The Viper and other unrealized projects [Robert Saidreau - Chapter 21]

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

The Viper

While he died in early December 1925, his last film, Jack, was not yet released on the screens. However, Robert Saidreau was already working on several other projects. Among them, one was about ready to go before the camera: the adaptation of the love novel La vipère, published in episodes in Le Journal from June 12, 1925, the rights of which were purchased from the author, Gabrielle Réval. The story, as presented to the readers of the newspaper: a woman has a secret on which her happiness depends. A viper stands in her way, hence drama. A shoot is planned in Chamonix in the winter of 1925-1926.
Then comes the death of Saidreau. Cinémagazine revealed much later, on March 9, 1928, that the author then wanted the project to resume quickly with another director, because any delay would postpone at least a year because of the snowmelt, and she had received, to date, only FF10,000 in deposit. As the newspapers reported on February 4, 1926, a provisional administrator, Mr. Goutel, was appointed by the chairman of the summary proceedings, either to take over the film or to resell the rights.
It was not until January 22, 1928 that the press reported that the lawyers Maurice Boy and Robert Loewel announced that an agreement had been reached between the two parties.

Papillon, aka Lyonnais le Juste

In Le Soir of March 9, 1925, when the casting of Thérèse Kolb, ex-member of the Comédie Française for her role in Jack, was announced, it was assured that she would also be part of the cast of Saidreau's next project: the adaptation of the play by "the late Louis Bennière [Louis Benières], which was a great success before the war at the Antoine Theater".
This piece had apparently already been adapted by Henri Pouctal in 1914 and will be adapted as a talkie under the title Bach millionaire. But Saidreau will never realize his version of it.

Mado at The Wheel

Announced as a future production by Robert Saidreau on the cover of Cinémagazine on May 8, 1925 with the star Madeleine Martellet, already present in the cast of Mr. Director. The film was never shot, no doubt canceled by the death of the director.

The Little Civil Servant

Paris Midi, October 18, 1925: "R. Saidreau is credited with the intention of adapting La petite fonctionaire from Alfred Capus." It is Roger Goupillières who takes over the project of his deceased colleague.

Robert Saidreau, The Famous Stranger

This chapter therefore concludes this long exploration of his career as a director. As mentioned at the beginning of this text, his work is largely unknown not only to the general public today, but even to experts of the period. However, it seems obvious to me that his films would have been worth a rediscovery for their own value, as well as for the prestigious artists with whom he has often collaborated. But this obscurity is easily explained: only one of his films seems to have survived to this day (Conjugal Happiness), they often suffer from rather limited press coverage and especially the death of Robert Saidreau at a relatively young age prevented a greater fame beyond the silent era. Nevertheless, I hope to have modestly brought him out of an unjust oblivion here.

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