Directing
Étienne Arnaud
Born 1879-09-04
Regarded as one of the pioneers of French cinema, Étienne Arnaud worked on around sixty films and collaborated extensively with Émile Cohl and Louis Feuillade, two other pioneering figures of the medium.
Acting credits
Behind the camera
5.0Robin Hood is a 1912 film made by Eclair Studios when it and many other early film studios in America's first motion picture industry were based in Fort Lee, New Jersey at the beginning of the 20th century. The movie's costumes feature enormous versions of the familiar hats of Robin and his merry men, and uses the unusual effect of momentarily superimposing images different animals over each character to emphasize their good or evil qualities. The film was directed by Étienne Arnaud and Herbert Blaché, and written by Eustace Hale Ball. A restored copy of the 30-minute film exists and was exhibited in 2006 at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
Robin Hood
1912
Dr. Alexander is dedicated to his young wife Isabel, but she craves a more exciting life and the company of younger people. This creates a rift between them with Isabel becoming increasingly distant. At a social gathering, she meets the artist Jack Welby and is drawn to him. As their relationship deepens, she considers eloping with him.
Duty
1914
4.0The great men of letters and military conquest pose on subsequent pages of a very special history book.
Modern Education
1909
Directed by either Louis Feuillade (atributed) or by Etienne Arnaud (atributed), according to the Gaumont archives.
The Huguenot
1909
The life of French poet André Chénier, precursor of the Romantic movement, who was guillotined during the Revolution aged only 31.
André Chénier
1910
6.0This film presents some of the principal episodes in the life of Christopher Columbus, including the discovery of America. Here we see the meeting with Queen Isabella of Spain and her promise to fit out a fleet. The next scene gives one an idea of the Spanish galleons at sea. Months seemed to have passed and no sight of land; the sailors are very impatient and in the end mutiny. Just at this moment land is sighted, and here we get a very fine view of the "lookout" in the "crow's nest." The next scene shows how Columbus had to fight his way with the natives, while these in the end were conquered by kindness. The next scene brings us back to Spain, where he has awakened great jealousy, and is charged with cruelty by some of his crew. Investigations are made and he is cast into prison. He sees from his cell, the great welcome Amerigo Vespucci receives, as having added a new world to the throne of Spain. The authorship of this film was also ascribed to Louis Feuillade.
Christopher Columbus
1910
5.3During the Paris Commune, a boy runs across trouble at the barricade. The film is now attributed to Alice Guy-Blaché by the Gaumont company, although there is some debate about whether it was directed by Étienne Arnaud.
On the Barricade
1907
Billiard nut Michael McCue arrives home intoxicated where his wife greets him with a shower of knives, forks and plates, which he skillfully dodges before she slams the door on him. He nods off on the hall sofa into a most beautiful if fantastical dream. He is back in the billiard parlor with his trusty cue and the pair go through some mad adventures until he is awoken by his wife, sorry for her harsh treatment.
Cue and Mis-Cue
1914
5.8Two lovers perform a fandango dance. A jealous quarrel follows and the heart-broken swain decides to end it all. He throws himself from the window of his room, but instead of falling to his death, the anchor of a passing balloon intercepts his flight and he is taken high into the clouds. Laughing at his plight, the moon arouses the anger of the desperate lover and a battle between the two ensues.
Spanish Clair de Lune
1909
6.6Because he found a box washed up by the sea holding unknown contents, a poor and despised fisherman and his daughter are suddenly courted by everyone in the village.
Gold of the Seas
1933
The famous pianist Tenorini has moved into the neighbourhood. He plays a song (a spring waltz from "Alexander's Ragtime Band") on the piano; it is such a joyful tune that everyone in the neighborhood starts to dance. When he finally stops everyone is exhausted.
Oh, You Ragtime!
1912
4.8A young woman tells her parents and fiance (in flashback) about the recent sinking of the Titanic and her experiences as a passenger during the disaster. Her intended marriage now faces a new hazard because her fiance is a sailor and her parents have just been reminded of the dangers of the sea. Premiering in the United States just 29 days after the event, it is the earliest dramatization about the tragedy.
Saved from the Titanic
1912
6.0A husband, thinking his wife is unfaithful to her, has a confrontational scene with her, which causes her to have a heart attack and die. He sends his son away until, after a dozen years, he discovers she was true; whereupon he summons his son and, after a bit, they reconcile at her grave.
Chamber of Forgetfulness
1912
A girl is given an electrical charge, which causes metal objects to be attracted to her.
The Electric Girl
1914
Yannic, the farmer, falls asleep at the foot of the enchanted Dolmen despite his friends' recommendations, and is soon prey to the most fantastic nightmare.
Le Korrigan
1908
NRAn early Gaumont short.
La Marseillaise
1912
No synopsis available yet.
La poupée
1910
A young woman's involuntary head twitch is misinterpreted, as she and her husband are pursued around Paris by an ever-growing group of adoring men.
Le Tic
1907
NRWomen turn into roses in this hand-coloured nitrate short from Gaumont.
The Roses
1908
10.0Mozart feels compelled to finish a final requiem as he fears death is quickly approaching. Although the doctor has specifically ordered Mozart not to play or compose, Mozart begins a composition after listening to his student play the violin and having visions of three of his operas. After Mozart has finished his requiem a group of friends comes to visit him, and as they sing his last composition to him, Mozart dies.
The Death of Mozart
1909
5.9A little girl runs away from the maid in charge of her care and, during her escapade, she will arrest two thugs, prevent a blind man from drowning, and save some drunks from being run over by a train. According to Etienne Arnaud's own notes, he filmed this short on the 18th and 19th of July, 1907. Alice Guy, who is mistakenly attributed to have directed it, had been living in the United States long before those dates.
Four-Year-Old Heroine
1907
NRThe secretary of the young king of Bavarre sees and is impressed with a little girl. He watches her dancing in the street. When her father dies, the secretary takes the little dancer under his care and in time she becomes the premiere danseuse of the capital. The young king sees her and becomes infatuated. To win her, he showers attention and riches and in turn she pleads for the poor of the nation. The king grants her request, thereby incurring the enmity of the nobility, who lay all the blame for his acts at the little dancer's door.
The Dancer and the King
1914
7.5Criminals go on strike in protest at their treatment by the authorities, to the distress of the police and magistrates who find they have nothing to do.
The Apache Strike
1907
Adaptation of the famous tale.
Bluebeard
1907

