UN MONASTÈRE
Grahame N's Web Pages
UN MONASTÈRE
GS.70010 (3 reel 9.5mm sound release by Pathé-Baby France March 1937) (This 3 reel 9.5mm sound film was marketed by Pathéscope in the UK April 1939)
Released on 9.5mm silent one reel in the UK as SB.806 "A MONASTERY" in March 1935 Released on 9.5mm silent two reels in France as 2SB.4393 "UN MONASTÈRE" in February 1936
UN MONASTÈRE France Mar1933 Dir: Robert Alexandre --------------- Produced by: Bernard Natan and Emile Natan 40mins B/W Cert "U" A Pathé-Natan Production (Approx 24mins on 9.5 sound; 8 mins on 9.5mm silent) Documentary Cameramen: Chackfaux and Mesrobien Sound by: Remoué
Watch my Pathéscope silent release SB.806 "A MONASTERY" on YouTube
Movie cameras penetrate the mysterious portals of a Trappist monastery. Sacred music balances the beautiful images. (gln - 9.5mm French sound film catalogue)
A day in the life of the La Trappe Abbey at Soligny-La-Trappe, Orne, in North West France. It began as a small chapel in 1122 and a few years later a monastery was added. This was raised to the status of Abbey in 1130 and is occupied by the Trappist Order of Cistercians. After fallling into a ruinous state, the monastery was rebuilt in the late nineteenth century. The monks rise at two o'c;ock in the morning to begin their seventeen hour day of silent meditation, prayer and work. The Grand Mass is said with prayers alternating with Gregorian songs, the Kiss Of Peace and Communion. Fathers engage in study of the sacred works while Brothers cook, bake, tend cattle and perform other tasks. The monks eat one meal per day consisting of soup, vegetables and fruit. Communication between Brothers is mainly by the Cluny code of signs. A young seminarist takes Holy Orders and later an aged monk is buried. Each evening the "Salve Regina" is sung and soon afterwards the monastery falls asleep. (Maurice Trace - 9.5mm non-fiction film catalogue)
Said to be the first film taken within the monastery community of La Trappe. The life of the Trappist monk is recorded from before dawn till after dusk, and includes views of the special ceremony attending the funeral of one of the monks. Titles taken from a poem "Les Moines" by Emile Verhaeren. (BFI)
Pathéscope Monthly magazine Mar1935
Pathéscope Gazette magazine Dec1955 / Jan1956
"The life of monks in a monastery. This cine report is a
strict documentary film without any .fantasy.
The director has taken the decision not to reveal the name of the
French abbey where this unique record was made."
Pages from the French Pathé-Baby magazine "Le Cinèma
Chez Soi"
Notes:
1. Director Robert Alexandre can be seen briefly at the start of the film when
he rings the bell at the monastery gate and is then admitted to the grounds.
He shot the film with a small team of two cameramen and a sound engineer.
2. The inter-titles on the UK Pathéscope silent one reel 9.5mm print are from
"Ecclesiastical Sonnets" (1821) by William Woordsworth
3. In the December 1955 issue of "Pathéscoe Gazette", film historian David
Gunston wrote an article about this film, (reproduced above), suggesting
that the film was only available on the 9.5mm film gauge. However the BFI
appear to have a copy and currently, I have purchased a 16mm full length
length copy from French ebay and am waiting for its arrival! (gln 15Jul2016)
4. In April 1939 Pathéscope marketed copies of the French 9.5mm sound three
reel version of this film. Although a French film, much of the sound
is just incidental music and noises from the monastery life.
Pathéscope Monthly magazine Apr/May 1939
5. Amongst the first batch of 9.5mm sound films released in France -
(Info edited from gln, Maurice Trace) GS-70010/gln/04.06.2016
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Created 04Juil2016 .......... Last
updated: 18 November 2018 .............. 95flmcatgs70010.htm
................. ©MMXV1 Grahame .L. Newnham
18Nov2018 - silent 9.5mm print on YouTube
