Barrabas

Plot

In this gripping 12-chapter serial, the notorious criminal mastermind Rudolph Strelitz, known as 'Barrabas,' leads a brutal underground gang that terrorizes civilized society through elaborate schemes and violent crimes. The story centers on lawyer Claude Varèse, who becomes obsessed with bringing Strelitz to justice after his father was wrongfully executed for the murder of Laure d'Hérigny, mistress of an American millionaire. As Claude investigates the criminal organization, his sister Françoise becomes the target of Barrabas's henchmen, particularly the sinister Dr. Lucius who kidnaps her as part of their criminal operations. The narrative unfolds through a series of thrilling episodes as Claude races against time to expose Barrabas's network while attempting to rescue his sister, leading to confrontations, betrayals, and a final showdown between the determined lawyer and the criminal mastermind. The serial format allows for complex plot developments, with each chapter building upon the previous to create an elaborate web of crime, revenge, and justice in post-World War I France.

Historical Background

'Barrabas' was produced in 1919, during a pivotal moment in French and world history. The film emerged in the immediate aftermath of World War I, a conflict that had devastated France and profoundly affected its society and culture. The war had accelerated technological changes in cinema while also disrupting production schedules and resources. This period saw French cinema struggling to maintain its pre-war dominance in the face of growing American competition. The film's themes of social disorder, criminal networks, and questions of justice resonated with a French society grappling with the war's aftermath, including social upheaval, political instability, and a sense of moral ambiguity. The serial format itself reflected the changing nature of entertainment in the early 20th century, as cinema competed with other media for audience attention. Feuillade's work, including 'Barrabas,' represents a crucial bridge between early cinema and the more sophisticated narrative forms that would emerge in the 1920s.

Making Of

Louis Feuillade, already established as one of France's pioneering directors, brought his expertise in serial filmmaking to 'Barrabas.' The production reunited many of the creative team from his earlier successful serials, creating continuity in style and approach. Filming took place at Gaumont's studios in Paris, with location shooting around the city to provide authentic urban backdrops for the criminal underworld story. The cast, particularly Fernand Herrmann as Barrabas, had to convey complex character motivations and emotions through the limited means of silent film acting. The production faced the typical challenges of post-WWI French cinema, including limited resources and the need to create spectacular effects on modest budgets. Feuillade's direction emphasized suspense and narrative momentum, using techniques he had refined over years of serial production to keep audiences engaged across the 12-week release schedule. The kidnapping scenes and criminal conspiracies required careful choreography and planning to maintain credibility while delivering the thrills expected by serial audiences.

Visual Style

The cinematography of 'Barrabas' employed techniques typical of Gaumont productions in the late 1910s, utilizing the available technology to create atmospheric and suspenseful visuals. The film likely made use of location shooting in Paris to provide authentic urban settings for the criminal underworld story, contrasting with the controlled environment of studio sets for interior scenes. Camera work would have been relatively static by modern standards, but with careful composition and lighting to enhance the mood of each scene. The cinematographer would have employed techniques such as backlighting and shadow play to create the sense of mystery and danger essential to the crime genre. The serial format required visual consistency across episodes while maintaining interest through varied locations and situations. Night scenes, important for the criminal elements of the story, would have been filmed using available light techniques or early artificial lighting methods. The visual style would have emphasized clarity of narrative over artistic experimentation, as was common in popular serials of the period, while still incorporating sophisticated techniques learned from years of cinematic development.

Innovations

While 'Barrabas' may not represent major technical breakthroughs in cinema, it demonstrated sophisticated application of existing techniques for serial storytelling. The film's production across 12 episodes required careful continuity management and narrative planning, representing an achievement in long-form storytelling for the era. The kidnapping scenes and criminal conspiracies likely involved special effects techniques common to the period, including matte shots and early compositing methods. The film's urban location shooting in post-WWI Paris presented technical challenges in terms of equipment mobility and lighting control. The production maintained visual consistency across multiple episodes while introducing new locations and situations, requiring careful coordination of cinematography and set design. The film's pacing across its serial format represents an achievement in narrative structure, balancing cliffhanger endings with progressive story development. While not groundbreaking in technical terms, 'Barrabas' exemplified the mature state of French commercial filmmaking in the late 1910s and the sophisticated application of existing cinematic techniques to popular entertainment.

Music

As a silent film, 'Barrabas' would have been accompanied by live musical performance during its original theatrical run. The typical practice in French cinemas of 1919 would have involved a pianist or small ensemble providing improvised or compiled music to accompany the action on screen. The score would have followed the conventions of silent film accompaniment, with dramatic music for action sequences, romantic themes for emotional scenes, and suspenseful motifs for the criminal elements. Specific musical compositions written for this film, if any, have not survived in the historical record. The music would have played a crucial role in maintaining audience engagement across the 12 episodes and enhancing the emotional impact of key scenes such as the kidnapping sequences. Modern screenings of the surviving portions typically feature newly composed scores or carefully selected period-appropriate music. The absence of recorded sound means that modern viewers experience the film differently from original audiences, who benefited from live musical accompaniment tailored to each screening.

Memorable Scenes

• The dramatic kidnapping of Françoise Varèse by Dr. Lucius, showcasing the criminal network's ruthlessness and Claude Varèse's desperation
• The revelation of Barrabas's true identity and his connection to the wrongful execution of Claude's father
• The climactic confrontation between Claude Varèse and Barrabas, bringing the revenge plot to its resolution

What Critics Said

Contemporary critical reception of 'Barrabas' in 1919 appears to have been generally positive, with critics recognizing Feuillade's mastery of the serial format and his ability to maintain audience engagement across multiple episodes. French film publications of the era praised the film's suspenseful narrative and the performances of its lead actors, particularly Fernand Herrmann's portrayal of the criminal mastermind. Some critics noted the film's reflection of post-war social anxieties, though this was not always seen as a positive attribute. Modern critics and film historians have reassessed 'Barrabas' as an important work in Feuillade's oeuvre, though its incomplete survival status has limited comprehensive analysis. Those who have studied the existing portions note the film's sophisticated narrative structure and its role in the development of crime cinema. The film is often discussed in the context of Feuillade's broader contribution to cinema and the evolution of the serial format. While not as celebrated as 'Fantômas' or 'Les Vampires,' 'Barrabas' is recognized by scholars as a significant work that demonstrates the continued evolution of Feuillade's cinematic vision.

What Audiences Thought

Audience reception to 'Barrabas' in 1919 appears to have been strong, following the pattern of Feuillade's previous successful serials. The 12-episode format encouraged weekly cinema attendance as viewers followed the ongoing adventures and misadventures of the characters. Contemporary accounts suggest that French audiences were drawn to the film's suspenseful narrative and the charismatic villainy of Barrabas himself. The kidnapping plotline involving Françoise Varèse likely proved particularly compelling for audiences of the era. The film's themes of justice and revenge resonated with post-war French viewers who were grappling with questions of morality and social order. While specific box office figures are unavailable, the film's production by Gaumont and release as a major serial suggests confidence in its commercial potential. Modern audiences have limited access to the complete film due to its partially lost status, but film enthusiasts and scholars who have seen the surviving portions generally appreciate its historical significance and narrative sophistication. The film remains of interest primarily to cinema historians and fans of early French crime cinema rather than general contemporary audiences.

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