The Mystery of the Eiffel Tower

1927 Drama 129 minutes Directed by Julien Duvivier

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About The Mystery of the Eiffel Tower

The Mironton brothers do a fake-Siamese act on a fairground stage. Bramard dies in America and leaves a fortune to one of them, Achille Saturnin, a decent man whose girl is the dancer Sylvanie and whose companion is young Réginald. Saturnin’s double is not decent. He hears of the will first, pretends to be Saturnin, and takes the money. Sir William Dewitt, head of the Companions of the Antenna, who expected Bramard’s estate, sets out to remove the false brother. He seizes the Eiffel Tower’s radio long enough to send a coded message to his people across Europe. Tramel plays the Mironton brothers. Julien Duvivier directed.

Cast & crew

More about The Mystery of the Eiffel Tower

Alfred Machard and Duvivier wrote it. Charles Delac and Marcel Vandal produced. René Guichard and Armand Thirard photographed it. Fernand Delattre designed the sets. English Wikipedia dates the French release 6 January 1928 and times the film at 129 minutes. The Cinémathèque française files the production year as 1927 and the same opening date. This record’s year is 1927. The company is Le Film d’Art, not a Société des Films Abel Gance credit.

Themes

  • A fairground double
  • A stolen inheritance
  • A coded message from the Eiffel Tower
  • Mironton
  • Achille Saturnin
  • Eiffel Tower
  • Sir William Dewitt
  • Sylvanie
  • Duvivier

Making

Duvivier uses the tower as a radio station the villains occupy, not as a climb. Delattre built the sets. The picture opened in Paris on 6 January 1928 after a 1927 production.

Look

René Guichard and Armand Thirard shot the fairground, the double, and the tower’s radio room.

Notes

  • Régine Bouet plays Sylvanie. Gaston Jacquet plays Sir William Dewitt. Jimmy Gaillard plays Réginald. Jean Diéner plays Frakas.
  • The brothers’ act is a fake Siamese turn, which is why a double can pass for the heir.
  • An Internet Archive identifier uses the French title and the year 1928.
  • André Berthomieu is the assistant director on the Cinémathèque credit list.

Scenes

  • The brothers perform as fake Siamese twins.
  • The double takes Saturnin’s inheritance.
  • Dewitt holds the tower radio and sends the coded message.

Also available

  • Internet Archive (le-mystere-de-la-tour-eiffel_1928)