I assume this film is the same one on the DVD "Gaumont Treasures Volume 2". However, on the DVD jacket and on the film, it's credited to Étienne Arnaud--not Émile Cohl who you see listed on IMDb. Such mix-ups are not unusual, as many of the early silents did not indicate who directed them and some of the records of the time are a mess. All I know is that after eliminating all the other possibilities, it APPEARS that this is the same "La Marseillaise" I saw that is credited to Arnaud.

"La Marseillaise" is a film that would probably play much better if you are French. It's a patriotic movie about the creation of the song of the same name and how it was instrumental in creating unity for the French Republic. I've seen several others like it--including another silent version as well as the Jean Renoir version of the 1930s. Considering how many view the French Republic as the same folks who brought us executions and the Reign of Terror, I could see why this would be less than inspiring for the non-French. But, considering it sure looked like all of Europe would destroy the new republic and it somehow survived, I am pretty sure a lot of French folks would feel inspired by the film. I wasn't. But, it was reasonably well made for a silent--with some interesting camera tricks (such as double-exposures).

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