it!...

But it's all the gold and glory

possible that they are offering you.

- Are you crazy?

HÉLÈNE TARNIÈRE: QUEEN OF THE AIR

Her admirers and friends

Mud on the wings

- Trust me, I'll write you an article on

this Tarnière that people will talk about.

On that subject...

Diane wants to fly too.

- Hey! Diane is as good as that show-off Hélène.

And yet the fraternity

between these two men

bore the seal of glorious sufferings

that they had experienced together.

- You're the reason for this too!

- You were wrong...

I know how to defend myself

and had I known that it was for me...

- I call the shots here, and you will

leave the camp immediately.

The new Paris-Nice airline

had the industrial circles excited.

- You have my promise.

We will make Diane de Kenn an aviator

who will overshadow Hélène Tarnière.

- We have only one serious competitor,

it's Robert Vraie.

- I'll take care of him!

- You don't understand that

one of our biggest orders

depends on this airplane duel.

- Our reputation is at stake...

and so is your courage.

- An aviator is not a jockey you bet on...

and my courage has soared over

battlefields too many times

for you to doubt it.

...Your stupid love

that your mechanics make fun of...

...You are the only one that doesn't

notice her feelings for Lager...

A friend.

- Well! It's a deal, I accept the challenge.

- Me too...

I want to take part in the contest...

- Coward!

- Coward!!! Sign me up for the contest;

Ours will not be a duel of airplanes;

There will be no mercy up there.

It will be just you and me.

What a pity!... Some new villainy...

anonymous probably...

- It is better that I leave the camp.

- Hélène, then you will never

understand what I go through...

I love you...I...

- No...

No, you mustn't love me, Robert...

My heart was consumed with that

of another man that the fire devoured.

- What is she crying for?...

Her former love...

or the one she is resisting?

- It's a real tournament,

it will be terrible and beautiful...

We must win.

- What's the matter?...

Are you scared of Gaston Lager?

- Come and see if I'm scared...

- This is madness,

we can't make sense of it...

Looks like he wants to kill himself...

- But it's perfect,

it's great publicity,

tomorrow, all the newspapers will know

that our airplanes can fly in the storm.

- Yes... it's not the man that

interests you, it's the machine.

- I won't go...

I promise.

But Hélène didn't have to fly.

...We just learnt that no male aviator

agreed to compete in the air with a woman,

and accepted Hélène Tarnière's challenge

- So, are we agreed?...

It's your airplane that has

burned down, Hélène...

The day of the contest was finally here.

Isn't that Gaston Lager's airplane

up there?

The contest was to end

with a night performance;

Journey between Paris and Nice,

round-trip the same night.

- It's a sabotage...

Your plane was set on fire

just to divert attention.

Robert suffered a lot,

but nothing essential of his

modern athlete's body had been destroyed.

- Step on it,

Drive her to the devil...

- Hélène...

I'm happy... You're here.

- Hélène... Are you crying?

Why?...

- Robert... my friend...

the other wing... of neither wood nor silk...

but that of love...

It isn't broken, is it?

.... wing of love and life. - Canudo