The Mad Night of Théodore [Robert Saidreau - Chapter 5]

To read the previous chapter of this essay on the work of director Robert Saidreau, click here.

Which director?

In the film of June 20, 1919, a corporate advertisement from Delac & Vandal who produced the film (hence Le Film d'Art) identifies the film as "the first film in a series interpreted by Boucot". But nothing identifies one director over another.
It was not until May 1920 that "Mr. Candé" [Adolphe Candé] was identified as the director. As of this date, the film has not yet been presented, let alone released. One might wonder why it took a year to make a small short film.
The Modern Sites magazine, which mentions Jane Marken's participation in the film, declares it also directed by Adolphe Candé.

 

Ciné Pour Tous announces on August 15, 1919 that this is "the first film in the series that Boucot is shooting" and on January 24, 1920, that "Mr. Saidreau shot for the Film d'Art with Boucot and Louise Lagrange La folle nuit de Théodore. We will see that this publication is to be taken with caution because it raises many questions, being in potential contradiction with what one finds elsewhere. Either the author confuses the film with Boucot's next one (which does not not explain everything), or the statement is true and the genesis of the film must have been complicated.

However, La Cinématographie Française identifies La Première Idylle de Boucot (Boucot's First Love) on July 31 as the start of a potential series, and not as a second episode. Incidentally, the periodical confirms that Louise Lagrange stars in this film (also?).
It is not, however, the same film. The separate release of the two films is attested.

 

Thus, two facts are disturbing:

• La folle nuit de Théodore is announced once the shooting is finished as being directed by Saidreau, then by Candé.
• The two successive films with Boucot in which he plays a different character are presented at the same time as the first of a series, but neither of the two seems to have relaunched the career of the pre-war comic (he was Babylas and Pénard in series of pranks) which will then not run for 10 years.

Bad reviews

On May 22, 1920, La Cinématographie Française informs us that it is 415 meters long, that it is distributed by the Agence Générale Cinématographique, that Ms. Marken played the role of the usherette, unworthy of her talent, that it is well staged and well interpreted, but that the scenario of MG Arnould and Bousquet is distressing. "To think that they got together to sign this scenario!"
Ciné-Club tells us that vaudeville was screened at Lecourbe in the 15th arrondissement on June 18, 1920 and at the Alhambra de Billancourt on September 24, 1920. It also criticizes the film by calling it "a very sad comic ", and says "never has we seen any audience laughing in front of a drunken scene. "
There are still screenings of the film until Wednesday February 21, 1923 in Finistère!

The story

On May 29, 1920, the story of La folle nuit de Théodore by L'Agence Générale Cinématographique is given : Théodore, "sweet and stubborn drunkard", was thrown into the street by his father, ulcerated by his idleness. The confused hero, thinking of making his home at the Hotel Edouard VII, actually enters the theater of the same name, where he is granted a bathtub to please him. A story which, in fact, hardly lends itself to a title of "first Idyll". So there is no mistaking the two films.

In the end, it is not clear if Saidreau actually took part in the making of this film or not or if the doubt is due only to the lack of rigor of a journalist. In any case, it was not he who signed it. I notice that it was at this time that Saidreau went from Art Film to Eclipse (where he also directed the Chalumeau series). Candé, who is more often an actor than a director and has apparently never gone back behind the camera again after that, could be a figurehead following the departure of Saidreau from his production house.

To read the next chapter on the work of director Robert Saidreau, click here.

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That's all for today folks! See you soon !