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Passion and Performance

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Abel Gance and the End of Silent Cinema
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Abstract

This chapter begins a chronological analysis of Gance’s La Fin du Monde. Cuff analyses ‘Part One’ of the film, discussing the impact of various changes from screenplay to film. The chapter pays particular attention to the opening scenes of La Fin du Monde, exploring how and why Gance’s characterization of Jean Novalic is problematic for the viewer. Cuff discusses performance style and the use of sound in La Fin du Monde, exploring key aesthetic and narrative tensions apparent in both screenplay and film. The chapter also evaluates missing and cut scenes, highlighting the ambition of Gance’s plans and the difficulties in their realization.

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Cuff, P. (2016). Passion and Performance. In: Abel Gance and the End of Silent Cinema. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-38818-2_7

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