Pierre Benoit Movies

C'East Arrive a Oden is partly a serious adventure yarn, and partly a spoof of its own genre. A French acting troupe finds itself stranded in a far-flung British colony in India. The troupe's leading lady, Dany Robin, is almost immediately wooed by a native prince. The upshot of this flirtation has international ramifications: the prince refuses to sign an important treaty unless Robin becomes his bride. This doesn't sit well with Robin's lover, an English lieutenant, nor with the villains, who hope to topple the prince from his throne. Director Michel Boisrond adapted the screenplay from a novel by Pierre Benoit. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This 1953 French historical melodrama was the fourth film version of Pierre Benoit's novel Koenigsmark. Jean-Pierre Aumont stars as a court historian named Vignerte, who comes to the titular duchy to do research. Instead, Vignerte spends his time romancing the Duchess Aurora (Sylvana Pampanini), then saving her from the diabolical intrigues of her former husband, Duke Frederic (Roldano Lupi). Along the way, our hero discovers that the Duke is not a man to be trifled with, especially since he has a habit of walling up his enemies in the dungeon. Will the lovers escape, or will they meet a horrible doom? It takes 90 minutes to find out. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this drama, set after the Napoleonic Wars, the aristocratic Chabert comes back to his palatial home to find that his wife has remarried. She had given Chabert, whom she never really loved, up for dead. Her new husband, who is also richer, makes her much happier. To protect her new life, the wife calls Chabert an imposter and has him committed to an asylum. He sneaks out and wanders the streets where he meets and becomes friends with the impoverished street folk. By the time his true identity is revealed it is too late. Chabert has decided to renounce his aristocracy and opts to live with the poor. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

No relation to the 1958 Alfred Hitchcock classic of the same name, Vertigo is a worthwhile vehicle for Mexican film favorite Maria Felix. The story concerns young swain Arturo (Emilio Tuero), who is about to marry pretty young Gabriela (Lilia Michel). His plans are radically altered when he falls in love with Gabriela's gorgeous mother Mercedes (Felix). To rid himself of his troublesome fiancee, Arturo kills the girl. Upon learning of this, Mercedes responds in kind in an ending worthy of Grand Opera. Based on a novel by Pierre Benoit, Vertigo was released in some English-speaking markets under the literal but slightly ridiculous title Dizziness. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Surrender is yet another triangular romance set against the backdrop of WWI. French POW Dumaine (Warner Baxter) is sequestered near the castle of a prideful Prussian nobleman, Count Reinmacher (C. Aubrey Smith), who lives for the day that his four sons will march triumphantly into Paris. Axelle (Leila Hyams), the daughter of one of the sons, makes periodic goodwill visits to the prison compound, and by-and-by she falls in love with Dumaine. Things take a dirty-work-at-the-crossroads turn when Captain Elbing (Ralph Bellamy), the martinet prison commandant, likewise develops an interest in Axtelle. Though Surrender hasn't been seen in years, outtakes from the film -- in which the dignified C. Aubrey Smith swears like a sailor after blowing his lines -- have long been on the public-domain video market. The film was based on Axelle, a play by Pierre Benoit, previously filmed in France. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Although this was French filmmaker Jacques Feyder's first truly important film, you wouldn't guess it by reading the trade papers of the day. Because of the storyline -- a fantasy tale adapted from the novel by Pierre Benoit -it was considered a novelty. In addition, Film Daily went out of its way to remark on the unattractiveness of star Stacia Napierkowska -- her zaftig figure was too hefty for American tastes. The film opens with a discussion between two French officers about the disappearance of Captain Morhange (Jean Angelo). It is suspected that Lieutenant Saint-Avit (Georges Melchior) knows more than he has let on, and finally he tells what happened. While traveling through the desert, Saint-Avit and Morhange were lured to the submerged Atlantis. The ruler, Queen Antinea (Napierkowska), marries men and casts them off until they die of love. She then turns them into gold and places them in the hall of red marble. Saint-Avit fell prey to the Queen's charms and married her. Morhange, however, had taken a vow of celibacy so he resisted her. This infuriated the Queen so she influenced Saint-Avit to kill Morhange. Although Saint-Avit has escaped from Atlantis, he plans to go back, and after telling his tale, he friend decides to go with him. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide