The Phantom of the Moulin Rouge
A spirit on a spree!
René Clair directed the 1925 French silent comedy fantasy film *The Phantom of the Moulin Rouge* (original French title: *Le fantôme du Moulin-Rouge*), which was produced in 1924. The cast includes Albert Préjean, Sandra Milovanoff, and Paul Ollivier. Walter Schlee’s novel provided the basis for the story, and Robert Gys designed the sets.
The plot follows Julien Boissel, who is engaged to Yvonne. Her diplomat father opposes the match because a corrupt newspaper publisher named Gauthier is blackmailing him. Gauthier promises to hand over incriminating evidence if the father allows him to marry Yvonne. To prevent a scandal, Yvonne agrees to the blackmailer’s demand. Depressed, Julien meets a mesmerist called Dr. Window at the Moulin-Rouge nightclub and lets the doctor experiment on him. Julien’s spirit leaves his body and causes a series of humorous and frightening incidents across Paris. Police find his abandoned body and assume he is dead, charging Dr. Window with murder. Julien learns that an autopsy is planned; if it proceeds, his spirit cannot return. He steals the incriminating evidence from Gauthier, delivers it to Yvonne, and reenters his body just before the autopsy begins. Dr. Window is cleared when Julien revives, and Julien ends up with Yvonne.
The cast includes Georges Vaultier as Julien Boissel (the Phantom), Sandra Milovanoff as Yvonne Vincent, Maurice Schutz as her father Victor Vincent, Paul Ollivier as Dr. Window, José Davert as the blackmailer Gauthier, Madeleine Rodrigue as Jacqueline, and Albert Préjean as reporter Jean Degland.
Quick Facts
- Director
- René Clair
- Producer
- Rene Fernand
- Writer
- René Clair · Walter Schlee (novel)
- Starring
- Georges Vaultier · Sandra Milovanoff · Paul Ollivier
- Cinematography
- Jimmy Berliet · Louis Chaix
- Studio
- Films René Fernand
- Released
- 13 March 1925
- Runtime
- 70 minutes
- Country
- France
- Language
- Silent · French intertitles
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Julien Boissel is engaged to marry Yvonne, but her diplomat father is against it. Her father is being blackmailed by a corrupt newspaper publisher named Gauthier, who states he will surrender the incriminating evidence he has if the old man will allow him to marry Yvonne. To save her father from a scandal, Yvonne agrees to marry the blackmailer. A depressed Julien encounters a mesmerist named Dr. Window at the famed Moulin-Rouge nightclub, and he allows the doctor to experiment on him with his mesmeric powers. Julien's spirit is freed from his corporeal body and he goes on a mischievous spree around Paris, causing a string of humorous and frightening occurrences. The police come across Julien's body while he is out of it and believe he is dead, and Dr. Window is charged with the murder. Julien discovers an autopsy is scheduled to be performed on his 'corpse', and if this happens, his spirit will never be able to reenter it. Julien manages to get the incriminating evidence away from Gauthier and deliver it to Yvonne, then returns to his body just moments before the time of the proposed autopsy. Dr. Window is exonerated when Julien's corpse returns to life, and Julien ends up with Yvonne.
Reader's Guide
Cast: Georges Vaultier as Julien Boissel, the Phantom; Sandra Milovanoff as Yvonne Vincent; Maurice Schutz as Victor Vincent, Yvonne's father; Paul Ollivier as Dr. Window; José Davert as Gauthier, the publisher/blackmailer; Madeleine Rodrigue as Jacqueline; Albert Préjean as Jean Degland, reporter.
Did You Know?
- The film was made in 1924 but released in 1925.
- The sets were designed by Robert Gys.
- The film is based on a novel by Walter Schlee.
More in French fantasy films 25-40
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