The Silence of the Sea (1949)
Le silence de la mer (original title)Reference View | Change View
- Not Rated
- 1h 27min
- Drama, Romance
- 22 Apr 1949 (France)
- Movie
Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
Howard Vernon | ... |
Werner von Ebrennac
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Nicole Stéphane | ... |
La nièce
(as Nicole Stephane)
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Jean-Marie Robain | ... |
L'oncle
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Ami Aaröe | ... |
La fiancée
(as Ami Aaroe)
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Georges Patrix | ... |
L'ordonnance
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Denis Sadier | ... |
L'ami
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Rudelle | ... |
L'Allemand
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Max Fromm | ... |
L'Allemand
(as Fromm)
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Claude Vernier | ... |
L'Allemand
(as Vernier)
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Max Hermann | ... |
L'Allemand
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Fritz Schmiedel | ... |
L'Allemand
(as Schmiedel)
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Directed by
Jean-Pierre Melville |
Written by
Vercors | ... | (novella "Le silence de la mer", 1942) |
Jean-Pierre Melville | ... | (adaptation) |
Produced by
Pierre Braunberger | ... | producer (uncredited) |
Marcel Cartier | ... | delegate producer |
Jean-Pierre Melville | ... | executive producer |
Music by
Edgar Bischoff |
Cinematography by
Henri Decaë | ||
Luc Mirot | ... | (uncredited) |
Editing by
Henri Decaë | ... | (uncredited) |
Jean-Pierre Melville | ... | (uncredited) |
Production Management
Edmond Vaxelaire | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michel Drach | ... | second assistant director |
Jacques Guymont | ... | first assistant director |
Sound Department
Jacques Carrère | ... | sound (as Carrere) |
Camera and Electrical Department
Agis | ... | still photographer |
Magot | ... | electrician |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Traonouez | ... | costumes |
Music Department
Paul Bonneau | ... | conductor: 'Grand Orchestre des Concerts Colonne' |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Pierre Braunberger (1949) (France) (theatrical)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (1976) (Finland) (tv)
- Eureka Entertainment (2007) (United Kingdom) (DVD) (Blu-ray & DVD)
- Crest International (2010) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Eye Division (2012) (Italy) (DVD)
- The Criterion Collection (2015) (United States) (DVD)
- Rare Films and More (2016) (United States) (DVD) (English sub-titles)
- 2ème chaîne ORTF (1974) (France) (tv) (dubbed version)
- Arthaus (2017) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- Arthaus (2017) (Germany) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Grand Orchestre des Concertsw Colonne (orchestra)
- Western Electric (sound system)
Storyline
Plot Summary |
1941 in a small town in Nazi occupied France. Against the will of its elderly male and his adult niece residents, the Nazis commandeer a house for one of their officers, Lt. Werner von Ebrennac, to live in for as long as he is in the area on Nazi business. As a figurative and literal silent protest against the Nazis and the officer, the uncle and niece do whatever is required of them while the officer is in their house, however they do not acknowledge his presence, living largely in silence whenever he is around. The officer treats the housing situation with care, like he is a guest. Although not a nightly occurrence, the officer begins an evening routine with his reluctant hosts: in his civilian clothes, he knocks on the door of the room in which they have convened for the evening, walking in shortly thereafter knowing that no acknowledgment will be made for him to enter, he visits with them for no more than five minutes before he bids them a good evening as he exits. During these visits, he speaks reverently about, among other things, culture - music and literature in particular as he is a composer and musician - his national pride, his love of France, and what he hopes will emerge from the war, namely a strong and free France, stronger than it was before the war, and the marriage between the French and German cultures which will enrich the lives of all Europeans. All the while, he makes no expectations from them, either to listen, or to answer if they are indeed listening. At the end of what ends up being his six month stay at the house, he does end up having a profound effect on the uncle and niece, despite that effect being largely unacknowledged, as his stay in France has a profound effect on him, opening up his eyes to the reality of the war based largely on his first ever visit into Paris. Written by Huggo |
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Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Did You Know?
Trivia | When the author of the original novel, Vercors, objected to Melville adapting his book without obtaining the rights, the filmmaker made him a deal. The filmmaker would go ahead and make the film without permission, and when it was complete, Vercors would arrange a screening of it for 24 former Resistance members. If even one of the 24 objected to the film, he, Melville, would personally burn the negative in front of Vercors' own eyes. When Vercors arranged the screening, he assumed that only 26 people would be present: himself, Melville and the 24-member "jury." However, much to Vercors' chagrin, Melville "stacked the deck" by instructing his publicist to invite many prominent critics and literary figures, including André Malraux and Jean Cocteau (whose novel Melville would later adapt into the film The Terrible Children (1950)), although Melville feigned innocence in the matter. Of the 24 "jury" members, one dropped out just before the screening, and the editor of the French newspaper Le Figaro was recruited as a replacement. When the film was over, 23 voted in favor of the film and only one against: the Le Figaro editor. However, when Vercors discovered that the man had voted against the film not because of the work itself, but because his vanity was offended at being a last-minute substitute, Vercors discounted his vote, and the film was saved. See more » |
Movie Connections | Featured in Melville Steps Out of the Shadows (2010). See more » |
Quotes |
Werner von Ebrennac:
There's a lovely fairy tale that I've read, that you're read, that everyone has read. I don't know if the title is the same in your country. We call it, "Das Tier und die Schöne", "Beauty and the Beast". Poor Beauty, she is at the mercy of the Beast, powerless and imprisoned. She is subjected to his implacable, heavy presence all day long. Beauty is proud, dignified, she has become hard. But the Beast is better than he seems. He doesn't have the finest manners. He is tactless, brutal. He seems vulgar next to the refined Beauty. But he has a heart. Yes, a soul which aspires to higher things. If Beauty wished it so... See more » |