Original subtitles

THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER

This film was restored In 1997 by the Cin�math�que Royale de Belgique

In collaboration with the Cineteca del Comune di Bologna,

using an original negative with French titles kept by the Cin�mateque francaise,

and a tinted black and white positive copy belonging to the Nederlands Filmmuseum.

A tinted black and white nitrate copy belonging to the Fernando Pereda collection

of the Archivo Nacional de la Imagen - Sodre, In Montevideo,

was used as a guideline for the restoration of colours.

This copy Is 4,170 feet long.

A film by Jean Epstein

THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER

based on stories by Edgar A. Poe

with Marguerite Gance, Jean Debucourt,

and Charles Lamy

Cinematography by Lucas Set decoration by Pierre Kefer

Unit manager: Maurice Merlot Slow-motion operator: H�bert

Costumes designed by Fernand Ochs� and executed by Muelle

Goldsmith: Christofle

sick... worried...

my wife Madeline...

'I need someone to drive me to Usher tonight. '

'Usher?!'

'Usher?!

'Usher. '

Usher

In the nearly decaying manor-house,

Slr Roderick kept his wife Madeline in a strange seclusion,

dominating her through his tyrannical edginess.

'Usher.

'Oh no! I would not make my horse take a step further

'for all your Lordship's gold!'

The oppressive melancholy of USHER'S surroundings seemed supernatural.

'The doctor. '

The illness of Lady Madeline, Roderick Usher's wife,

baffled the skill of her physician.

As a result of a curious hereditary flaw,

every Usher devoted himself to painting the portrait of his wife.

'It is there that she is alive!'

'My dear Roderick, you are burning with fever!'

'Her Grace is feeling tired and begs you to excuse her from the table. '

'It is there that she is alive!'

Roderick was seized again by his strange impulse to paint.

His only thought was to be alone with Madeline, his sole model.

How could he get rid of his visiting and now unwelcome friend?

Twisted as by a tempest, the Usher's family tree weighed upon Roderick,

who was the last survivor of the race, with all the weight of his heredity.

'My dear and only friend, I am touched by your concern.

'But you too must take care of yourself.

'A few steps outside will do you good before you go to bed. '

Roderick's brush was like a magic wand.

Each stroke gave more life to the portrait while making Madeline more pallid,

as though the young girl gave to the painted picture the very strength she was losing.

'This IS indeed life itself!'

Obsessed by all mysteries, Roderick had long meditated upon the theories of Magnetism.

'I tell you, Doctor! She may not be dead!'

'She shall not leave me! We shall bury her right here!'

'I forbid, do you hear, I forbid anyone to nail... '

After the burial of Madeline, the hours, the days went by

In frightening dreariness and oppressive silence.

Roderick, all his nerves on edge, seemed to be waiting for a sign of some sort.

The slightest noise infuriated him...

Roderick dared not repeat the mad thought that oppressed him... Madeline...

This was a stormy night, charged with electricity.

There is a two-fold Silence.

One is the corporate Silence: dread him not!

But should some urgent fate bring thee to meet his shadow,

nameless elf, that haunteth the lone regions where hath trod no foot of man,

commend thyself to God!

'Now can you hear her?'

'Roderick, you should not see that!

'Let me read you something to amuse you. '

And Ethelred uplifted his mace outright, and, with blows,

made quickly room in the plankings of the door for his gauntleted hand;

and now pulling therewith sturdily, he so cracked, and ripped...

And Ethelred uplifted his mace, and struck upon the head of the dragon,

which fell before him, and gave up his pesty breath,

with a shriek so horrid and harsh, and withal so piercing...

And now, the champion approached valorously over the silver pavement of the castle

to where the shield was upon the wall; which in sooth tarried not for his full coming,

but fell down at his feet, with a mighty great and terrible...

'Yes, I can hear. I have heard for a long time, since the first day... '

'We have put her alive in the tomb!'

Subtitles: Marc Ulrich © La Cin�math�que francaise - 2013

THE END