Le Giornate del Cinema Muto 2005 Sommario / Contents

in the mise-en-scène, and particularly in the skilful deployment of his
players in conversational scenes.
Synopsis: Harry Kernett is deterred from a dawn suicide by the
opportune arrival of some merrymakers. Invited to the home of Lord
Harding, Harry meets Edward, an old friend from Oxford, and confides his
despair as the last of the Kernetts, whose only talents have been living
well and dying beautifully. Harry becomes Lord Harding’s secretary.
When Harding becomes bankrupt, his only solution seems to be to marry
his daughter Hella to the rich Colonel Douglas. Harry opposes this,
knowing that Edward and Hella are in love. Harding explains that he has
squandered the fortune of his foster-daughter, Mary, and must retrieve it
within the year, before she comes of age and returns from her world
travels. Harry offers Harding a solution: if Harding insures Harry’s life for
£100,000, he will die in one year, on 15 September. Harding reluctantly
accepts.
It is at this point that the surviving fragment begins: Harry goes
to India to pursue the pleasure of the East. He is captivated by the beauty
of a mysterious Indian woman, whom he later sees on a boat on the
Ganges. He meets her again in Madras, and importunes her in her hotel
room.When he learns that she is Princess Halasdane, Harry leaves her,
but the following day receives an invitation to her yacht. The Princess
introduces him to an Indian doctor, Hyttara Sahib, who is jealous and
hostile until Harry reveals to him his need to die. After this the two
become friends.
Here the fragment ends. The original conclusion of the story
was as follows: At dawn on the date appointed for his death, Harry is
at the Eccentric Club in Paris. Hyttara Sahib arrives with poison which he
promises will take him painlessly to Nirvana.The next day Harding arrives
in Paris, seeking to prevent Harry’s death. He seeks out his fosterdaughter
and confesses his extravagance and Harry’s sacrifice. Mary,
however, pulls back a curtain to reveal Harry and Hyttara Sahib, who
reassures Harding that he has only given Harry a sleeping-pill. Harry
wakes; Hyttara Sahib takes off his beard to reveal that he is Edward; while
Mary and Princess Halasdane are recognized as one and the same. –
GYONGHI BALOGH, DAVID ROBINSON
A SKORPIÓ I-II (Der Skorpion I-II./Gewissenlose Bestien)
[LO SCORPIONE / THE SCORPION] (Phönix, HU 1918)
Re./dir: Mihály Kertész; scen: Iván Siklósi; f./ph: József Bécsi; cast: Mihály
Várkonyi, Jenö Balassa, Kläry Lotto, Lajos Réthey, Margit T. Halmi,
Zoltán Szerémy, Viktor Costa, Oly Spolarits; dist: Projectograph;
ppp/rel: 11.11.1918 & 15.11.1918 (Royal-Apolló, Budapest), 3.1.1919 &
10.1.1919 (Vienna); lg. or./orig. l: 1700 m.; frammento sopravvissuto
/surviving fragment: 35mm, 100 m., 4’20” (20 fps), Magyar Nemzeti
Filmarchivum / Hungarian National Film Archive.
Didascalie in tedesco / German intertitles.
Protagonista di A skorpió (uscito in origine in due episodi) era il
giovane Mihály Várkonyi (1891-1976), che, come lo stesso Kertész,
emigrò dopo il crollo della Repubblica Ungherese del 1919 per
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rifarsi una carriera a Hollywood con il nuovo nome di Victor Varconi.
Várkonyi interpreta Jean Morell, un vagabondo che trova rifugio in
quel che sembra un castello abbandonato. Benché il posto sembri
deserto, vi è un fuoco che brucia e la tavola è apparecchiata. Sul
pavimento c’è un morto. Il vagabondo cerca di fuggire, ma scopre
che le porte sono ora chiuse a chiave. Mentre raccoglie il coltello
insanguinato abbandonato accanto al cadavere, arriva la polizia che
lo arresta. Accusato dell’omicidio del conte d’Orville, egli viene
incarcerato.
Nella cella accanto alla sua è detenuto il valletto del conte, Pierre,
complice del vero assassino – il cugino del defunto. Pierre aveva
approfittato della situazione per rubare il tesoro del conte e per
questo era finito in prigione. Jean e Pierre cercano di fuggire insieme,
ma Pierre viene ucciso. Jean, invece, riesce a recuperare il tesoro
rubato e se ne torna al castello per vendicarsi del vero omicida.
Spacciandosi per l’erede legittimo, si trasferisce così nella dimora.
Una notte, il cugino del conte entra nella stanza dove aveva avuto
luogo l’assassinio e spara a Jean, l’unico a conoscenza della sua
colpevolezza. Curato dalla figlia dell’intendente, Jean si riprende dalle
ferit e trova il testamento del conte, riuscendo ca dimostrare che,
per via della sua condotta dissoluta, il cugino era stato diseredato a
favore del suo stesso figlio, da tempo scomparso.
Dopo la guarigione di Jean, viene data in suo onore una festa in
giardino. L’assassino segue il giovane nella sua stanza e cerca di
ucciderlo. Nella colluttazione, il cattivo scorge un amuleto a forma
di scorpione al collo di Jean e comprende che si tratta di suo figlio.
Tormetnato dal rimorso per averlo mandato in prigione e per avere
ora tentato di ucciderlo, fugge dal castello nel mezzo di una violenta
bufera e viene ucciso da un fulmine.
Il frammento superstite consiste di due scene del rullo finale: (1) la
festa in onore di Jean; (2) la fuga dal castello del cattivo pieno di
rimorsi e la sua morte. – GYONGHI BALOGH, DAVID ROBINSON
A skorpió (originally released in two episodes) starred the young Mihály
Várkonyi (1891-1976), who, like Kertész himself, emigrated after the
collapse of the Hungarian Republic of Councils in 1919, and eventually
made his career in Hollywood, under the new name of Victor Varconi.
Várkonyi plays Jean Morell, a wanderer who seeks shelter in what appears
to be an abandoned castle. Though the place seems deserted, a fire is
burning and the table is set. On the floor he sees a dead man. He tries to
flee, but finds the doors now locked. As he is picking up the bloody knife
beside the body, police rush in and apprehend him. He is convicted of the
murder of the Count d’Orville.
In the next cell is imprisoned the Count’s valet, Pierre, the accomplice of
the real killer, the cousin of the count: Pierre himself had taken the
opportunity to steal the count’s treasure, which has resulted in his
imprisonment. Jean and Pierre attempt to escape together, but Pierre is
shot. Jean, however, retrieves the stolen treasure, and returns to the castle
to seek revenge on the real murderer. Posing as the legal heir, he moves
into the castle. One night the count’s cousin enters the room where the
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