Feu Mathias Pascal
Encyclopedia
Feu Mathias Pascal is a 1925
French silent film written and directed by Marcel L'Herbier
. It was the first film adaptation of Luigi Pirandello
's novel Il fu Mattia Pascal
.
, L'Herbier had been eager to collaborate with the author on a film of one of his work's, but hitherto Pirandello had been unwilling to give permission for any adaptations because he would not accept the compromises that were asked of him. When however a proposal was put to him on L'Herbier's behalf to film his novel Il fu Mattia Pascal
, he was sufficiently impressed by the film-maker's earlier work to give his enthusiastic agreement.
L'Herbier's ideal choice for the title role was the Russian émigré actor Ivan Mosjoukine
who was under contract to the Films Albatros company. Negotiations then led to a shared production agreement for the film between L'Herbier's own company Cinégraphic and Albatros.
and Lazare Meerson
(in his first assignment).
L'Herbier was delighted with the dynamic performance of Mosjoukine in the leading role, as well as by the rest of his cast, among whom Pierre Batcheff
and Michel Simon
were both making their film débuts.
The receipts of the film were valued at 1,219,026 francs; around two-thirds of this amount was earned outside France.
1925 in film
-Events:*November 5: The Big Parade holds its Grand Premier*December 30: premier of Ben-Hur the most expensive silent film ever made costing 4-6 million dollars -Top grossing films :...
French silent film written and directed by Marcel L'Herbier
Marcel L'Herbier
Marcel L'Herbier, Légion d'honneur, was a French film-maker, who achieved prominence as an avant-garde theorist and imaginative practitioner with a series of silent films in the 1920s. His career as a director continued until the 1950s and he made more than 40 feature films in total...
. It was the first film adaptation of Luigi Pirandello
Luigi Pirandello
Luigi Pirandello was an Italian dramatist, novelist, and short story writer awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1934, for his "bold and brilliant renovation of the drama and the stage." Pirandello's works include novels, hundreds of short stories, and about 40 plays, some of which are written...
's novel Il fu Mattia Pascal
The Late Mattia Pascal
The Late Mattia Pascal is a novel by Luigi Pirandello. The novel, among Pirandello's most successful, was written in 1904.-Plot summary:...
.
Background
Since seeing a Paris production of Pirandello's play Sei personnaggi in cerca d'autoreSix Characters in Search of an Author
Six Characters in Search of an Author is a play by the Italian writer Luigi Pirandello.The play is a satirical tragicomedy. It was first performed in 1921 at the Teatro Valle in Rome, to a very mixed reception, with shouts from the audience of "Manicomio!" .Subsequently the play enjoyed a much...
, L'Herbier had been eager to collaborate with the author on a film of one of his work's, but hitherto Pirandello had been unwilling to give permission for any adaptations because he would not accept the compromises that were asked of him. When however a proposal was put to him on L'Herbier's behalf to film his novel Il fu Mattia Pascal
The Late Mattia Pascal
The Late Mattia Pascal is a novel by Luigi Pirandello. The novel, among Pirandello's most successful, was written in 1904.-Plot summary:...
, he was sufficiently impressed by the film-maker's earlier work to give his enthusiastic agreement.
L'Herbier's ideal choice for the title role was the Russian émigré actor Ivan Mosjoukine
Ivan Mozzhukhin
Ivan Ilyich Mozzhukhin Ivan Ilyich Mozzhukhin Ivan Ilyich Mozzhukhin (Russian: Иван Ильич Мозжухин was a Russian silent film actor.-Career in Russia:Mozzhukhin was born in Penza, Russia and studied law at Moscow State University. In 1910 he left academic life to join a troupe of traveling actors...
who was under contract to the Films Albatros company. Negotiations then led to a shared production agreement for the film between L'Herbier's own company Cinégraphic and Albatros.
Production
Filming began in December 1924 with location shooting in Rome, San Gimignano, and Monte Carlo. Studio filming took place at the Montreuil and Épinay studios. Set designs were produced by Alberto CavalcantiAlberto Cavalcanti
Alberto de Almeida Cavalcanti was a Brazilian-born film director and producer.-Early life:Cavalcanti was born in Rio de Janeiro, the son of a prominent mathematician. He was a precociously intelligent child, and by the age of 15 was studying law at university. Following an argument with a...
and Lazare Meerson
Lazare Meerson
Lazare Meerson was a Russian-born French and English film art director.-Filmography:* L'Argent * Sous les Toits de Paris * Quatorze Juillet * Le Grand Jeu* Pension Mimosas...
(in his first assignment).
L'Herbier was delighted with the dynamic performance of Mosjoukine in the leading role, as well as by the rest of his cast, among whom Pierre Batcheff
Pierre Batcheff
Pierre Batcheff was a French actor. His best-known film was Un chien andalou by Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dali...
and Michel Simon
Michel Simon
Michel Simon , was a Swiss actor. The actor François Simon is his son.-Early years:...
were both making their film débuts.
Plot
After the financial ruin of his family, Mathias works in the library of the village of Miragno. He marries Romilde, whom he had previously been courting on behalf of his timid friend Pomino, and they live with his shrewish mother-in-law. When his mother and baby daughter die on the same day, Mathias in despair runs away to Monte Carlo. In the casino he soon wins 500,000 francs. On his way home he reads in a newspaper that he is believed to have committed suicide and another body has been identified as his. He decides to seize this chance of freedom and to start a new life in Rome. There, under the name of Adrien, he falls in love with his landlord's daughter, Adrienne, who is engaged to an archaeologist, Térence Papiano. At a séance, Papiano and his brother Scipion steal Adrien's money. Unable to go to the police, Adrien/Mathias resigns himself to returning to Miragno. He discovers that Romilde has remarried, to Pomino, and they have a new child. He decides to leave them in peace, and sets off again for Rome and Adrienne.Cast
- Ivan MosjoukineIvan MozzhukhinIvan Ilyich Mozzhukhin Ivan Ilyich Mozzhukhin Ivan Ilyich Mozzhukhin (Russian: Иван Ильич Мозжухин was a Russian silent film actor.-Career in Russia:Mozzhukhin was born in Penza, Russia and studied law at Moscow State University. In 1910 he left academic life to join a troupe of traveling actors...
, as Mathias Pascal - Marcelle PradotMarcelle PradotMarcelle Pradot was a French actress who worked principally in silent films. She was born at Montmorency, Val-d'Oise, near Paris. At the age of 18 while she was taking classes in dancing and singing in Paris, she was asked by Marcel L'Herbier to appear in his film Le Bercail...
, as Romilde - Lois MoranLois MoranLois Moran was an American film actress.She was born Lois Darlington Dowlin in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and died in Sedona, Arizona.-Short career:...
as Adrienne Paléari - Marthe MellotMarthe Mellot-Selected filmography:* Les Misérables * The Last Billionaire * Justin de Marseille * Land Without Stars * The Scarlet Bazaar -External links:...
, as Madame Pascal - Michel SimonMichel SimonMichel Simon , was a Swiss actor. The actor François Simon is his son.-Early years:...
, as Jérôme Pomino - Jean Hervé, as Terence Papiano
- Pierre BatcheffPierre BatcheffPierre Batcheff was a French actor. His best-known film was Un chien andalou by Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dali...
, as Scipion Papiano
Reception
The film received its first screening in Paris in July 1925. Because of its length, it had to be shown in two parts, which L'Herbier felt was damaging to its impact. Nevertheless, it was mostly well-received by both critics and public, and overall it represented the best contemporary success that L'Herbier had with any of his films. It also received distribution abroad (rarely for a French film of the period).The receipts of the film were valued at 1,219,026 francs; around two-thirds of this amount was earned outside France.