The Five Accursed Gentlemen

Plot

In a bustling Tunisian bazaar, five French gentlemen - led by the arrogant Count de Saint-Hubert - cruelly humiliate an elderly Arab merchant after refusing to pay for goods. Enraged by their disrespect, the merchant places a deadly curse upon them, foretelling that each will die in the order they were chosen, within a specific timeframe. The men dismiss this as superstition and return to Paris, but when the first gentleman dies exactly as predicted, terror grips the group. As each subsequent death occurs with supernatural precision, the remaining men descend into paranoia and madness, desperately trying to break the curse while their numbers dwindle. The film culminates in a dramatic confrontation where the final gentleman must face his fate and seek redemption for their collective sins.

Historical Background

The Five Accursed Gentlemen was produced in 1920, during a period of significant transition in French cinema. France was recovering from World War I, and the film industry was rebuilding after years of disruption. This era saw a surge in French film production, with filmmakers exploring new genres and techniques. The film emerged during the golden age of French silent cinema, when directors like Abel Gance and Marcel L'Herbier were pushing artistic boundaries. The popularity of exotic adventure stories reflected French society's fascination with colonial territories and Orientalist themes. The film's exploration of supernatural elements also coincided with a growing interest in psychological horror and the occult in post-war European culture, as audiences grappled with the trauma and uncertainties following the Great War.

Making Of

The production of 'The Five Accursed Gentlemen' took place during a pivotal moment in French cinema history. Director Luitz-Morat, who had transitioned from theater to film, brought theatrical sensibilities to the production, emphasizing dramatic performances and elaborate staging. The film was shot at the Joinville studios, which were among the most advanced in Europe at the time. The Tunisian bazaar sequences required months of preparation, with set designers studying photographs and descriptions of actual North African markets. The cast underwent extensive preparation for their roles, with Luitz-Morat insisting on method-style acting techniques that were unusual for the period. The film's special effects, particularly those depicting the supernatural elements of the curse, were achieved through in-camera techniques and multiple exposures, creating eerie visual effects that terrified audiences of the time.

Visual Style

The cinematography, credited to Georges Lucas and Paul Guichard, employed innovative techniques for its time. The film utilized dramatic lighting contrasts to create an atmosphere of impending doom, particularly in scenes depicting the curse's effects. The camera work included dynamic movements and unusual angles that heightened the psychological tension, especially during the death sequences. The Tunisian bazaar scenes featured complex compositions with multiple layers of action, showcasing the technical prowess of French cinematography in 1920. The film made effective use of close-ups to emphasize the psychological states of the cursed characters, a technique that was still relatively new in cinema at the time.

Innovations

The film featured several technical innovations for its time, particularly in its approach to creating supernatural effects. The production team developed new techniques for multiple exposure photography to create ghostly images representing the curse's influence. The film also pioneered the use of rapid editing during the death sequences to create a sense of chaos and inevitability. The set design for the Tunisian bazaar was considered technically impressive, featuring moving parts and interactive elements that allowed for complex choreography of crowd scenes. The film's lighting design was particularly advanced, using shadows and highlights to create psychological effects that enhanced the horror elements.

Music

As a silent film, 'The Five Accursed Gentlemen' would have been accompanied by live musical performances during its theatrical run. The original score was composed by Henri Bérard, who specialized in music for dramatic films. The score featured Orientalist motifs to accompany the North African sequences, transitioning to more dissonant, modernist compositions during the supernatural and death scenes. Theater orchestras were provided with detailed cue sheets indicating when to change musical themes to match the on-screen action. The music was crucial in building tension and signaling the supernatural elements of the story, particularly since the film relied on visual storytelling without dialogue.

Memorable Scenes

• The opening bazaar scene where the five gentlemen cruelly mock the elderly merchant, leading to the curse being placed upon them
• The first death sequence, which occurs exactly as predicted, shocking the remaining gentlemen into believing the supernatural threat
• The psychological breakdown scene where the remaining gentlemen turn on each other in paranoia and fear
• The final confrontation where the last gentleman must face his predetermined fate and seek atonement

What Critics Said

Contemporary French critics praised the film for its atmospheric tension and innovative visual techniques. Le Film Complet highlighted the film's 'masterful creation of suspense' and particularly commended Luitz-Morat's direction and performance. Critics noted the film's effective use of studio sets to create an authentic exotic atmosphere. However, some reviewers criticized the film's reliance on supernatural elements as mere sensationalism. Modern film historians have reassessed the work as an important early example of French horror cinema, though acknowledging its colonial-era problematic elements. The film is now recognized for its technical achievements in creating mood and atmosphere within the constraints of silent cinema.

What Audiences Thought

The film was a commercial success upon its release in France, particularly appealing to audiences seeking thrilling entertainment in the post-war period. Contemporary reports indicate that the film's suspenseful narrative and shocking death sequences created strong reactions in theaters, with some audience members reportedly fainting during particularly intense scenes. The film's popularity extended beyond France to other European countries, where it was marketed as an exotic horror adventure. Modern audiences, when able to view the film through rare screenings or archives, often appreciate it as a fascinating artifact of early horror cinema, though some find its pacing slow by contemporary standards and its cultural representations dated.

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