''Le Miracle des loups'' ( en, The Miracle of the Wolves) is a French

historical History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...

drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been ...

film from 1924, directed by

Raymond Bernard Raymond Bernard (10 October 1891 – 12 December 1977) was a French film director and screenwriter whose career spanned more than 40 years. He is best remembered for several large-scale historical productions, including the silent films '' Le Mi ...

, written by

André-Paul Antoine André-Paul Antoine (1892–1982) was a French screenwriter.Klossner p.33 He also directed two films and a documentary during the early 1930s. Selected filmography * ''The Mysteries of Paris'' (1922) * '' Le Miracle des loups'' (1924) * '' My He ...

, starring Jean-Emile Vanni-Marcoux. The scenario was based on a novel of Henry Dupuis-Mazuel "Le miracle des loups", published in 1924. Numerous scenes were filmed at the

Cité de Carcassonne The Cité de Carcassonne ( ) is a medieval citadel located in the French city of Carcassonne, in the Aude department, Occitanie region. It is situated on a hill on the right bank of the River Aude, in the southeast part of the city proper. Th ...

with thousands of participants. It was also filmed in Château de Pierrefonds, Col de Porte, Isère,

Le Sappey-en-Chartreuse Le Sappey-en-Chartreuse is a commune in the Isère department in southeastern France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territ ...

, and in studio. Raymond Bernard was a director, screenwriter, and actor. It was a debut for

Marie Glory Marie may refer to: People Name * Marie (given name) * Marie (Japanese given name) * Marie (murder victim), girl who was killed in Florida after being pushed in front of a moving vehicle in 1973 * Marie (died 1759), an enslaved Cree person in T ...

(uncredited).

Plot

The narrative takes place in the 15th century, when

Louis XI Louis XI (3 July 1423 – 30 August 1483), called "Louis the Prudent" (french: le Prudent), was King of France from 1461 to 1483. He succeeded his father, Charles VII. Louis entered into open rebellion against his father in a short-lived revol ...

was at odds with Charles of Burgundy. The king's forces are attacked by the Burgundian troops and

Beauvais Beauvais ( , ; pcd, Bieuvais) is a city and commune in northern France, and prefecture of the Oise département, in the Hauts-de-France region, north of Paris. The commune of Beauvais had a population of 56,020 , making it the most populous ...

must be defended until reinforcements can arrive. The defence of the city is led by

Jeanne Hachette Jeanne Laisné (born circa 1454 ?) was a French heroine known as Jeanne Fourquet and nicknamed Jeanne Hachette ('Joan the Hatchet'). She was the daughter of a peasant. She is currently known for an act of heroism on 27 June 1472, when she preven ...

. There are realistic scenes in which wolves attack some of the opponents of Louis XI.

Production and distribution

The film was produced by the ''Société des Films Historiques'' (Henri Dupuy-Mazuel) and distributed by the Société des Etablissements L. Gaumont. The première was at the

Paris Opéra The Paris Opera (, ) is the primary opera and ballet company of France. It was founded in 1669 by Louis XIV as the , and shortly thereafter was placed under the leadership of Jean-Baptiste Lully and officially renamed the , but continued to be k ...

and was attended by the President of France, the Premier and many other distinguished persons. In the USA it was distributed under the title ''The Miracle of the Wolves'' and in Germany under the title ''Das Wunder der Wölfe''. In Spain it was known as ''El milagro de los lobos'', and in Italy as ''Il Miracolo dei lupi''. In 1930 a sound version was produced. In 1961 another film was produced with the same scenario and the same

title A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify either generation, an official position, or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may be inserted between the f ...

(directed by

André Hunebelle André Hunebelle (1 September 1896 – 27 November 1985) was a French maître verrier (master glassmaker) and film director. Master Glass Artist After attending polytechnic school for mathematics, he became a decorator, a designer, and then a mas ...

Reception

The film was recognised as a French equivalent of the American ''

The Birth of a Nation ''The Birth of a Nation'', originally called ''The Clansman'', is a 1915 American silent epic drama film directed by D. W. Griffith and starring Lillian Gish. The screenplay is adapted from Thomas Dixon Jr.'s 1905 novel and play ''The Cla ...

'' (1915). The film turned its eye on a moment of French glory, the late 15th century, when a sense of national unity had yet to be forged. In France it was the most popular film of 1924. It was highly praised by the intelligentsia in France, for its realism, but it was derisively treated by American critics.Review Summary, Later it was claimed as a spectacular production. It has a reputation as one of the highpoints of French silent cinema. It belongs to the best French tradition.

Cast

* Jean-Emile Vanni-Marcoux: ''

Charles le Téméraire Charles I (Charles Martin; german: Karl Martin; nl, Karel Maarten; 10 November 1433 – 5 January 1477), nicknamed the Bold (German: ''der Kühne''; Dutch: ''de Stoute''; french: le Téméraire), was Duke of Burgundy from 1467 to 1477. ...

'' *

Charles Dullin Charles Dullin (; 8 May 1885 – 11 December 1949) was a French actor, theater manager and director. Career Dullin began his career as an actor in melodrama:185 In 1908, he started his first troupe with Saturnin Fabre, the ''Théâtre de Foir ...

: ''Le roi

'' *

Yvonne Sergyl Yvonne is a female given name. It is the feminine form of Yvon, which is derived from the French name Yves and Yvette. It is from the French word ''iv'', meaning "yew" (or tree). Since yew wood was used for bows, Ivo may have been an occupati ...

: ''Jeanne Fouquet, future

'' *

Romuald Joubé Romuald Charles Eugène Gaudens Jean Sylve Joubé (20 June 1876 – 14 September 1949) was a French stage and film actor whose career on the stage and in films lasted approximately thirty years. Career Born in Mazères, Ariège, Romuald Jo ...

: ''Le chevalier Robert Cottereau'' *

Armand Bernard Armand Bernard (born Armand Joseph Bernard; 21 March 1893 – 13 June 1968) was a French comic actor and composer known mainly for his prolific work in film. Selected filmography * '' Le traitement du hoquet'' (1918) * '' The Little Cafe ...

: ''Bische'' *

Ernest Maupain Ernest Maupain (1869–1944) was a French film actor who appeared in many American films during the silent era. He played the role of Professor Moriarty in the 1916 Essanay Studios film ''Sherlock Holmes''.Kabatchnik p.167 Selected filmography * ' ...

: ''Fouquet'' *

Fernand Mailly Fernand Mailly (26 February 1873) was a French actor. Born Fernand Jean-Paul Anne in Le Havre, Seine-Maritime, France. Selected filmography * ''Brigadier Gerard'' (1915) * '' Le traquenard'' (1915) * ''The Empire of Diamonds'' (1920) *'' The Agon ...

: ''

Philippe Le Bon Philippe le Bon (or Lebon) (D'Humbersin) (May 29, 1767 – December 1, 1804) was a French engineer, born in Brachay, France. There is much confusion about his life and accomplishments. His main contributions were improvements to steam engine ...

'' *

Gaston Modot Gaston Modot (31 December 1887 – 20 February 1970) was a French actor. For more than 50 years he performed for the cinema working with a number of great French directors. Biography Modot lived in Montmartre at the beginning of the 20th cen ...

: ''Le comte du Lau, sire de Châteauneuf'' *

Philippe Hériat Philippe Hériat (15 September 1898 in Paris – 10 October 1971) was a multi-talented French novelist, playwright and actor. Biography Born Raymond Gérard Payelle, he studied with film director René Clair and in 1920 made his debut in silent ...

: ''Tristan l'Ermite'' * Raymond Bernard: ''Le joueur d'échec'' * Albert Préjean: ''Un soldat'' *

Robert Guilbert The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...

: ''Le duc de Bourbon'' *

Pierre Denols Pierre is a masculine given name. It is a French form of the name Peter. Pierre originally meant "rock" or "stone" in French (derived from the Greek word πέτρος (''petros'') meaning "stone, rock", via Latin "petra"). It is a translation ...

: '' Coitier'' *

Émilien Richard Émilien is a French masculine given name and may refer to: * Émilien of Nantes (died c. 725), French religious leader canonized as a saint * Émilien Allard (1915–1977), Canadian carillonneur, pianist, clarinetist, and composer *Émilien Am ...

: ''Commines'' * Halma: Olivier le Daim * Maud Richard: (uncredited)

References

External links

Le Miracle des loups (1924)
at the ''Films de France''

at Filmkultur

at centrimage.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Miracle des loups, Le 1924 films 1920s adventure drama films 1920s historical films French adventure drama films French epic films French historical films French silent feature films 1920s French-language films Films directed by Raymond Bernard Films based on French novels Films set in the 15th century Films set in France French black-and-white films Cultural depictions of Charles the Bold Cultural depictions of Louis XI of France 1924 drama films Silent drama films Silent adventure films 1920s French films