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The Three Masks
The Three Masks
Directed by	André Hugon
Based on	The Three Masks by Charles Méré
Produced by	André Hugon
Starring	Renée Héribel; Jean Toulout; François Rozet;
Cinematography	Raymond Agnel
Music by	Isidore de Lara
Production; company	Pathé-Natan
Distributed by	Pathé-Natan
Release date	1 November 1929;
Running time	70 minutes
Country	France
Language	French

The Three Masks (French: Les trois masques) is a 1929 French film directed by André Hugon and starring Renée Héribel, Jean Toulout and François Rozet.^[2] Produced by Pathé the film is considered to be a candidate for France's first talking picture, but was made in Britain. As no French studio had yet been converted for sound, it was shot at Twickenham Studios in London.^[3] The first talking picture produced in France is probably Pierre Colombier's Chiqué [fr], although The Queen's Necklace produced by Pathe's rival Gaumont is also considered a contender.^[4]

The first American sound films had premiered in Europe, followed by Alfred Hitchcock's Blackmail in 1929. Producer Julius Hagen was quick in overhauling the studios at Twickenham for sound and providing sound stages for rent to both British and Continental producers. The film's sets were designed by the art director Christian-Jaque. The film is based on the 1908 play of the same title by Charles Méré, which had previously been made into a 1921 silent The Three Masks by Henry Krauss.

Synopsis

In Corsica two brothers decide to take revenge against the young man who has got their sister pregnant, unaware that he is trying to marry her in the face of his father's opposition. They stab him while all three are wearing masks for a carnival.

Cast

Renée Héribel as Viola Vescotelli
Jean Toulout as Pratti Della Corba
François Rozet as Paolo
Marcel Vibert as Vescotelli
Paul Azaïs as Le fils Vescotelli
Henri Bargin
Rachel Boyer
Pierre Geay
Michel Kovachevitch
Clotilde Person as La tante Della Corba
Louis Rouyer as Un masque

References

^ Tulard, Jean (2005). Le Nouveau guide des films (in French). Paris: Éditions Robert Laffont. ISBN 978-2-221-12486-4.
^ Rège p.511
^ Lanzoni p.57
^ Lanzoni p.57

Bibliography

Crisp, C.G. The Classic French Cinema, 1930-1960. Indiana University Press, 1993
Lanzoni, Rémi Fournier . French Cinema: From Its Beginnings to the Present. A&C Black, 2004.
Rège, Philippe. Encyclopedia of French Film Directors, Volume 1. Scarecrow Press, 2009.
Williams, Alan Larson. Republic of Images: A History of French Filmmaking. Harvard University Press, 1992.