Container of (work): Argent (Motion picture : 1928) Container of (work): Prométhée, banquier
Notes:
Pierre Alcover, Mary Glory, Brigitte Helm, Yvette Guilbert, Alfred Abel, Henry Victor, Pierre Juvenet, Antonin Artaud. Title and credits from screen. Adapted from Émile Zola's novel. Originally released as a motion picture in 1928. Two musical soundtracks: Olivier Massot, composer, with the Orchestre national de Lyon / Rodney Sauer, composer, with the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra. Restored in 2018 by Lobster Films. Special features: The Making of L'Argent (a pioneering documentary, directed by L'Herbier's assistant Jean Dreville, featuring incredible footage of the cast and crew during the actual production as well as the director's comments recorded later in 1971 ; 39 minutes); The Two Restorations of Autour de L'Argent (a restoration demonstration of Autour de L'Argent with Serge Bromberg ; 5 min); Prometheus, Banker = Prométhée, banquier (a perfect thematic complement to L'Argent, complete with new restoration, this short film by Marcel L'Herbier tells the story of a banker-seducing vampire ; 15 min.); L'argent and Marcel L'herbier's genius and soul (souvenir booklet featuring an essay by Mireille Beaulieu and collection of unique photographs and promotional material recently discovered in Mrs. L'Herbier's collection); Photo gallery (a slide show presentation of vintage marketing materials, behind-the-scene stills and more from L'Argent).
Summary:
Adapted from Émile Zola's novel of the same name, this is loosely based off the 1882 collapse of Union Générale bank, which subsequently crashed the stock market and plunged France into a decade long recession. The story centers on the unscrupulous Nicolas Saccard, played by Pierre Alcover, who makes a bad bet, loses his societal standing and his mistress and tries to recoup it all by backing an aviator with a daredevil plan to cross the Atlantic to exploit raw materials in the New World.
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