La chute de la maison Usher (1928)

Director:

Jean Epstein

Writers:

Edgar Allan Poe (story) and
Luis Buñuel (adaptation)

Release Date:

5 October 1928 (France)

Genre:

Drama | Horror

Plot:

Allan has a hard time finding the Usher's house, which is known to be cursed... But he is a personal friend of Roderick Usher...

Plot Keywords:

Friend | Painting | Portrait | Funeral | Goth

Cast

Jean Debucourt	...	Sir Roderick Usher
Marguerite Gance	...	Madeleine Usher
Charles Lamy	...	Allan, The Guest
Fournez-Goffard	...	The doctor
Luc Dartagnan
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Abel Gance
Halma
Pierre Hot
Pierre Kefer

Also Known As:

The Fall of the House of Usher (International: English title)
A Queda da Casa de Usher (Brazil) [pt]
Der Untergang des Hauses Usher (Germany) [de]
La caduta della casa Usher (Italy) [it]
Upadek domu Usherów (Poland) [pl]
Usherin talon häviö (Finland) [fi]

Runtime:

63 min

Country:

France | USA

Language:

French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Company:

Films Jean Epstein

Trivia:

Luis Buñuel, who was Assistant Director, quit the picture after clashing with producer/director Jean Epstein over Epstein's decision to basically ignore Edgar Allan Poe's story.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Corpse Bride (2005)

Impressive Gothic Silent Movie

A stranger called Allan (Charles Lamy) goes to an inn and requests transportation to the House of Usher. The locals remain reluctant, but he gets a coach to transport him to the place. He is the sole friend of Roderick Usher (Jean Debucourt), who leaves in the eerie house with his sick wife Madeleine Usher (Marguerite Gance) and her doctor (Fournez-Goffard). Madeleine is the beloved muse and model and is being painted by Roderick. When she dies, Roderick does not accept her death, and in a dark night, Madeleine returns.

For those like me that have not read the story of Edgar Allan Poe, the conclusion of "La Chute de la Maison Usher" is quite confused. However, the Gothic cinematography is very impressive, recalling the German Expressionism. It is amazing how Jean Epstein was able to produce such atmosphere, considering the primitive technology of 1928, with difficulties in lighting, sensibility of films, edition table and portability of cameras. However, the shadows and lights are really amazing in this black and white film. This movie was the first work of Luis Buñuel in the cinema industry, working as assistant of Jean Epstein. Just as a curiosity, the resemblance of Charles Lamy with Carlos Alberto Parreira, the coach of the Brazilian soccer team, is incredible. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "A Queda da Casa de Usher" ("The Fall of the House of Usher")