The Bell Ringer's Daughter (1906)

A handsome yet insincere wastrel comes between a father and his daughter-and the damage done to their homes and reputations may be more than anything can ever repair...

Early auteur Albert Capenelli forgoes his famous outlandish fantasies this time and lends his directorial talents and cameraman's eye to a straightforward character-driven drama. Actors Gabriel Moreau and Renée Coge are more than capable of telling the story with no dialogue whatsoever-and between the acting talent on display and the Director's skill with blocking, framing and fluid camerawork, none is needed in this ten minute feature. In addition to the concentrated emotions I found at play in this short drama, I was also astonished to find such an amazingly clear print-I suspect an AI-corrected print here as there seems to be a correction in timing, not to mention the perfect preservation of the famous Pathe tinting of the film. I'm not sure who added the third-party soundtrack, but I definitely believe that it enhances the tale told here-and I definitely recommend it to those who need a concentrated hit of drama during their lunch breaks...Tinted, Music.