Paméla (1945)

A (very) fictionalized vision of the Temple enigma.

Director:

Pierre de Hérain

Writers:

Pierre Lestringuez (screenplay), Victorien Sardou (novel)

Stars:

Fernand Gravey, Renée Saint-Cyr, Georges Marchal

Cast

Credited cast:
Fernand Gravey	...	Paul Barras
Renée Saint-Cyr	...	Paméla
Georges Marchal	...	René Bergerin
Yvette Lebon	...	Madame Tallien
Jeanne Fusier-Gir	...	La Montansier
Raymond Bussières	...	Gomin
Jacques Varennes	...	Rochecotte
Gisèle Casadesus	...	Joséphine de Beauharnais
Jacques Castelot	...	Le prince de Carency
René Génin	...	Gourlet
Serge Emrich	...	Louis XVII
Nicole Maurey	...	Madame Royale
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jean Boissemond
André Carnège
Jean Chaduc	...	Napoléon Bonaparte

Storyline

1795:Pamela,a fancy goods shopkeeper,is involved in a conspiracy in order to release the young Dauphin,Louis the Seventeenth ,prisoner in the Temple tower.But the accomplices are betrayed by a shameful aristocrat and manipulated by Barras .Thanks to Bergerin, who is in love with Pamela ,the Chouans (counter-revolutionaries in the Vendée ) intervene to save Louis the Sixteenth's son.But is the boy the real Dauphin?

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Plot Keywords:

based on novel | character name in title | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

2 May 1945 (France)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Films Camille Trachimel, Société Parisienne de Cinéma (SPC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

User Reviews

Long die the king!

When I was a schoolboy ,my teacher used to tell us that maybe the little prince was able to escape from Le Temple...Maybe...Today we are sure,thanks to the scientists ,that it did not happen.Louis XVII died in Le Temple the most miserable death in FRench history for a king....more unbearable when you know it was a child..

Facts:even when Marie-Antoinette was still alive ,her son was taken away from her and left to Simon and his wife's care;historians used to be very hard on the couple ,but nowadays they are inclined to reverse these opinions:invoices were found concerning toys ,which would tend to prove the child was not mistreated.THe boy's calvary actually began when Simon was dismissed in 1794: the poor little king was "walled up alive" -the word is not too strong- in a dungeon,without light and without hygiene...During six months (six months!) the boy was alone in a cell ,nobody to talk with...If "Pamela" were historically accurate ,it would have to be a horror movie!When they finally opened the door....

That's when our story begins.Louis XVII was suffering from TB (bones) and from scabies,his psyche was shot.He was no more than a living dead. He died in June 1975,and would have been incapable of escaping anyway.

"Pamela" is a rather mediocre historical flick.It features Barras who played a prominent part in the fall of Robespierre and in the Directoire four years ,before being overthrown by Bonaparte in 1799.He died in 1829,completely forgotten.Pamela (Renée Saint-Cyr) is a chic dressmaker who takes pity on the poor imprisoned child and asks some friends to help with his escape..The only interesting scene uses the "Directoire" language ,the Incoyables and the Mêveilleuses -golden youth of the time-were fond of: they speak without pronouncing the R in the words (R like revolution).