Entre trahison et restitution :Controverses autour des ressorties françaises du serialLes Mystères de New York

Abstract

Pearl White’s serials The Exploits of Elaine, The New Exploits of Elaine and The Romance of Elaine were released in France, week after week, in 1915-1916, in a shortened version by Pathé under the title Les Mystères de New York. It had a tremendous success. In 1929 it was rereleased for the opening of a new movie theatre in Paris, in an adaptation that was presumably made by Jean Epstein. Many people were appalled by this version and it sparkled a great debate on how films should be treated like any other work of art. A new print was found later by the Coopérative internationale du film indépendant and another version was released in 1932, thought to be more respectful to the original’s spirit. Could this be the beginning of a new way of dealing with film material, a quest for integrity when reediting an old film – something that would later be called “restoration”?

Keywords

• restoration
• multiple version
• serial
• rerelease