I have nothing but praise for THE GAUMONT TREASURES DVD set released by Kino.
The Gaumont company must have kept their films in specially sealed vaults, as most of the prints are excellent; crisp and clear.
I mentioned "L'ENFANT de PARIS"(1913) before, directed by Leonce Perret. I just watched it again and became even more enthused. This film clocks in at an amazing 2 hours plus. Two years before "BIRTH OF A NATION". The story takes its time to unfold at a leisurely pace, but I never got bored. The suspense of "what's going to happen next" never lets up. But I can't help but wonder about the love between the little girl and a grown man, who seems a bit simple-minded and mentally slow, but turns out to be the one to solve the case. There is something a bit disconcerting about the way they cuddled and kissed passionately throughout the film. I wonder what contemporary European audiences thought of this relationship. There was no hint of sexual abuse going on between the girl and her captors, but the affection between her and "Bosco", was apparent. And in the end, the girl's father adopts this man, and he and his "sister" continue their kissing and cuddling. Maybe I'm making too much of this, and it is just a story of a "sweet, innocent" relationship, and I'm watching it with jaded 21st century eyes.
For those of you who haven't seen it, I highly recommend this experience. The DVD has beautiful music by Phillippe Dubosson. In fact, the whole GAUMONT TREASURES collection is a pleasure to behold.
Danny