Malpertuis ( Malpertuis: Histoire d'une maison maudite ) ( Malpertuis: The Legend of Doom House )

Malpertuis (DVD) (*)

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Original Title: Malpertuis: Histoire d'une maison maudite
Alternate Title: Malpertuis: The Legend of Doom House
Screened, competed or awarded at:
Cannes Film Festival
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
Dutch ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
Dutch ( Subtitles )
English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
English ( Subtitles )
French ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
French ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
Belgium ( PAL/Region 0 )

Running Time:
348 min

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (1.85:1)

Special Features:
2-DVD Set
Commentary
Featurette
Filmographies
Interactive Menu
Short Film
Trailer(s)

Movie filmed in 1971 and produced in:
Belgium ( France, Benelux )
France ( France, Benelux )

Directed By:
Harry Kümel

Written By:
Harry Kümel
Jean Ferry
Jean Ray

Actors:
Orson Welles ..... Cassavius
Susan Hampshire ..... Nancy/Euryale/Alice/Nurse
Michel Bouquet ..... Dideloo
Mathieu Carrière ..... Jan
Jean-Pierre Cassel ..... Lampernisse
Daniel Pilon ..... Mathias Crook
Walter Rilla ..... Eigengott
Dora van der Groen ..... Sylvie Dideloo
Charles Janssens ..... Philarette
Sylvie Vartan ..... Bets
Jet Naessens ..... Eleonora
Cara Van Wersch ..... Rosalie
Jenny Van Santvoort ..... Elodie
Fanny Winkler ..... Mother Griboin
Robert Lussac ..... Griboin (as Bob Storm)

Synopsis:

Weird baroque epic based on Jean Ray's classic novel about the haunted house Malpertuis where the old Cassave (performed by none other than Orson Welles) keeps the Greek Gods imprisoned. The editing process resulted, somewhat unfortunately, in two different versions: a Cannes version screened at the 1972 festival edition, edited by Richard Marden and a 1973 Kümel-version, edited by the director himself. Both versions are on the DVD. Among the main cast we find Mathieu Carrière as Orson Welles' young nephew, Michel Bouquet and British actress Susan Hampshire in three different roles.

On docking at a Flemish port, the sailor Yann is kidnapped and taken to Malpertuis, the vast house where his uncle Cassavius lies dying, surrounded by Yann's sisters and other relations and employees. Before Cassavius dies he tells them that they will receive a fortune, only on condition that they never leave Malpertuis.
Disc 1
Feature film
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')
Disc 2
Feature films
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)

Malpertuis is the name of an old, rambling mansion which is in reality a labyrinth where characters from Greek mythology are imprisoned by the bedridden Cassavius (Welles). He manages to keep them (as well as his nephew and niece) prisoners even after his death, through a binding testament. As Jan, the nephew, (Carrière) unravels the mystery, he discovers that he cannot escape the house because Malpertuis is far more significant than he was led to believe.

This product was added to our catalog on Monday 11 January, 2010.

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