Le Coffret de laque is a 1932 film version of the Agatha Christie play Black Coffee. An early "talkie" format film in the French language, it was produced by Oceanic Studios and presented by Les Établissements Jacques Haïk. Directed by Jean Kemm and adapted by Pierre Maudru, the film featured several notable French actors and actresses of that time, in particular Rene Alexandre of the Comedie Francaise.
The film opened in cinemas on July 15, 1932, it was the first French language adaptation of a Christie work. It was released internationally as The Lacquered Box, after a box which plays an important part in the plot. In Canada where the film was shown, the film was given the title "La Fille de l'espionne" ("The Daughter of the Spy"). The film is believed to be lost.
Cast[1][]
- René Alexandre - Preval
- Alice Field - Lucie Stenay
- Maxime Desjardins - Claud Amory
- Gaston Dupray - Gaston de Ravennes
- Maurice Varny - Richard Stenay
- Danielle Darrieux - Henriette Stenay
- Marcel Vibert - le docteur Carelli
- Isabelle Anderson - Marthe Amory
- Harry Arbell - Antoine
- Jean Laurent - le docteur Dernault
- Andre Laurent - Raynor
Agatha Christie and Le Coffret de laque[]
It is possible that Agatha Christie did not know nor authorise this adaptation. Mark Aldridge notes: "In 1936, the agency (Hughes Massie) was perturbed to hear a claim that a French adaption of Black Coffee had apparently been produced, and made enquiries to find out if it was true. It was."[2] Certainly publicity posters of the film do not mention Agatha Christie. One reviewer in Montreal even mistakenly attributed the story to the French author Maurice Leblanc (creator of Arsene Lupin)[3] However, elsewhere, in advertisements for the film in Canadian newspapers, the film is clearly stated as being adapted from Christie's play Black Coffee.[4]
Comparison with original story[]
As the film has been lost, not many details about it are available. The name of the lead investigator is not Poirot but has been changed to "Preval". Some character and place names have also been changed to French ones although it appears that the name "Claud Amory" is retained. It is however likely that the action follows the plot of the orginal stageplay fairly closely. One Canadian reviewer from Montreal (who did not know of the film's Agatha Christie lineage but mistakenly attributes it Maurice Leblanc) notes that the script "was possibly never composed for the screen medium". The plot would have been highly effective as a play. However the film had a lack of action and uniformity of scene which are not "in line with the cinematographic art".[3] Another reviewer, also from Montreal concurred, stating that while the film was well cast and well acted, "The author of the scenario obviously had the stage in mind more than the screen when he wrote it. There is not much action and a great deal of talk while the background is practically the same throughout."[5]
Research notes[]
- As can be seen from the publicity posters of the film, top billing went to Rene Alexandre and Alice Fields. Fields' character of Lucie Sternay is therefore likely to be the parallel of Lucia Amory and she would be "la fille de l'espionne".
- The film has a very early appearance by Danielle Derrieux, who would go on to become one of the greatest French actresses of all time. In this appearance, however, she would only be aged about 15, and as can be seen from the publicity posters, her name is in the smallest font. Hence hers would likely have been a minor part. Christie's original play does not have a character aged around 15. The closest would be Barbara Amory who is described in stage directions as a young girl of 21.
See also[]
- Black Coffee (1931 film) - Austin Trevor's version
References[]
- ↑ See this entry at Cinematheque.fr.
- ↑ Mark Aldridge, Agatha Christie on Screen (London: Palgave MacMillan, 2016), 24, ebook edition.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Around the Theatres", Montreal Star, 7 Nov 1932.
- ↑ "Thrilling Drama in Rideau's French Film", Ottawa Citizen, 1 Mar 1933.
- ↑ "Mystery Picture Shows at Cinema", The Gazette, 7 Nov 1932.