"MONEY (1928) Realization by Marcel L'Herbier" "MONEY" "Adapted and realized by Marcel L'HERBIER" "Inspired by the Novel of Emile ZOLA" "Special General Meeting of the CALEDONIAN EAGLE CORPORATION" "AGENDA:" "Increase of Capital" "I am Saloman Massias." "I am the majority shareholder with 4,000 shares, and I oppose the increase..." "In this bitter struggle the generals keep to the rear." "Baron Defrance was a straw man." "Behind him   there is the daring financier Nicolas Saccard, director of the Universal Bank." "Caledonian Eagle is one of his major investments." "But who is hiding behind Massias ?" "I call the question on the increase of capital." "If the Caledonian falls, Saccard falls." "I vote no." "The news spreads quickly." "Shareholders crowd the bank at once." "Massias?" "Who does he work for?" "For himself ..." "I think ..." "The old and powerful Gunderman bank, directed by Alphonse Gunderman   controls much of the world's oil." "Its formidable organization and its agents throughout the world ensure that it is well abreast of all goings on." "It's Gunderman !" "Saccard needed this lesson." "He'll pay for this." "STOCK MARKET SENSATION!" "Big fall in oil !" "Caledonian hits new lows Universal Bank in trouble" "With no publicity, without financial help, preparing his next flight out of his own means, Jacques HAMELIN has already succeeded ..." ""I no longer want you to go, I'm too worried ... "" "Could you and your wife lunch with me ?" "The place is full of financiers!" "Some could be interested in your overseas projects." ""Why turn him down ?" "Wouldn't you like us to be rich ?"" ""Are you in love with ... money ?"" ""I love it ... for you."" "Méchain " " Old bird of bad omen, known for selling only worthless stock." ""I have Caledonian shares, cheap ... "" "Yesterday triumphant, today shunned by all, even by the mistress whose fortune he had made." "Cut-throat speculator and a greedy woman, always on the side of the winner, Baroness Sandorf has cut him off since his fall." ""Why, it's you." "Any news ?"" ""No ... thank you ... nothing."" ""Around you you'll find the top names in finance, they've got millions at their disposal."" "" ... the top names ... "" ""That man who's looking at you could find Jacques useful; but these days he's no longer a major player ..."" "" ... and here's Gunderman, the master of all."" ""He's come to toy with his victim."" ""Is it true what Madame told me ?" "You are considering retirement ?"" ""Just between the two of us, you've got good reason to."" ""Joking, that's all." "This isn't the time for me to retire." "I'm going to double the capital of the 'Universal.'"" ""I'm increasing it by 100 million."" ""The deal is done." "Let me come tomorrow morning to talk about it."" ""Now's the moment to catch him."" ""My friend Jacques Hamelin is putting something together which should interest a man like you." "Would you care to speak with him ?"" ""I am free this evening." "Come fetch me at 9:00 ..." "we'll go to his place."" ""This unexplored part of French Guyana, where I made a forced landing because of engine trouble, is full of unsuspected riches."" ""Don't you want to see the documents that Hamelin brought back ?"" ""In the area where I've taken an option   there is ... oil   oil of exceptional quality   which would make the ideal aviation fuel."" ""I would like 48 hours to look over the matter."" ""So ... we'll be rich ?"" ""We shouldn't have anything to do with Saccard."" "In spite of the worrying decline of the Universal Bank, Saccard's energy returned thanks to the Hamelin business." ""The customers are shouting ..." "they're shouting ... "" ""Crédit Bordelais has refused the loan of three million that they'd agreed to yesterday."" ""I don't care !"" ""We need to hold out for five days -- and then we will triumph !"" ""Later ..." "Gunderman is waiting for me."" "Baroness Sandorf places her bet that Gunderman will outmanoeuver Saccard." ""Should I buy Universal ..." "or sell ?" "..."" ""Do you want advice at all costs ?"" ""Do as I do." "Never gamble."" ""Gunderman called me here for some high-level business."" ""Yes ..." "I'm doubling my capital."" ""I would like to be assured of your neutrality."" ""My neutrality ?" "Never !" "I will stand firm against all such brazen speculations." "They bring nothing but ruin."" ""He's got a deal with Gunderman !"" ""That's your final word;" "well then ... enemies ?"" ""About ... the three million that was promised ... it's settled."" "Creditors are harassing Lena." "Jacques Hamelin works without a break." "Saccard gets ready." ""That's the man we need as technical director and ... as Vice-President of the Executive Board. ..."" "For this reason we are obliged to repossess in order to pay off our claims." ""The deal is set." "You husband will have the contract this evening."" ""He can sign without a qualm." "Gunderman is with us."" "Money -- sometimes benevolent -- gives Hamelin equipment perfectly suited to his needs." "The general meeting reconvenes." ""What reason do you have to refuse the vice-presidency ?"" ""None ... "" ""I refuse ... "" "" ... if he accepts ... "" "" .. he'll be kept close to you ... "" ""Why refuse, since it's a matter of YOUR work ?" "..."" ""The meeting is getting restless." "Start the session."" "The session finally begins." "Count Deparry is nominated to preside over the meeting." ""For vice-president of the Executive Board, next to Baron Defrance, president ... "" ""On these written conditions, which you shall read to everyone. ..."" ""I accept ..."" ""... for vice-president of the Executive Board ..."" "" ..." "Jacques Hamelin accepts ... "" ""On one condition ..."" "" ... he remains an aviator !" "and will undertake a great long-distance flight !" ""... from Paris to French Guyana, in his new airplane, powered by our new fuel ..." "" ... 7,000 kilometers over water ..." ""You cannot do that !" "..."" ""Yes, I can." "But I'd rather stay myself ..."" "Saccard saw nothing in Hamelin's decision but its enormous publicity value." ""In three weeks you'll be in Cayenne." "Do whatever is necessary and telegraph when you can using this code."" "The crowd swarm the windows of the Universal." ""You as well ... what do you want now ?"" ""It's not for me ..." "It's for a client ..."" ""As for me ... it's not the right time ..."" ""I'll be back ..."" ""I am buying 20,000 of Universal."" ""Put an order in ... 3,000 shares ..." "through London."" "" ... 4,500 through Amsterdam ... "" ""... 3,000 through Berlin, 6,000 New York ..."" ""2,000 through Tokyo."" ""The boss is buying ..." "munitions."" "SACCARD" " LONDON IF YOU WANT TO MEET HIM BE IN THE CLUB TONIGHT ALONE." "AMSTERDAM OFFICE DIRECTOR AGREEABLE TO GO ALONG ON NEW TRIP." "And a month later ..." "The greatest transatlantic crossing" "The Stock Exchanges of every great city followed avidly the progress of the Universal." "And its shares rose rapidly." ""He's leaving."" ""Take me with you ... "" ""Weather forecasts excellent through the entire route."" ""Perfect weather over the ocean !"" ""The engine performs marvellously."" "" ... any your eyes ?" "You're not sick, are you ?" "..."" "By the best estimate the flight should take 40 hours -- 40 hours of mortal agony for Lena." "... 40 hours of manoeuvers and speculations for Saccard." ""If he makes it ..." "I lose big."" ""As long as ... "" "The fever has infected everyone." ""Hello, hello .... this is Radio Paris."" ""The steamship Surinam has spotted Jacques Hamelin's airplane 600 miles off the Cape Verde Islands."" ""...flying at low altitude, heading toward the south-west."" "And on this good news the exchange opens." "The same night, while the mob awaits the triumphal news." "At the Universal Bank, a celebration for the hero." ""Hamelin's heroic flight -- only one force made it possible."" "money!" "HAMELIN, CONQUEROR OF THE ATLANTIC, DUE TO LAND IN COLOMONTIBO, FRENCH GUYANA, AT 6:30 PM." "Hamelin has thus broken both world records, for distance and duration of flight." "END of the First Part" "After the triumph." ""How are London and Berlin ?" ""Hello, hello ... this is Radio Paris."" ""A Japanese source ..."" "...has announced a sighting ..."" ""... 100 miles off the island of Trinidad ..."" ""... of Jacques Hamelin's airplane ... "" ""... crashed ... "" "" ... and on fire ... "" "" ... in the water ... "" "The Tokyo market triggered a drop elsewhere, and in Paris, reeling from the tragic news, the decline of the Universal accelerated." "MAZAUD " " CAYENNE -- 6:00 PM RECEIVED 50 PARCELS STOP SENT TO BACK STOP --MAZAUD" "Hamelin landed safely 50 km south of expected site." "Official confirmation will arrive subsequently." ""What a catastrophe !"" ""We must hold on ..."" ""under 500 ... "" ""...buy everything."" ""At 480 ..." "I'm buying Universal."" ""The news was false, he made it through."" ""HE'S ALIVE !"" "LANDED SAFELY TERRIFIC FLIGHT STOP STARTING ON TEST HOLES AT ONCE STOP HUGS AND KISSES JACQUES" ""You knew this ?"" ""I won't deny it ..." "in our common interest !"" ""We've made a fortune..." "do you understand ?"" "Since his arrival Jacques Hamelin has worked miracles." "But the climate is hard ... weakening ..." ""Sign these papers for Paris ..." "a mere formality."" "My love, I hope your eye trouble doesn't return." "I'm moving right now to a new flat that M. Saccard, always so helpful, chose for us." "Saccard has only one belief:" "MONEY." "With money he can buy anything ... everything ... even love !" ""Make up at once a checkbook in the name of Jacques Hamelin."" ""Debit my account for ALL of the Hamelin checks."" ""Madame Hamelin is the boss's latest !" "..."" ""For you ... 125,000 francs."" ""A little port ?"" ""We haven't any ... "" ""I bought a bit of estate jewelry ..." "please keep it ..."" "" ... it's not a gift !" "I put it on your husband's account ... "" ""I'm sure it's too expensive for me ..." ""Too expensive ... ?" "15,000 ... it's a bargain !"" ""I had thought that this checkbook would be useful to you."" ""You husband left me power of attorney." "You can sign in his name."" "At home with Baroness Sandorf." ""Against whom did you win that ?"" ""Against ... one of you friends:" "Gunderman."" ""Why so jealous?" "You don't love me any more ... "" ""You love someone else ... "" ""And they say that you're showering her with money ..."" ""What do they say next ?"" ""They say ... that you took on an incompetent director, for no reason but his wife's beautiful eyes ... "" ""They say ... they you're going to go under ... "" ""Who says that ?"" ""Gunderman"" ""You're the ONLY one who says this." "You're betting on my ruin."" ""In a month, the Universal will have capital of 200 million."" ""Go tell that to your Gunderman !"" ""That's all I wanted to know ..."" "Saccard didn't know a moment's peace." "The money he thought he'd enslaved had become his master." "CAYENNE FRENCH GUYANA WORK GOING POORLY NEED URGENT CONSULTATIONS IN PARIS LEAVING NEXT STEAMSHIP STOP " " HAMELIN" ""Everything's going smoothly !" "Excellent news !" "Let's go !"" ""I think it's better to put off your return for ... "" ""three months ..."" ""I've come to invite you to a soirée that I'm giving in your honor."" ""From the very first day ..."" ""I have loved you ..."" ""You forget ..." "what it is you owe me ..."" ""...forgive me ..." "I worship you ..."" ""Think about it !" "..."" ""Your husband owes me 300,000 francs ..."" ""You've been writing bad checks every day ... and ..."" ""... that means prison !"" "For Saccard the struggle begins once more." "After due consideration we must inform you that on the 15th instant you made over to us a 16,500 fr. check with insufficient funds." ""They say that Saccard is guilty of serious irregularities ..."" ""Any shareholder of the Universal can bring a complaint."" ""Someone ought to warn M. Hamelin ..."" ""Pay the check right now and ..."" "" ..." "I'll come to your soirée ..."" ""M. Saccard, I've been told ..."" ""... that you've falsified the accounts !" "I've filed a complaint against you."" ""You're listening to Sandorf !" "..." "Then you don't know how she schemes against us."" "" ..." "I'm not withdrawing my complaint ..."" ""As you wish." "Your husband signed the balance sheets with me; if I am compromised, he will be too." ""me, I have paid."" ""... now you pay too ..."" ""If Saccard were to vanish the Universal would bounce back in a shot ..."" ""What foolishness that would have been."" ""A block of our shares is coming on to the market."" ""Who dares to sell ?"" ""Mme. Hamelin."" ""Massive selling in London."" ""Also in Amsterdam ..."" ""Liquidations in New York ... "" ""The complaints have been sworn out ..." "it looks like they're coming to arrest Saccard ..."" "A plane brings Jacques Hamelin from Bordeaux." ""Guide me."" ""My eyes ... it's nothing ... a temporary setback ... it will pass ... but ..."" ""I have been arrested."" "Money blows away like a cyclone." ""In this courtroom, one might say, MONEY itself is on trial."" ""No need to thank me." "You husband is an admirable engineer, and his invention has a great future."" ""Saccard, money is a good servant but a bad master." "You have piled ruin upon ruins ..."" ""You have done even worse." "You very nearly soiled the name of a hero."" "Now that I hold the majority of the shares in the Universal Bank I will honor all verifiable and legitimate demands. --Gunderman" ""Bastard !" "The whole business ..." "it was him !"" "Gunderman's intervention put an end to the civil action, and while Jacques Hamelin, his eyesight returning, was acquitted   Saccard ..." ""In six months ..." "I'll be free ..." "and I've already got an idea ..." "for a brilliant piece of business ..."" ""..." "If you want ..." "I can make you money, lots of money."" "THE END"