Moulin Rouge (1928 film)
| Industry | Film production |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Elstree , United Kingdom |
Key people | Ewald André Dupont (director) |
| Products | Films |
Moulin Rouge is a 1928 British sound drama directed by Ewald André Dupont, featuring performances by Olga Chekhova, Eve Gray, and Jean Bradin. Although it contains no spoken dialogue, the film incorporates a synchronized musical soundtrack and sound effects utilizing both sound-on-disc and sound-on-film methods. The narrative unfolds around the famous Moulin Rouge cabaret located in Paris.
Plot
Andre and his fiancée Margaret attend a show at the Moulin Rouge nightclub, where they watch the star performer Parysia—whom Margaret reveals to be her mother. After the performance, the couple meets Parysia backstage to discuss Andre and Margaret’s relationship, which initially faces opposition from Andre’s father.
Parysia convinces Andre’s father to approve the marriage. Meanwhile, Andre finds himself falling in love with Parysia. As Margaret and her mother organize wedding plans, Andre wrestles with his emotions and writes a conflicted letter to his father.
During a dinner, Andre kisses Margaret but envisions Parysia instead. Overcome by despair, he attempts suicide by tampering with his car’s brakes but loses consciousness before Margaret departs in the vehicle. Upon regaining consciousness, Andre admits his love for Parysia, who encourages him to protect Margaret.
Despite concerns about the faulty brakes, Margaret drives toward Andre’s father’s country estate. Andre rushes to catch up with her; they narrowly avoid a head-on collision before both cars crash when Margaret jumps into Andre’s car. Both sustain serious injuries.
Parysia learns of Margaret’s critical state but must perform at the club. While she sings, doctors operate on Margaret; overwhelmed by tension, Parysia faints. Although Margaret appears to die briefly, she recovers. The three reunite at the hospital, and following her recovery, Andre and Margaret leave for their honeymoon in southern France.
Cast
- Olga Chekhova as Parysia
- Eve Gray as Margaret
- Jean Bradin as Andre
- Georges Tréville as father
- Marcel Vibert as Marquis
- Ellen Pollock as Girt
- Andrews Engelmann as chauffeur
- Forrester Harvey as tourist
Music
The film includes the theme tune "My Wonderful Love," composed by William Stone with lyrics written by Charles Wynn.
Production
Made at Elstree Studios under the banner of British International Pictures, this marked Dupont's last entirely silent feature. Dupont was one of several prominent Continental European filmmakers and actors brought in by BIP during the late 1920s to establish the studio as a leading international producer. The art direction was handled by Alfred Junge.
Restoration and home media
Initially released in 1928 as a silent picture accompanied by live music, Moulin Rouge had an approximate duration of 130 minutes. In 1929, it was reissued with a synchronized score composed by John Reynders, including sound effects, which shortened its length to 86 minutes; this edition is accessible on budget DVD releases.
A high-definition restoration completed in 2017 restored the film close to its original running time (127 minutes), adapting Reynders' condensed 1929 score through more than 120 musical edits. This restored version has been made available on Blu-ray and DVD in the UK via Network.
See also
- Moulin Rouge released in 1952
- Moulin Rouge! from 2001
- List of early sound feature films (1926–1929)