Under the Claw (1912) Review- By Michael J. Carlisle

Title: Under the Claw
Year: 1912
Director: Jean Durand
Country: France
Language: N/A

All but forgotten for decades, Jean Durand was a madcap director of whimsical and surreal pictures that seemed quite unique for the time. They were dangerous, violent, and yet often were injected with bits of humor. In the midst of the chaos of his filmography, there would be moments of surprising beauty in the natural landscapes or a trick of the light. He is most noted for his surreal Onesime series starring Ernest Bourbon, though I enjoy Under the Claw moreso

Set in Zimbabwe, the story opens with gold prospector Tim Warest (Lucien Bataille) receiving word that his claim has been overrun with problems. There’s drought, disease and hungry beasts eating the laborers. Warest sends word that he is coming personally and sets out at once. He dies, leaving the mine to his widow. The villains want the widow to sell the mine, but she isn't interested, so they plot to kill her.

The film’s biggest asset is the main actress. Berthe Dagmar is extremely impressive as the film’s heroine. Dancer, acrobat, and lion tamer among other qualities, she proves to have the onscreen charisma to rival Lilian Gish! Director Jean Durand would see something great within her, as they were married until her death in the 30's.

The scenery also proved to be impressive; natural scenery blends with gracefully painted backdrops to create an enchanting atmosphere. Durand used silhouettes to excellent effect, often heightening the mood of the picture. Other stunning visuals help enhance the many jokes and outlandish deaths.

At just 25 minutes Under the Claw is a fairly easy watch, in-fact you'll wish it was even longer! The  the freewheeling world of pre-feature cinema was quite interesting, I imagine it would have been a treat to see a Durand film at the time. A poetic melodrama-comedy, this movie is hard to forget.