SKU 6177
Availability

CARMEN (1926) * with switchable English subtitles *

Jacques Feyder, Prosper Mérimée Raquel Meller ... Carmen Fred Louis Lerch Fred Louis Lerch ... José Lizarrabengoa (as Louis Lerch) Gaston Modot Gaston Modot ... García 'El Tuerto' Jean Murat Jean Murat ... Officier Victor Vina Victor Vina ... Le Dancaire Guerrero de Xandoval Guerrero de Xandoval ... Lucas, le picador (as Guerrero de Sandoval) Charles Barrois Charles Barrois ... Lillas Pastia Georges Lampin Georges Lampin ... Contrebandier Raymond Guérin-Catelain Raymond Guérin-Catelain ... Duc d'El Chorbas Andrée Canti Andrée Canti ... Une femme Rest of cast listed alphabetically: Luis Buñuel Luis Buñuel ... Contrebandier chez lillas pastia Pedro de Hidalgo Pedro de Hidalgo ... El Remendado Arthur Duarte Arthur Duarte Charles Morat Charles Morat ... Officier Joaquim Peindo Joaquim Peindo ... Guitar player (as Joaquín Peinado)
$15.99

This silent version of Carmen by-passes Bizet and goes back to the Prosper Mérimée novel, thus differing from versions by DeMille, Lubitsch, Peter Brook and others. Instead of femme fatale Carmen bringing ruination to an innocent soldier, you get generous, not very bright Carmen coming into the orbit of a Don Jose, who combines good looks and a lethally macho temperament. Feyder adopts a naturalistic approach, and although at first one fears that Meller is going to spend the entire film striding about with her hands on her hips, she soon settles into the most low key Carmen of the lot. Among the colourful desperados roistering in Lillas Pastia's tavern, a young Luis Buñuel is eminently recognizable. It may not be Bizet's music in the background, but the accompanying soundtrack is --- unusual for many silent film music --- classically enjoyable in itself.

DVD-R has French intertitles with switchable English subtitles.  Approx. 159 mins.  See film samples for sound and video quality!  

 

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