This week’s mystery movie was the 1926 Albatros Cinegraphic film “Feu Mathias Pascal” (“The Late Mathias Pascal”), story by Luigi Pirandello, directed by Marcel l’Herbier, interpreted by Ivan Mosjoukine, Marcelle Pradot, Lois Moran, Marthe Belot, Pauline Carton, Irma Perrot, M. Barsac, Michel Simon, Isaure Douvane, Pierre Batcheff, Georges Terof, Philippe Heriat and Jean Herve.
Sets by d’Alberto Cavalcanti, photography by Guichard, Letort, Bourgassof and Berliet.
Music for restored version composed and conducted by Timothy Brock
A restored version of “Feu Mathias Pascal” released by Flicker Alley is available on Blu-ray from TCM.com.
The Brooklyn Times Union said (March 7, 1927):
A most interesting example of foreign cinematography came to the Guild Theatre yesterday for two performances only. It was “The Living Dead Man,” based on Luigi Pirandello’s story, “The Late Matthew Pascal.”
“The Living Dead Man” was made some three or four years ago, and its showing yesterday was in the nature of a brief American premiere. An exceptionally long film, it was well-directed, and it told a simple story in a decidedly effective way. Its star is Ivan Mosjouskine, now known as Ivan Moskine, and seen recently in “Michael Strogoff.”
…“The Living Dead Man” should have come here long ago. its characters are all excellent, possessing a natural naivete which lends force and realism to their roles. It is a good story, well told, and any imperfections in screen continuity may well be overlooked because of the unending interest of the film itself.
An impressionistic potpourri of flashing lights and shadows, called “Emak Bakia,” directed by Man Ray, and a film [Note: This was “An Autopsy on the Cinema”] showing George Bernard Shaw, Barrie, Pinero, Forbes Robertson and George Alexander, completed the bill.
For Monday, we have a mystery woman.
Update: This is Marthe Belot (often credited as Marthe Mellot).
For Tuesday, we have un homme bien mystérieux.
Update: This is Isaure Douvan
For Wednesday, we have a mystery guest.
Brain Trust roll call: Dan Nather (mystery movie).
Update: This is Michel Simon.
For Jeudi, we have deux femmes bien mystérieux.
Femme tres mystérieux numero un.
Update: This is Marcelle Pradot.
Femme tres mystérieux numero deux, avec son oiseau, aussi mystérieux.
Update: This is Lois Moran.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie, mystery star, Monday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guest), Tucson Barbara (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Thom and Megan (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guest) and Dan Nather (all mystery guests).
And for Friday, our mystery leading man.
Update: This is Ivan Mosjoukine (Ivan Mozzhukhin)
Brain Trust roll call: Tucson Barbara (Thursday’s mystery women), Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mystery women) and Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery women).
I was going to say the movie could be Kind Hearts and Coronets but the fancy mirror looks more American than English.
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An excellent guess, but alas, non. Our mystery movie is earlier.
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Louise Closser Hale.
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A good guess, but alas, non.
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Beryl Mercer on Monday?
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Two votes for Beryl Mercer. But alas, non.
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La Bete Humaine.
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A good guess! But our mystery movie is earlier.
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Beryl Mercer?
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I think this is THE LATE MATHIAS PASCAL . . .
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Which makes Monday’s mystery woman Marthe Mellot, and Tuesday’s mystery gentleman Isaure Douvan.
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Us Feu Mattias Pascal with Ivan Mousjoukine, a great film!
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Michel Simon today.
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The character Monday I think is his mother, Marthe Mellot.
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THE LATE MATHIAS PASCAL (1926)
Monday: Mireille Barsac
Tuesday: Philippe Hériat
Wednesday: Michel Simon
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“The Living Dead Man”
Monday – Marthe Belot*
Tuesday – Isaure Douvan (or Douvane)
Wednesday – Michel Simon
*My research shows that this is her name, not Mellot, as shown in the IMDb.
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Michel Simon for today in Feu Mathias Pascal or The Living Dead Man.
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Wednesday’s curious gentleman is Michel Simon.
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A wild guess here — something by Louis Feuillade like “Fantômas” or “Les Vampires”?
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Marcelle Pradot and Lois Moran
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Mrs. Ivan, Marcelle Pardot and Lois Moran.
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Marcelle Pradot, Lois Moran.
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I am having the greatest time, just reading the clues.
Pour moi, “Aha Jeudi” (or maybe it’s Jeudi aha” in French) has not helped, but what fun. I’m glad so many in the brain trust have solved the name of the movie and guessed the names of the cast.
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Yay, Ivan Mosjoukine! Run my post on him on Saturday.
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Ivan Mozzhukhin (Mosjoukine)
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Thursday’s mystery women are Marcelle Pradot and Lois Moran.
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And last but certainly not least, the great Ivan Mozzhukhin (or Mosjoukine) in the title role.
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Ivan Mosjoukine. IMDB prefers Mozzhukhin.
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I think this is probably a silent movie.I know next to nothing about silent movies. I will take my cue and say nothing.
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C’est Monsieur Jene Connaispersonne!
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