MALPERTUIS

By : Harry Kümel

With : Orson Welles, Susan Hampshire, Michel Bouquet, Mathieu Carrière, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Sylvie Vartan, Johnny Hallyday
Belgique, 1973, PAL, 16/9 - 119 + 107 min
toutes zones, couleur, dolby digital 2.0


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MALPERTUIS

Directed by : Harry Kümel

With : Orson Welles, Susan Hampshire, Michel Bouquet, Mathieu Carrière, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Sylvie Vartan, Johnny Hallyday

Belgium, 1973, PAL, 16/9 - 119 + 107 min
All zones, Colors, dolby digital 2.0

DVD 1 : Language : Dutch / Subtitles : English, Dutch, French

DVD 2 : Languages : English, Dutch, French

Even for Europe in the high-baroque 1970s, MALPERTUIS - also known as THE LEGEND OF DOOM HOUSE - is a strange cinematic beast. The Flemish filmmaker Harry Kümel's primary-colored fever dream, heavy on the reds and blues, opens as young sailor Jan (the androgynous Mathieu Carrière) goes on leave. Time and place are not indicated, but the dialogue is in Dutch and the townspeople appear to have stepped out of a Breughel painting. While searching for his boyhood home, Jan wanders into a crowded cabaret, where he's propositioned by the ravishing Bets (French vocalist Sylvie Vartan) before being accosted by the devious Dideloo (Michel Bouquet). When he awakes, Jan finds himself in Malpertuis, labyrinthine mansion of his Uncle Cassavius (a putty-nosed Orson Welles). Other lodgers include taxidermist Philaris (Charles Janssens) and resident madman Lampernist (Jean-Pierre Cassel). After reuniting with his sister, Nancy (Susan Hampshire, who plays three parts), Jan falls for Dideloo's secretive daughter, Euryale (Hampshire). Then Cassavius reads his will to the entire clan. It stipulates that all beneficiaries must remain at Malpertuis. The last one standing will inherit the estate. And with that, the bodies start dropping until Jan unlocks his uncle's secret.

Based on the horror-fantasy novel by Jean Ray, MALPERTUIS followed Kümel's "erotic nightmare of vampire lust" DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS. This fairytale for adults represents the epitome of surrealist cinema - helped immeasurably by the atmospheric cinematography of THE GO-BETWEEN's Gerry Fisher. Originally released in an edited English version, the director has restored the original language and length. Both versions are on the DVD. Among the main cast we find Mathieu Carrière as Orson Welles' young nephew, Michel Bouquet and the British actress Susan Hampshire in three different roles. This two-disc set includes both editions plus commentary, liner notes, an interview with the filmmaker, and featurettes on Hampshire, Ray, and Welles.

Content:

DVD 1:
MALPERTUIS (119')
Documentaries: THE MALPERTUIS ARCHIVES (37'); ORSON WELLES UNCUT (25'); SUSAN HAMPSHIRE, ONE ACTRESS, THREE PARTS (11'); MALPERTUIS REVISITED (4'); JEAN RAY, JOHN FLANDERS (7')
Commentary track by Harry Kümel in Dutch, French and English (119')

DVD 2:
MALPERTUIS (Cannes version - English, 107')
MALPERTUIS (Cannes version - French, 107')
Trailers : MALPERTUIS
Short films : AETHER (H. Kümel & H. Wuyts, 1960, 7'); THE GRAVE-KEEPER (DE GRAFBEWAKER, television film by Harry Kümel made for the BRT, based on Kafka, 1965, 35', no subtitles)