Speaker A
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The following content is a fan-made restoration. The full version of "GENUINE" (1920) has never been officially restored.
Fan restoration of Robert Wiene's 1920 film Genuine, combining abridged English and French versions with new intertitles and corrected translations.
Key Takeaways
- Genuine (1920) has never had an official full restoration; this fan restoration is the most complete version currently available.
- Lost original German intertitles required reconstruction from English and French sources with corrected translations.
- The restoration reveals plot subtleties that improve the film’s appreciation compared to the previously known abridged version.
- Despite poor VHS quality in parts, this restoration is a valuable resource for silent film enthusiasts and historians.
- The film is a significant work by Robert Wiene, notable for its connection to The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and expressionist cinema.
Summary
- This video presents a fan-made restoration of the 1920 silent film Genuine by Robert Wiene.
- The full original version has never been officially restored; this restoration compiles a 43-minute tinted English abridgement and an 80-minute French VHS rip.
- New intertitles were created in the style of Wiene's The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, using English and translated French sources due to lost German intertitles.
- Translation errors in previous English versions were corrected for accuracy in this restoration.
- Tinting was applied to missing segments based on the 43-minute version's color cues.
- The VHS source quality is poor but represents the best available footage at present.
- The film's plot involves Genuine, a priestess turned vampire-like figure, and the tragic events surrounding painter Percy and his nephew Florian.
- The restoration aims to improve appreciation of the film by presenting subtleties lost in earlier abridged versions.
- The video includes detailed chapter timestamps covering the film’s narrative and restoration notes.
- Restoration was completed by Achille Brunet in November 2023.
Chapters
- 00:00Acknowledgement and Restoration Overview
- 00:16Sources Used for Restoration
- 00:34Intertitles Reconstruction
- 00:56Tinting and Quality Notes
- 01:27Restoration Commentary and Credits
- 02:28Introduction to Percy and the Painting
- 04:12Genuine’s Background and Enslavement
- 05:58Mysteries of the House and Apprenticeship
- 07:47Public Inquiry and Florian’s Experience
- 53:13Climactic Events and Tragic Ending
Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown
Speaker A
However, a tinted 43-minute abridgement has been digitalized and released only as a complement to "THE CABINET OF DR CALIGARI," Robert Wiene's previous film.
Speaker A
Though, a full-length VHS rip of an 80-minute copy with French intertitles is available online.
Speaker A
This restoration has been produced by compiling these two versions. New intertitles have been created in a style analogous to Dr. Caligari's ones.
Speaker A
As no German intertitles seem to have survived, the intertitles were taken from the 43-minute English version, and for those that were missing, translated from the French copy.
Speaker A
English translations of this copy available online presented a number of translation errors, so they have been corrected here.
Speaker A
The missing segments were also tinted according to what could be seen on the 43-minute version.
Speaker A
The French print seems to be tinted also, but it is sometimes so dark it was difficult to say.
Speaker A
Apologies for the poor quality of the VHS segments, but this is the best that can be found for now.
Speaker A
This film has often been compared, for worse, to Caligari, and thus considered less good.
Speaker A
Seeing the 43-minute version, I tended to agree, but in the light of the complete version, I think some subtleties of the plot that had been cut up really improve its appreciation.
Speaker A
Hopefully, the reels of this complete French version will turn up one day and allow this film to be restored and appreciated to the full.
Speaker A
—Restoration by Achille Brunet, Nov. 2023. GENUINE The Tragedy of a Vampire A film by Robert Wiene. Script by Carl Mayer.
Speaker A
Camera by Willy Hameister. Set design by Walter Reimann & Cesar Klein. With Fern Andra as Genuine.
Speaker A
As he did every day, Percy, the painter, was engrossed in the reading of his favorite story.
Speaker A
"Since painting his last canvas, Percy has become irritable. His eyes are worn out, he seems to be going mad.
Speaker A
If his artwork is causing this, shouldn't he get rid of it?" "I heard it said that you have painted a wonderful portrait of the heroine from an old legend. I would like to buy it." "I won't sell that painting—no matter what price might be offered."
Speaker A
"We beg you to come back tomorrow, sir. We will make him change his mind." Beautiful and perverse, Genuine had been purchased at a slave market by an old eccentric.
Speaker A
As priestess of a religion of esoteric mysteries, she had witnessed from her childhood the most cruel spectacles which she would later perpetrate herself.
Speaker A
Priestess of a religion full of strange rites, Genuine, at first, loathed acts of cruelty—In the midst of a war between rival tribes, she was taken captive—
Speaker A
—and wound up in a slave market.
Speaker A
"This one is Genuine—She was a priestess of a conquered tribe—She is beautiful but they have perverted her—She has become savage and barbaric." "Let's lock her in there so she cannot escape." "Did you recognize him? That was Guyard, the barber. Every day, at exactly noon, he goes into that house.
Speaker A
He won't say anything about what he sees in there. We don't like his mysterious airs—" "—More here—not a hair more, not a hair less to the right than to the left—" As usual, he falls asleep—On the first of each month, the provisions arrive—
Speaker A
"Let me go upstairs once, just once—" "No, my angel. No, my beauty. Up there is life with its ugliness.
Speaker A
Here, everything smiles at you. Only here can you be completely happy." "Though I've always advised against it, I'm now ready to take my nephew Florian as my apprentice.
Speaker A
Let him come as soon as possible. Yours, Guyard." "If only I could climb where I could be free, to enjoy being young and fall in love!" "Though I've always advised against it, I'm now ready to take my nephew Florian as my apprentice—
Speaker A
"You are going to start your apprenticeship. Life is beginning for you." Life begins! "There are strange things going on in that house. Why do they shut themselves like that?
Speaker A
Let's go file a complaint with the magistrate. The barber must be interrogated. Then he'll be compelled to talk!" "These past 70 years, as you should know, this house belonged to the noble line of Melo.
Speaker A
Lord Melo is an eccentric, it's true. But he is also our benefactor." Pay to the magistrate $5,000 for the poor of the city. —Lord Melo.
Speaker A
An unexpected summons—You shall come tomorrow exactly at noon for the purposes of public inquiry. —The magistrate.
Speaker A
You shall come tomorrow exactly at noon for the purposes of public inquiry. —The magistrate.
Speaker A
"As you see, I shall not be able to come here at noon tomorrow." "Can't my nephew Florian take my place just this once?" The next day—After all these years, can I come to see you? —Your grandson, Percy.
Speaker A
Florian's first experience in life! "My grandson, Percy, tells me he is coming; he may come—How will Genuine react when she sees him?
Speaker A
How much of her cruel instincts will she show?" "Let him wait!" "The ladder—I have found the way!" "The negro is coming; quick, the ring! Grab it! Show it to him and he will obey you." "Genuine, my love!"
Speaker A
"Kill yourself, kill yourself! Like in the sacrifices of long ago—What a beautiful proof of love!" "Kill him, and bring me the proof!" "GENUINE! GENUINE!" "Go away." "Genuine—" "She wants to see the proof—" "GENUINE! GENUINE!" "When and how did my grandfather die?"
Speaker A
"He died!" "Is he asleep?" The desire to practice her irresistible wiles has returned. "Who are you?" "I am GENUINE." "You are beautiful, Genuine." My dear friend Curzon. I am happy. Come and join me.
Speaker A
I need to talk about my happiness. Come and bring the finest dresses and ornaments you can find.
Speaker A
"Ask me what you will—the biggest, the most beautiful, the most heroic—so that I can prove the extent of my love!" "I am a murderer, a murderer!" "That house is cursed—My nephew, in his fever, speaks of murder!"
Speaker A
"Henry, I am going mad, that woman wants me—dead!" "Percy is dead." "Dead!" "I lied, Percy is still alive." "No, you must live—because I love you!" "We are living this evening. We will get out of this horrible house—"
Speaker A
Purified by love, Genuine told her past, of which she suddenly understood the horror of it all.
Speaker A
"—and what happened to Florian?" Irresistible passion drove him towards the fatal dwelling. "She's a witch! It's a witch who lives there! Florian, my nephew, is bewitched—" "You FLORIAN!" "I am happy, Florian—I LOVE!" "It's not you, Florian, not you—"
Speaker A
"Genuine, you made me a murderer—I love you—I cannot live without you." "No, it's not you I love." "My love—Then—Then—You will die too!" "Dead!—She is dead!" "What a dreadful nightmare!" To Mr. William Percy, $100,000—Lord Melo.
Topics:Genuine 1920Robert Wienesilent film restorationexpressionist cinemaCarl MayerWalter ReimannCesar KleinFern AndraThe Cabinet of Dr Caligarifan restoration
