Francine Mussey

Napoleon

A biopic of Napoleon Bonaparte, tracing the Corsican's career from his schooldays (where a snowball fight is staged like a military campaign) to his flight from Corsica, through the French Revolution (where a real storm is intercut with a political storm) and the Terror, culminating in his triumphant invasion of Italy in 1797.

The House of Mystery

Julien Villandrit is the owner of the estate of Les Basses-Bruyères and its textile factory, where the manager is his childhood friend Corradin. Julien marries his neighbour Régine, unaware that Corradin also loves her. Julien is sent to gaol for a murder actually committed by Corradin. The only witness to the truth is the woodsman Rudeberg and Corradin buys his silence by paying for the education of his son Pascal. Julien's struggle to clear his name and to rescue Régine and their daughter Christiane from Corradin's scheming extends over many years and faces many setbacks.

Buridan's Donkey

Georges is a lover of women, of all women, without exception. One fine day, a young girl like no other, a savage, will come into his life. Will Georges fall in love and experience the joys of marriage despite his love of women?

The Crowd Roars

French-language version of Howard Hawks' The Crowd Roars (1932): A race car driver vies with his younger brother, who he'd hoped to keep away from the track, both in competition and for a girl who hangs out with the men. Tragedy results.

The Scar

Six-episode film Directed by Maurice Champreux and Louis Feuillade.

Die Frau die nicht nein sagen kann

Round of Hours

A singer marries a rich girl without her parents' consent. But he loses his voice, and has to leave her. He becomes a clown in a circus.

Le Chiffonnier de Paris

Paris, under the reign of King Louis-Philippe. Jean, a rag-and-bone man, witnesses a murder. The victim begs him to adopt little girl Marie Didier. 20 years later, in 1846, she has grown into a beautiful young lady and works as a seamstress. One night, she is taken to a party where she is insulted by the nasty Baron Hoffmann because she was wearing the dress she had made for his daughter. Dashing Henri de Berville takes her defense.

The Cradle of God

A young intellectual, J. Powers, loses his faith in God after the untimely death of his wife. He devotes his great talents to writing a shockingly blasphemous book, debunking all religion, and then embarks on a trip to Jerusalem. Far from reconciling him to God, the sight of all the different sects worshipping in that ancient city only serves to embitter him and deepen his unbelief. One day, wandering in the country, he loses his way and stops to ask directions at a small house. The inhabitants are a poor but devout family whose daughter, Ruth, revives his broken heart. At the risk of losing her, he confesses to her his loss of faith, and she gently declares that meditation on the Gospels will heal him. He sorrowfully tells her that he wishes he could believe as she does, but it is impossible.

Cláudia