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Damnation du docteur Faust

Condenación del Dr. Faust

MEL 1904-A

Faust and Marguerite

(Duration of exhibit, about 18 minutes.)

1. The Laboratory of Dr. Faust.-In his laboratory, Dr. Faust, burdened with years, laments that he has become old and can now no longer enjoy the pleasures of youth. He consults his books and invokes Satan.

2. Appearance of Mephistopheles.-Satan appears in the guise of Mephistopheles. He proposes to Dr. Faust to restore him to youth on condition that he give him his soul in exchange. The doctor shrinks back in horror at the infamous bargain.

3. The Vision of Marguerite.-In order to induce him to accept, Mephistopheles causes to appear before the astonished eyes of Faust the beautiful and innocent figure of Marguerite working at her spinning-wheel.

4. Dr. Faust sells his Soul to Satan.-Dazzled by the vision, Faust, since he is unable to resist the temptation signs the fatal paper which condemns him to eternal damnation. Mephistopheles makes […] drink, a wonderful love potion, when he is instantly restored to youth in the form of a young and dashing cavalier. Mephistopheles leads Faust on to pleasure.

5. The Kermess.-Upon the square of a small German city, the students and villagers are seated at tables directly in front of a tavern and are drinking beer, while some couples are engaged in the pleasures of the dance.

6. Mephistopheles seeks a Quarrel with the Students.-Mephistopheles comes to the kermess, tears the glass from the hands of the student Wagner, tastes the liquor and throws the glass away in disgust. He pierces a cask with his sword and makes some flaming wine flow from it. The students, in their desire to drive away Mephistopheles, draw their swords and threaten him with them; but he draws around himself a magic circle against which their swords are broken. The students hold up the pommels of their swords, which are now in the form of a cross, and at the sight of them the Evil Spirit is compelled to withdraw in terror.

7. First Meeting of Faust and Marguerite.- At this moment there appears Marguerite followed by Dame Martha, her chaperon, returning from church. Faust, who has been summoned by Mephistopheles, stops her and offers her his arm in his desire to escort her home. The pure young girl is troubled at his boldness and refuses his advances, continuing her way slowly.

8. Marguerite’s Garden.-Into the garden of Marguerite, the young student Siebel comes to gather flowers. He loves her with a holy love, and he places upon the sill of her window his little offering, that it may tell Marguerite of his affection for her. As soon as he departs Faust and Mephistopheles enter; they discover Siebel’s little tribute and make fun of it. They put in a conspicuous place upon the window ledge a casket containing some costly jewels.

9. The Temptation.-Night has fallen. The moon lights the scene. Faust and Mephistopheles, hearing Marguerite, hide behind a clump of trees. She opens her window to breathe the fresh evening air while thinking of the handsome young man of whom she knows so little-not event his name. She discovers the little bouquet which Siebel has left, but she lets it fall disdainfully when she finds the casket; she opens it and drops down before the treasures in admiration of them. She adorns herself with the jewels and surveys them in a mirror. Meanwhile Faust approaches, declares to her his love, while Mephistopheles laughs fiendishly at seeing how well his ruse had succeeded and how Marguerite hears his proposals without having the ring upon her finger.

10. The Gate of the City. (Returning and disbanding of the Soldiers).-The soldiers, guided by their chief, Valentine, the brother of Marguerite, return victorious from war, where they have covered themselves with glory. The crowd acclaims them.

11. The Duel.-After having disbanded his troups, Valentine returns to his home, where he lives with his sister Marguerite. At this moment, Faust comes out of the house, while Marguerite sends disses to him from the balcony. Valentine challenges him. The two men draw their swords and fight.

12. Death of Valentine, Brother of Marguerite.-Mephistopheles, who, at the clash of arms, has come upon the scene, parries the thrusts which Valentine deals at Faust. The former is wounded and falls down. Faust and Mephistopheles with-draw, and Marguerite, who has seen the duel from her balcony, rushes down to the body of her brother and cries for aid. Valentine, supported by the neighbors who have assembled, stands up and curses Marguerite, who has done wrong and is the cause of his death. He then dies.

13. The Church.-In the interior of the church the faithful are assembled to hear divine service. Marguerite, stung by remorse, comes in her turn and falls upon her prie-dieu to implore pardon.

14. Mephistopheles prevents Marguerite from praying.-But Mephistopheles appears in one of the pillars of the church, and by recalling the past prevents her from praying. She falls over in a faint and he disappears as the worshippers gather around her.

15. The Walpurgis Night.-Mephistopheles has dragged Faust into the depths of Hell, where burn in eternal flames the souls of sinners who have departed this life. He causes to appear Marguerite, who, by her fall, has been condemned to the same tortures. Faust, at the sight of the one whom he used to love and whom he has cowardly abandoned, throws himself at her feet to implore her pardon, but the vision disappears. The Demon announces to Faust that he is going to bear him away to his empire, where he will be able to admire the queens of beauty and antiquity, they who are far more beautiful and far more desirable than Marguerite.

16. Ballet of the Celebrated Women of Antiquity.-The grotto slowly disappears and gives way to a magnificent ancient city in ruins. In the background a table is spread, weighted down with dishes and amphorae of gold, and laden with delicious fruits. At this table the souls of the departed, having approached it, take their seats. Faust and Mephistopheles ascend the stairs and sit down upon the ruins of some columns and entablatures. Then comes the entrée of the Greek and Egyptian danseuses, and their charming dances. Cleopatra and Helen, queens of antiquity, famous for their beauty, arrive followed by their trains. They pay their homage to the god of wickedness, whilst the members for their trains execute a character dance. A grand ballet is then danced by fifty women of the corps de ballet from the Grand Opera House in Paris; this is terminated by a grand apotheosis, Faust is intoxicated by the beauty of the scene which is presented before him, but Mephistopheles brutally restores him to reality by leading him back to Marguerite.

17. The Prison.-Marguerite has been imprisoned and condemned to death, Faust comes to aid her in escaping and asks her to flee away with him. She looks at him with a distracted air and seems ready to follow him when she recalls the past.

18. The Death of Marguerite.-But she resists this new temptation, she falls upon her knees and begs God to pardon and save her. God grants her prayer and she dies while Faust is dragged by Mephistopheles into the bowels of the earth.

19. The Soul of Marguerite ascends to Heaven.-The background of the prison fades away and the soul of Marguerite, supported by two angels with palms and kneel round the body of Marguerite.

The “Damnation of Faust,” our film Nº 527, which has met with considerable success, forms a natural sequence to this matchless and unprecedented work.

MEL 1905-A