Carmen (1926)

Carmen has neither a past nor a future. She lives only in the present. For her love is of no importance, just a passing whim. Love's essence is precisely the variability that Don José hate ... See full summary »

Director:

Jacques Feyder

Writers:

Jacques Feyder, Prosper Mérimée (novel)

Stars:

Raquel Meller, Fred Louis Lerch, Gaston Modot

Cast

Credited cast:
Raquel Meller	...	Carmen
Fred Louis Lerch	...	José Lizarrabengoa (as Louis Lerch)
Gaston Modot	...	García 'El Tuerto'
Jean Murat	...	Officier
Victor Vina	...	Le Dancaire
Guerrero de Xandoval	...	Lucas, le picador (as Guerrero de Sandoval)
Charles Barrois	...	Lillas Pastia
Georges Lampin	...	Contrebandier
Raymond Guérin-Catelain	...	Duc d'El Chorbas
Andrée Canti	...	Une femme
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Luis Buñuel	...	Contrebandier chez lillas pastia
Pedro de Hidalgo	...	El Remendado
Arthur Duarte
Charles Morat	...	Officier
Joaquim Peindo	...	Guitar player (as Joaquín Peinado)

Storyline

Carmen has neither a past nor a future. She lives only in the present. For her love is of no importance, just a passing whim. Love's essence is precisely the variability that Don José hate most of all. This version is filmed in Spain, far from picturesque style, instead dry and tragic.

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Plot Keywords:

based on novel | character name in title | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

5 May 1928 (USA)

Also Known As:

カルメン（1926）

Filming Locations:

Ronda, Málaga, Andalucía, Spain

Company Credits

Production Co:

Films Albatros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min 165 min (restored)

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Version of Carmen (2000)

User Reviews

Triumph Of Art Direction

There are some stories that after the pass of time are considered classics for different reasons, stories well-known even to longhaired youngsters such as Prosper Merimée's "Carmen". So it won't be necessary to repeat that it is a story about a gypsy that was employed as spy, smuggler, cigar maker… and many lovers too, with a special fond for military men and toreadors and all this around typical Andalusia.

The famous Merimée novel was adapted by the great francophone director Herr Jacques Feyder in what was a very important big budget production (it seems that Herr Feyder specialized in this kind of expensive film). It was a film that was filmed in many locations in Spain and France. The film starred the famous Spanish singer at that time, Dame Raquel Meller; but unfortunately those vocal gifts that made her famous couldn't be displayed in this important silent film. Some people even said that Dame Meller was an actress too but this asseveration is very hard to prove.

Dame Meller was also in accordance with the spirit included in Merimée novel, an oeuvre full of topics about Andalusia, wrongly attributed to the rest of Spain than even persists today. Surprising are those facts to this Northern German count, due to the fact that the Spanish singer had such a particular and strong personality but scarce knowledge, that is to say actually, the perfect combination in order to perform Merimée's heroine.

Herr Feyder uses a gallery of topics, without apology, in a non-caricature kind of way (that's one of the most important merits about Feyder's "Carmen": it is an original adaptation in spite its literary roots and well-known story). It is another excellent film by the director. In "Carmen" the decor and scenery are perfectly chosen and punctilious showed. It is a triumph of art direction in every shot for a film that in spite of being inspired by a well-known novel, is not a pastiche or a simple adaptation. The almost three hours spent viewing the film are nearly imperceptible even for a impatient German Count.

And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count doesn't like untrue asseveration as, for example about decadent aristocrats of leisure.

Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galitzien http://ferdinandvongalitzien.blogspot.com/