L'or des mers (1933) - full transcript
Another fictionalized documentary by Epstein, it tells the story of an old Breton drunk, who discovers and hides a treasure from a washed up shipwreck.
Film restored in 2013
from a stock internegative safety.
The reproduction was printed in 1976
from a brown safety,
itself produced from
the original nitrate.
The brown plus the original elements
no longer exist.
Along with 2K image transfer,
sound was restored used
the Synchro-Ciné process.
One of France's leading sound systems,
the technique post-synchronizes
music, voices and sound-effects.
While innovative,
Synchro-Ciné remains imprecise.
The 15 nautical miles of heavy seas
that separate the isle of Hoëdic
from civilization
might as well be a 1,000km road.
Thousands of rats populate
the sandy land on this barren isle
and sea winds ensure that no plant
grows more than a few inches.
In this Dantesque setting
of breakers, swirls and fogs,
100 families of fishermen
live in semi-famine for half the year
when the fish don't bite.
They have no doctors, judges,
gendarmes or tax collectors,
governed by a priest
who is as poor as they are.
What can the harsh land provide?
Some miracle catch?
Or maybe the chance
to plunder the mysterious debris
of a sunken vessel?
The imagination of each islander
conjures up a fortune from the sea
that will make them rich.
Such is the real background,
the actual context
in which this film was shot.
No tricks or special effects,
no counterfeited images
shot in the studio, no actors.
Alone, these tough Breton islanders
present The Gold of the Seas.
SYNCHRO-CINÉ
presents
THE GOLD OF THE SEAS
A film by Jean EPSTEIN
Cameramen:
Christian MATRAS, Albert BRES
Original score by TH. KROSS,
HARTMANN and MARCEL DEVAUX
Texts by ETIENNE ARNAUD
Sound recording S.I.S.
Synchronization CH. DELACOMMUNE
Production and Art Direction
by C. F. TAVANO
Bad times. Wretched bad times.
A piece of bread, please.
What wretchedness...
Come in.
- Sir, a piece of bread, please.
- Good morning.
Go ahead, take it. God bless us all.
I am confident that you'll see to that.
- Thank you, rector. Thank you.
- Don't mention it, old chap.
People must help each other.
There's a solution to everything.
What a curse...
They won't give anything.
We old people can as well die.
Is it Christian?
A curse upon you all!
And bad times for you, daughter,
if you have nothing to feed your father.
Show me what you've got. Are you deaf?
- I don't have anything.
- Nothing? Nothing?
Maybe you ate everything.
You think you can stay here doing nothing?
You too, you want to see your father croak.
You can get out of here!
You won't see me croak, you hear?
No you won't, bad daughter!
Listen up, Soizic. Come here or I'll hit you.
Come here.
You're afraid of the blows, eh?
Listen up or I'll sock ya. Listen up.
Go to the rector's and tell him I fell down.
DON'T FORGET. YOU'LL GO IN ROUND
THE BACK, THROUGH THE KITCHEN
DOOR,
AND YOU'LL SAY : ''I NEED A BIG PIECE
OF BACON TO CURE MY FATHER.''
DON'T FORGET: SOME BACON FOR YOUR
FATHER.
GO, YOU LAZY GOOD-FOR-NOTHING!
- I'M LOOKING FOR THE RECTOR.
- THE RECTOR ?
HE'S ON THE HEATH LOOKING FOR HIS
DINNER.
RÉMY, ONE CRAB. ONE CRAB!
HERE, BEGGAR!
- LISTEN. HE FOUND SOMETHING.
- WHAT DYA SAY?
- QUOUARREC HAS FOUND SOMETHING.
- QUOUARREC?
- COME ON, SPEAK UP.
- YES, HE FOUND SOMETHING.
- I CAN'T HEAR YA. WHAT?
- HE FOUND SOMETHING IN THE ROCKS.
- SPEAK UP, I CAN'T HEAR YOU.
- LAST NIGHT, OVER THERE.
OVER THERE?
- OVER THERE? ARE YOU SURE?
- BY THE GREAT POINT, OVER THERE.
- IT WAS SHINING LIKE A LIGHTHOUSE!
- OVER THERE?
- ARE YOU SURE YOU SAW IT? BY THE
GREAT POINT?
- I SAW IT. I SAW IT FOR SURE.
YOU KNOW WHAT, SON?
OVER THERE BY THE GREAT POINT,
- IN THE HOLES OF THE SHIFTING SAND...
- YES, FATHER, I KNOW THE PLACE.
QUOUARREC MAY HAVE PICKED UP
A GREAT WEALTH OF GOLD YESTERDAY...
YOU KNOW, OVER THERE, NEAR THE HOLE
IN WHICH OUR COW GOT STUCK,
- IN THE SHIFTING SANDS...
- ARE YOU SURE?
HE WAS SEEN, I TELL YOU. HE HID IT. FAR
AWAY.
BEAT IT!
YOU RATS!
YOU LITTLE LICE! GO AWAY!
LEAVE ME ALONE!
THE FIRST ONE I CATCH I'LL CUT OFF HIS
EARS!
GO AWAY!
GO! SCRAM!
GANG OF RATS. GO!
HAVE YOU NO SHAME?
SCRAM! YOU LITTLE BRATS!
HERE'S THAT OLD TRAMP.
HE FOUND GOLD, OR SOMETHING
BETTER?
I'D LIKE TO KNOW THAT.
WITH A GLASS OF WINE AND A DISH
OF SAUSAGES, WE'LL KNOW.
HELLO, QUOUARREC! HELLO, MY FRIEND!
COME HERE! COME!
COME IN AND GET WARM!
DON'T TROUBLE YOURSELF
FOR AN OLD MAN LIKE ME.
- TAKE IT EASY.
- I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
- I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
- WE KNOW YOU. WE TRUST YOU.
A TREASURE! A REAL TREASURE!
HE'S THE WEALTHIEST MAN AROUND,
NOW.
AND HIS LITTLE GIRL...
- SHE'S GOING TO HAVE A WARDROBE
FULL OF LACE.
- FULL OF GOLD, WITH SOME
SOIZIC!
SOIZIC!
- CAN I HAVE SOME OF YOUR CATCH?
- OF COURSE, RÉMY.
SEE YOU LATER, SOIZIC.
GO AHEAD, QUOUARREC.
HELP YOURSELF, DON'T BE SHY.
IT'S GOOD AND FRESH.
IT'S FUNNY...
QUOUARREC, IT SO HAPPENS
I WAS THINKING OF YOU.
I WAS WONDERING WHEN
WE'D POLISH ONE OFF AT THE RECTOR'S.
COME ON, QUOUARREC.
- QUOUARREC?
- THE OLD MAN, THERE. HE'S RICH.
AND HE HID IT.
HERE, TAKE MY WRAP. COVER UP.
BEWARE, YOU'RE ALL WARM, OLD CHAP.
COME TO MY HOUSE.
- YOU'LL CATCH COLD.
- CONGRATULATIONS, QUOUARREC.
YOU'RE A MILLIONAIRE! DON'T FORGET
ME...
LOOK, IT'S WARM AT MY PLACE.
- I DON'T WANT TO COME.
- I'M YOUR FRIEND, AND I HAVE SOME
GOOD WINE.
HERE'S SOME SPARKLING CIDER.
I'VE DRUNK ENOUGH.
SO YOU WERE OUT B Y THE POINT, I HEAR.
OH, I'VE BEEN HERE AND I'VE BEEN
THERE...
YOU WERE SEEN.
- NOT TRUE!
- YES, YES, THAT'S WHAT THEY SAY.
I SEE NOTHING AT NIGHT. NOTHING AT
ALL.
YOU MUST HAVE CAUGHT COLD,
FISHING ALL NIGHT LIKE THAT.
I CAN'T SAY I FISHED.
IF YOU NEED MORE, THERE'S STILL
PLENTY OF IT.
YOU SHOULDN'T BOTHER.
COME ON, YOU NEED STRENGTH.
A POOR OLD MAN, THAT'S WHAT I AM.
SO YOU WENT BY THE POINT...
SOMEONE AT THE SAILORS' UNION
COULD LEARN THATYOU'VE BEEN THERE.
DRINK THAT. IT'S THE BEST STUFF.
IT WILL DO YOU GOOD WHEN YOU DRINK
IT DOWN.
DON'T BE SO STUBBORN. A DROP
OF WINE WON'T DO YOU NO HARM.
IF THE UNION KNEW IT, YOU'D BE IN
TROUBLE.
THEY'LL NEVER KNOW.
THE UNION ALWAYS KNOWS
WHAT ITWANTS TO KNOW...
BUT IF WE SPLIT BETWEEN THREE OR
FOUR,
THE BEST MEN IN THE ISLAND...
- YES, THREE OR FOUR WHO HAVE
CELLARS...
- WHERE NOBODY CAN STICK HIS NOSE,
DRINK, GODAMMIT!
DRINK, GODAMMIT!
- COME ON, DRINK...
- NO!
THE UNION CAN'T DO ANYTHING AGAINST
THE THREE OF US. DON'T BE AFRAID.
- COME ON, TAKE IT EASY...
- NO!
WE'RE AMONG FRIENDS.
COME ON...
- SIT DOWN.
- LISTEN TO WHAT YOU'RE TOLD.
YOU DON'T WANT TO GO, DO YOU?
STAY A LITTLE MORE.
- COME ON, HAVE A DRINK.
- LISTEN TO REASON.
- WE'RE ALL FRIENDS FOR SURE.
- ALL FRIENDS.
BESIDES, YOU'D BETTER TELL THE
UNION...
WE SHOULD ALL BE IN ITTOGETHER.
WHAT IF THEY HEAR YOU FOUND A
TREASURE?
IF YOU DO IT ALONE...
BUT WITH FOUR SMART GUYS LIKE US...
- HAVE A DRINK, YOU'LL UNDERSTAND
BETTER.
- WE HAVE GOOD CELLARS.
NO, LEAVE ME ALONE...
Sure, you'll get your part...
Bastards! Robbers! Bandits!
I won't tell you anything!
Pay attention to what I say. Look.
The box is under the big rock in the lost
place.
You can go there only at low tide,
and you have to be quick
or the sea will catch you, you hear?
If you don't want to die like the cow,
stay on the left side of the shifting
But don't tell anyone!
Don't tell anything to anyone.
Leave me alone.
I'm through.
They killed me.
Yes.
Listen, father.
I plan to marry Soizic.
Yes.
Yes, Quouarrec Soizic.
We've talked and we agree.
The rector said yes.
And her father's gold?
What has she done with it?
Where is it?
Tell her to bring the treasure or
she won't have you. Go right away.
You going, Rémy?
Afraid? I don't recognize you
anymore. Here, take that.
So you're afraid...
Listen to me, Rémy. You're
good looking and you're rich.
What is she? A no-good wretched girl.
Then, I'll go.
I'll tell her to give you the treasure
or you won't marry her.
- I'm going.
- You can't.
Can't I? We'll see about that.
I'll talk to her. Wait and see.
I'll tell your witch to give the gold
or no Rémy. I'll tell her.
You won't go yourself?
Very well then, I'm off.
SOIZIC! SOIZIC!
COME HERE, QUICK!
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ALONE,
WHERE NO ONE WILL SEE, YOU HEAR?
MOVE.
AND BE QUIET.
IF I WANTED TO, YOU WOULDN'T
SEE YOUR RÉMY ANYMORE.
LISTEN.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
RÉMY SENT ME TO TELL YOU
HE LIKES YOU, ONLY...
IF YOU WANT TO MARRY MY BO Y RÉMY,
YOU MUST BRING ME
THE TREASURE TONIGHT, YOU HEAR?
GO, IF YOU WANT YOUR RÉMY.
HURRY UP. GO AND COME BACK RIGHT
HERE.
I'LL BE WAITING. RUN.
AND DON'T DALLY!
- I SAW HER.
- WHERE? ANSWER ME! SPEAK UP!
YOU GOOD-FOR-NOTHING...
- IN THE LOST PLACE.
- WHICH WAY?
- OVER THERE!
- IF YOU LIE, I'LL GET YOU!
HELP! HELP!
HELP! HELP!
HELP ME, RÉMY!
THE END
IT'S A FRENCH FILM
from a stock internegative safety.
The reproduction was printed in 1976
from a brown safety,
itself produced from
the original nitrate.
The brown plus the original elements
no longer exist.
Along with 2K image transfer,
sound was restored used
the Synchro-Ciné process.
One of France's leading sound systems,
the technique post-synchronizes
music, voices and sound-effects.
While innovative,
Synchro-Ciné remains imprecise.
The 15 nautical miles of heavy seas
that separate the isle of Hoëdic
from civilization
might as well be a 1,000km road.
Thousands of rats populate
the sandy land on this barren isle
and sea winds ensure that no plant
grows more than a few inches.
In this Dantesque setting
of breakers, swirls and fogs,
100 families of fishermen
live in semi-famine for half the year
when the fish don't bite.
They have no doctors, judges,
gendarmes or tax collectors,
governed by a priest
who is as poor as they are.
What can the harsh land provide?
Some miracle catch?
Or maybe the chance
to plunder the mysterious debris
of a sunken vessel?
The imagination of each islander
conjures up a fortune from the sea
that will make them rich.
Such is the real background,
the actual context
in which this film was shot.
No tricks or special effects,
no counterfeited images
shot in the studio, no actors.
Alone, these tough Breton islanders
present The Gold of the Seas.
SYNCHRO-CINÉ
presents
THE GOLD OF THE SEAS
A film by Jean EPSTEIN
Cameramen:
Christian MATRAS, Albert BRES
Original score by TH. KROSS,
HARTMANN and MARCEL DEVAUX
Texts by ETIENNE ARNAUD
Sound recording S.I.S.
Synchronization CH. DELACOMMUNE
Production and Art Direction
by C. F. TAVANO
Bad times. Wretched bad times.
A piece of bread, please.
What wretchedness...
Come in.
- Sir, a piece of bread, please.
- Good morning.
Go ahead, take it. God bless us all.
I am confident that you'll see to that.
- Thank you, rector. Thank you.
- Don't mention it, old chap.
People must help each other.
There's a solution to everything.
What a curse...
They won't give anything.
We old people can as well die.
Is it Christian?
A curse upon you all!
And bad times for you, daughter,
if you have nothing to feed your father.
Show me what you've got. Are you deaf?
- I don't have anything.
- Nothing? Nothing?
Maybe you ate everything.
You think you can stay here doing nothing?
You too, you want to see your father croak.
You can get out of here!
You won't see me croak, you hear?
No you won't, bad daughter!
Listen up, Soizic. Come here or I'll hit you.
Come here.
You're afraid of the blows, eh?
Listen up or I'll sock ya. Listen up.
Go to the rector's and tell him I fell down.
DON'T FORGET. YOU'LL GO IN ROUND
THE BACK, THROUGH THE KITCHEN
DOOR,
AND YOU'LL SAY : ''I NEED A BIG PIECE
OF BACON TO CURE MY FATHER.''
DON'T FORGET: SOME BACON FOR YOUR
FATHER.
GO, YOU LAZY GOOD-FOR-NOTHING!
- I'M LOOKING FOR THE RECTOR.
- THE RECTOR ?
HE'S ON THE HEATH LOOKING FOR HIS
DINNER.
RÉMY, ONE CRAB. ONE CRAB!
HERE, BEGGAR!
- LISTEN. HE FOUND SOMETHING.
- WHAT DYA SAY?
- QUOUARREC HAS FOUND SOMETHING.
- QUOUARREC?
- COME ON, SPEAK UP.
- YES, HE FOUND SOMETHING.
- I CAN'T HEAR YA. WHAT?
- HE FOUND SOMETHING IN THE ROCKS.
- SPEAK UP, I CAN'T HEAR YOU.
- LAST NIGHT, OVER THERE.
OVER THERE?
- OVER THERE? ARE YOU SURE?
- BY THE GREAT POINT, OVER THERE.
- IT WAS SHINING LIKE A LIGHTHOUSE!
- OVER THERE?
- ARE YOU SURE YOU SAW IT? BY THE
GREAT POINT?
- I SAW IT. I SAW IT FOR SURE.
YOU KNOW WHAT, SON?
OVER THERE BY THE GREAT POINT,
- IN THE HOLES OF THE SHIFTING SAND...
- YES, FATHER, I KNOW THE PLACE.
QUOUARREC MAY HAVE PICKED UP
A GREAT WEALTH OF GOLD YESTERDAY...
YOU KNOW, OVER THERE, NEAR THE HOLE
IN WHICH OUR COW GOT STUCK,
- IN THE SHIFTING SANDS...
- ARE YOU SURE?
HE WAS SEEN, I TELL YOU. HE HID IT. FAR
AWAY.
BEAT IT!
YOU RATS!
YOU LITTLE LICE! GO AWAY!
LEAVE ME ALONE!
THE FIRST ONE I CATCH I'LL CUT OFF HIS
EARS!
GO AWAY!
GO! SCRAM!
GANG OF RATS. GO!
HAVE YOU NO SHAME?
SCRAM! YOU LITTLE BRATS!
HERE'S THAT OLD TRAMP.
HE FOUND GOLD, OR SOMETHING
BETTER?
I'D LIKE TO KNOW THAT.
WITH A GLASS OF WINE AND A DISH
OF SAUSAGES, WE'LL KNOW.
HELLO, QUOUARREC! HELLO, MY FRIEND!
COME HERE! COME!
COME IN AND GET WARM!
DON'T TROUBLE YOURSELF
FOR AN OLD MAN LIKE ME.
- TAKE IT EASY.
- I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
- I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
- WE KNOW YOU. WE TRUST YOU.
A TREASURE! A REAL TREASURE!
HE'S THE WEALTHIEST MAN AROUND,
NOW.
AND HIS LITTLE GIRL...
- SHE'S GOING TO HAVE A WARDROBE
FULL OF LACE.
- FULL OF GOLD, WITH SOME
SOIZIC!
SOIZIC!
- CAN I HAVE SOME OF YOUR CATCH?
- OF COURSE, RÉMY.
SEE YOU LATER, SOIZIC.
GO AHEAD, QUOUARREC.
HELP YOURSELF, DON'T BE SHY.
IT'S GOOD AND FRESH.
IT'S FUNNY...
QUOUARREC, IT SO HAPPENS
I WAS THINKING OF YOU.
I WAS WONDERING WHEN
WE'D POLISH ONE OFF AT THE RECTOR'S.
COME ON, QUOUARREC.
- QUOUARREC?
- THE OLD MAN, THERE. HE'S RICH.
AND HE HID IT.
HERE, TAKE MY WRAP. COVER UP.
BEWARE, YOU'RE ALL WARM, OLD CHAP.
COME TO MY HOUSE.
- YOU'LL CATCH COLD.
- CONGRATULATIONS, QUOUARREC.
YOU'RE A MILLIONAIRE! DON'T FORGET
ME...
LOOK, IT'S WARM AT MY PLACE.
- I DON'T WANT TO COME.
- I'M YOUR FRIEND, AND I HAVE SOME
GOOD WINE.
HERE'S SOME SPARKLING CIDER.
I'VE DRUNK ENOUGH.
SO YOU WERE OUT B Y THE POINT, I HEAR.
OH, I'VE BEEN HERE AND I'VE BEEN
THERE...
YOU WERE SEEN.
- NOT TRUE!
- YES, YES, THAT'S WHAT THEY SAY.
I SEE NOTHING AT NIGHT. NOTHING AT
ALL.
YOU MUST HAVE CAUGHT COLD,
FISHING ALL NIGHT LIKE THAT.
I CAN'T SAY I FISHED.
IF YOU NEED MORE, THERE'S STILL
PLENTY OF IT.
YOU SHOULDN'T BOTHER.
COME ON, YOU NEED STRENGTH.
A POOR OLD MAN, THAT'S WHAT I AM.
SO YOU WENT BY THE POINT...
SOMEONE AT THE SAILORS' UNION
COULD LEARN THATYOU'VE BEEN THERE.
DRINK THAT. IT'S THE BEST STUFF.
IT WILL DO YOU GOOD WHEN YOU DRINK
IT DOWN.
DON'T BE SO STUBBORN. A DROP
OF WINE WON'T DO YOU NO HARM.
IF THE UNION KNEW IT, YOU'D BE IN
TROUBLE.
THEY'LL NEVER KNOW.
THE UNION ALWAYS KNOWS
WHAT ITWANTS TO KNOW...
BUT IF WE SPLIT BETWEEN THREE OR
FOUR,
THE BEST MEN IN THE ISLAND...
- YES, THREE OR FOUR WHO HAVE
CELLARS...
- WHERE NOBODY CAN STICK HIS NOSE,
DRINK, GODAMMIT!
DRINK, GODAMMIT!
- COME ON, DRINK...
- NO!
THE UNION CAN'T DO ANYTHING AGAINST
THE THREE OF US. DON'T BE AFRAID.
- COME ON, TAKE IT EASY...
- NO!
WE'RE AMONG FRIENDS.
COME ON...
- SIT DOWN.
- LISTEN TO WHAT YOU'RE TOLD.
YOU DON'T WANT TO GO, DO YOU?
STAY A LITTLE MORE.
- COME ON, HAVE A DRINK.
- LISTEN TO REASON.
- WE'RE ALL FRIENDS FOR SURE.
- ALL FRIENDS.
BESIDES, YOU'D BETTER TELL THE
UNION...
WE SHOULD ALL BE IN ITTOGETHER.
WHAT IF THEY HEAR YOU FOUND A
TREASURE?
IF YOU DO IT ALONE...
BUT WITH FOUR SMART GUYS LIKE US...
- HAVE A DRINK, YOU'LL UNDERSTAND
BETTER.
- WE HAVE GOOD CELLARS.
NO, LEAVE ME ALONE...
Sure, you'll get your part...
Bastards! Robbers! Bandits!
I won't tell you anything!
Pay attention to what I say. Look.
The box is under the big rock in the lost
place.
You can go there only at low tide,
and you have to be quick
or the sea will catch you, you hear?
If you don't want to die like the cow,
stay on the left side of the shifting
But don't tell anyone!
Don't tell anything to anyone.
Leave me alone.
I'm through.
They killed me.
Yes.
Listen, father.
I plan to marry Soizic.
Yes.
Yes, Quouarrec Soizic.
We've talked and we agree.
The rector said yes.
And her father's gold?
What has she done with it?
Where is it?
Tell her to bring the treasure or
she won't have you. Go right away.
You going, Rémy?
Afraid? I don't recognize you
anymore. Here, take that.
So you're afraid...
Listen to me, Rémy. You're
good looking and you're rich.
What is she? A no-good wretched girl.
Then, I'll go.
I'll tell her to give you the treasure
or you won't marry her.
- I'm going.
- You can't.
Can't I? We'll see about that.
I'll talk to her. Wait and see.
I'll tell your witch to give the gold
or no Rémy. I'll tell her.
You won't go yourself?
Very well then, I'm off.
SOIZIC! SOIZIC!
COME HERE, QUICK!
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ALONE,
WHERE NO ONE WILL SEE, YOU HEAR?
MOVE.
AND BE QUIET.
IF I WANTED TO, YOU WOULDN'T
SEE YOUR RÉMY ANYMORE.
LISTEN.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
RÉMY SENT ME TO TELL YOU
HE LIKES YOU, ONLY...
IF YOU WANT TO MARRY MY BO Y RÉMY,
YOU MUST BRING ME
THE TREASURE TONIGHT, YOU HEAR?
GO, IF YOU WANT YOUR RÉMY.
HURRY UP. GO AND COME BACK RIGHT
HERE.
I'LL BE WAITING. RUN.
AND DON'T DALLY!
- I SAW HER.
- WHERE? ANSWER ME! SPEAK UP!
YOU GOOD-FOR-NOTHING...
- IN THE LOST PLACE.
- WHICH WAY?
- OVER THERE!
- IF YOU LIE, I'LL GET YOU!
HELP! HELP!
HELP! HELP!
HELP ME, RÉMY!
THE END
IT'S A FRENCH FILM