The Secret Spring

Expressing post-war cultural internationalism, this silent film follows the mysterious Orchid and the man who loves her.

Directed by Léonce Perret.

A charming little couple is watched by the misfortune that hides under the disturbing and enigmatic features of a femme fatale.

During a transvestite ball, a young provincial meets Fanny Legrand. A great love is born between them. Later, the young man learns that Fanny was a great coquette. He leaves her, he comes back, he forgives. But when he embarks for America, Fanny does not follow him.

La Possession is a 1929 French film directed by Léonce Perret.

Based on the dutch paintings of lacemakers of the same time - the film depicts a poor woman's strive for money to be able to marry her beloved; doing so by entering a local lacing competition.

Ninon, a veteran stage artist, resides in her villa in Provence, surrounded by admirers as veteran or more than her. A film crew arrives at the gardens of the town to film some scenes in that beautiful spot. The director and screenwriter of the team will notice the charms of Ninon.

The bright junior lieutenant Jacques Mareuil, son of an admiral, is stationed in one of our great military ports, and is neighbors with the young Suzie Darvel, who has opted for a career as an opera singer. Having a great knowledge of music himself, the navy officer, who finds the girl’s voice quite interesting, writes her a melody, making it a gift to her. That same day, he receives orders to set sail, putting an end to the beautiful love story which had just begun. Three years later, junior lieutenant Jacques Mareuil returns to Paris. While attending a performance of Carmen, he recognizes the interpreter of the Bizet character as his lovely neighbor from the past. Jacques Mareuil falls in love with the great singer and wants to marry her. His father is however categorically opposed to the decision, and with the aid of one his colleagues at the Naval Department, he obtains an immediate departure to Indochina for Jacques.

This charming short film was shot in the Camargue, probably in the same place where Jean Durand filmed his cowboy movies. The plot is very simple. A guardian falls in love with a Parisian. Desperate, he commits suicide when she returns to the capital. But, as always with Perret, we appreciate the framing, the skilful use of the exteriors and the documentary side of life of the time. We see the young Arlesianas in traditional dress go out to collect almonds and return with their baskets to the city. The actor in the role of the guardian overreacts, imitating bombastic despair. But the finale, in which he rides a horse through the waves to find the rest of death, preserves its charm intact. Perret knows how to set the rhythm of a sequence and give it the necessary atmosphere.

While visiting a small village, popular young artist Robert Williams meets innocent country girl Helen Sanderson and, enchanted by her beauty, induces the girl to pose for him. An attraction develops between them, but just as the portrait is completed, Robert is called back to the city. Helen fails to hear from him again and Robert's neglect draws her to the city, where she is sent to a reformatory on a false charge. Once released, she begs Judge Princeton for help and, feeling sorry for the unfortunate girl, he introduces her to playwright George Wendbourg, who adopts Helen and makes her a great actress. Seeing Helen on stage reawakens Robert's love for her and he begs her for forgiveness. After initially snubbing him, Helen relents and the two finally are reunited.

A mysterious evildoer terrifies the French Riviera. That mysterious character, which is hidden under the personality of James Pearce, a diamond-maker, calls himself The Black X. This time, the Black X has noticed the rich jewels of a celebrated singer and, in the company of her henchmen, is preparing to carry out the great robbery.