Henri Rollan Movies

Originally Regain, this Marcel Pagnol masterwork was distributed in the US in 1939, two years after its completion; the hold-up was due to complaints from the New York censors, who disapproved of the plotline's harmlessly adulterous undertones. Told in a simple, straightforward fashion, the film deals with the trials and tribulations of peasant farmer Panturie (Gabriel Gabrio) and his lover, apprentice knife-grinder Arsule (Orane Demazis), as they struggle to revitalize their failing wheat farm. Despite one setback after another, Panturie and Arsule refuse to give up, and it is their devotion to their land-and each other-which sparks a revival of optimism and solidarity throughout the countryside. Fernandel provides wistful comedy relief as Gedemus, the itinerant knife-grinder to whom Arsule is married at the outset of the film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Tullio Carminatti, fresh from a series of successful Broadway and film appearances, returned to Europe to star in La Marcia Nuziale (The Wedding March). Carminati plays the philandering husband of long-suffering Diana Lante. Upon his introduction to Lante's school-chum Kiki Palmer, who has recently shed herself of a dreary husband, Carminati wastes no time going "on the make" for Palmer. Unable to resist his charms, Palmer is on the verge of killing herself, but decides instead that she'd be better off with her dull but dependable ex-husband than with the overwhelmingly charming Carminatti. La Marcia Nuziale was based on a play by Henry Bataille. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Le Maitre de Forges (The Ironmaster) was filmed under the supervision of the legendary Abel Gance, who magnanimously allowed Ferdinand Rivers to direct. Based on the popular 19th-century novel by Georges Ohnet, the story focuses on Claire de Beaulieu (Gaby Morlay), the daughter of an aristocratic family. When her parents go broke, Claire is jilted by her snobbish suitor. On the rebound, she enters into a romance with humble ironworker Philippe Derblay (Henri Rollan). Though Philippe is treated disdainfully by his bride and her family, he ultimately proves to be a worthier husband to her than any nobleman, a fact that she happily learns before it's too late. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Milady is the sequel to director Henri Diamant-Berger's The Three Musketeers and is every bit as lavish as its predecessor. Now that D'Artagnan (Aimee Simon-Girard) and his fellow Musketeers have saved their beloved Queen Anne (Andree Lafayette) from disgrace, they must fend off the vengeance-seeking Milady de Winter (Edith Mara), the chief confederate of the power-hungry Cardinal Richelieu (Samon Fainsliber). The culmination of Milady's vitriolic villainy is her murder of D'Artagnan's sweetheart Constance (Blanche Montel). Ultimately, Milady pays for her crimes, the Cardinal is foiled, and the Musketeers emerge triumphant. In some European markets, Three Musketeers and Milady were run in tandem as a four-hour feature. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Sola (Damia) is a Parisian cabaret singer, at present stranded in Singapore. For lack of anything better to do, Sola enters into a romantic relationship with Jeff (Henri Rollan), a French planter. Hardly the life of the party to begin with, Jeff withdraws deeper and deeper into his own melancholia the closer he gets to Sola. Finally he kills the girl then does away with himself. There seems to be no logical purpose for the existence of this film beyond the presence of popular French stage personality Damia, who admittedly is much better than the material she's given (though she's clearly well-past the age of her character). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This French-made adventure is based on Twenty Years After, Alexandre Dumas' sequel to The Three Musketeers. However, dashing Douglas Fairbanks had filmed The Three Musketeers only a couple of years earlier, so this picture was destined to pale in comparison in spite of its authentic aura. Evil Cardinal Richelieu is plotting the murder of the English Duke of Buckingham, and the Queen of France (Jeanne Desclos) is determined to stop him. She enlists the help of D'Artagnan (Aime Simon-Girard) by handing him a letter to deliver to the Duke. But Richelieu knows that D'Artagnan is involved, so he sends out Milady de Winter (Claude Merelle) in hopes that she will get to the Duke first. The two foes alternately outwit each other until Milady de Winter is captured. She escapes with the aid of a traitor and poisons D'Artagnan's sweetheart, Constance Bonacieux (Pierrette Madd). Because of her deeds, de Winter is finally beheaded. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide