Why let a crisis go to waste when you’ve got a 1934 French film like The Scandal! Helmed by director Marcel L'Herbier, released in the tumultuous pre-war France, this cinematic gem dances around political intrigue and rebellion—at least for its time. Interestingly, with today's political climate, one might opine that our current society, obsessed with virtue-signaling and identity politics, is just as scandalous, sans the charm of black and white cinema.
The Scandal revolves around a high-society mix of ambition, betrayal, and—you guessed it—scandal! The film presents the story of a political blackmail scandal involving the private lives of public figures. If that sounds familiar, it’s because it is. The filmmakers tapped into France's rich vein of political cynicism to create a story that felt all too real to its 1934 audience. Today, many would see parallels with today’s saga of behind-the-scenes power plays parading as transparency in governments.
Marcel L'Herbier, already celebrated for his avant-garde filmmaking, didn’t shy away from poking at societal structures and government hypocrisy. The fact that such themes were as resonant in 1934 as they are today might suggest that some things never change. Or maybe the real scandal is how such a daring film could speak to our times. The setting of Paris, with its genteel façades hiding sordid dealings, is the perfect backdrop for L'Herbier’s narrative. Oh, the irony, Paris, often romanticized, was also a hotbed of political upheaval in the '30s—a reminder that even the City of Lights has a shadow.
Performance-wise, the film is distinguished by a strong cast, including Albert Préjean and Louis Jouvet. These actors weren’t afraid to showcase the duplicity of the human condition, providing timely performances that underlined the movie’s message about the corrupt nature of power. Say what you will about pre-war France, but they did know how to make their films speak volumes with mere facial expressions.
What makes The Scandal even more remarkable is how it anticipates some of cinema’s more modern narrative techniques. It didn’t just serve as a mirror for its times but rather as a window into the chaos and complexity of society. L'Herbier's masterpiece reminds us that corruption festers best in the limelight. As in the 1930s Parisian society, today’s world is just as flashy, though perhaps bereft of classic French charm.
A word to the wise film buff—don’t go looking to The Scandal for a fair and balanced critique of the political machinations. Its beauty lies in its unapologetic portrayal of a system gone astray. It’s not a nuanced take but rather a bold indictment of authority. Cinematic and bold, its striking compositions were not meant to comfort but to challenge the audience's understanding of their social contract.
Unfortunately, history seems to repeat itself. But isn’t it fascinating how movies like The Scandal can stir up thought, and sometimes disagreement, among viewers? Would its director, Marcel L’Herbier, have predicted that future audiences would still be debating the legitimacy and morality of those in power?
The film stands as a testament to a more poignant and incisive form of filmmaking. It’s fashionable today to look at cinemas as escapism, but 1934's The Scandal defied those expectations. While saturated with period-specific aesthetics, its relevance resonates even in a modern, perhaps hyper-sensitive, society. Dare I say it, but those in power could take a lesson from an old black-and-white film. Or maybe the timeless message of power's propensity for abuse is one that will always need retelling.
It’s time to revisit films like The Scandal (1934), especially when today’s world too often thrives on carefully crafted narratives that don't hold a candle to the unvarnished portrayal of truth in yesteryears’ art. Give this film a watch, and ponder its classic black-and-white morals. You might find its audacious take on authority a bit unsettling, but that’s where its brilliance lies.