Years ago I had an old VHS version of "The Oubliette" (1914) that was so difficult to watch due to its condition that I couldn't even figure out what it was about. Then I found a DVD that was an upgrade, but I didn't think much of what was left, a 33 minute lump of story that still made little sense. Well, I've finally been able to view a relatively nicely restored version of this film on Ben Model's Undercrank Productions release with Jon Mirsalis' original musical accompaniments. Restored by Library of Congress, the film (actually, "The Oubliette" is Part I of a serial production that would have been called "The Adventures of François Villon") is now 46 minutes long, a 3 reel production that is nearly complete of itself with only small snippets apparently no longer there. Also, it seems to be linearly in genuine continuity, something some of the earlier releases on VHS and DVD were not! Scenes have been put in and back where they belong. The final one third of the film is tinted. Overall, the film is fun to watch, but it is certainly of the old declamatory stage acting style and now very, very out of date. Arms are constantly stretched to emote, faces put to the camera for emphasis, and eyes widened until they look as if they might pop.
Murdock MacQuarrie, one of four acting brothers whose career lasted until his death in 1942 (284 known film credits, feature and short), stars as the fifteenth century French rake and poet François Villon (1431-1463?). This part of the serial also stars Pauline Bush, Lon Chaney, Sr., Harry F. (Doc) Crane, Chester Withey, and others. Chaney plays the part of the rogue Chevalier Bertrand de la Pogne (de la Payne on the IMDb). Crane is King Louis XI. Villon does a good amount of emoting but little acting with action, though the action itself is non-stop. Plot is good, but the acting only mediocre. Chaney is a silent nasty here if ever there was one. He's okay, but perfunctory at best. Plot is the main thing here; the actors simply move the plot along. It would have made a better read. A word would have been better than a thousand pictures, but it's a good thing that this 1914 108 year old film is still around to show us where we were and what we've come to on the screen.
Worth the see on this new Blu-Ray, if only to upgrade the view if one has seen this earlier on the terrible releases. The entire release of two Blu-Ray discs in "Lon Chaney: Before the Thousand Faces II" is wonderful, and a very thankful release for us Chaney film lovers!
Best thing in the film: the hanging scene of Villon's compatriot and fellow vagabond, Colin, played by Chester Withey. It's brutal, yet well-staged and very well directed - and actually moving. Attributed director is Charles Giblyn.
One final note: an oubliette is a dungeon with a trap door from the ceiling. Usually it's thought of as a secret dungeon!
