Cinema
The Inhuman Woman
L'Inhumaine
Marcel L'Herbier · 1924
Synopsis
Claire Lescot, a famous singer, receives in her villa a court of admirers whom she treats with the same coldness and whom she readily mocks. Among them are a maharajah, Djorah de Nopur, and a young Swedish engineer, Einar Norsen. Rejected, Norsen has it believed that he has killed himself, and the singer, held responsible for this death, sees public opinion turn against her, while the rivalries among her suitors grow bitter.
Context
The film owes a great deal to Georgette Leblanc, who plays the singer and provided half of the financing. The director gathered around her Mallet-Stevens for the architecture, Fernand Léger for the laboratory, Cavalcanti and Autant-Lara for the interior sets, Paul Poiret for the costumes and Darius Milhaud for the music. The concert scene was shot on 4 October 1923 at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, before some two thousand extras. Lobster Films restored it in 4K, with its original tints.
Who it is for
A silent film of about two hours, best seen in the restored version; the sets count as much as the plot.
Prizes and reception
Tumultuous on its release, when members of the audience came to blows, it has become a reference for Art Deco on screen.
Sources for this page 4
The pages consulted to check this page.