MovieChat Forums > Le corbeau (1943) Discussion > American references in Le Corbeau

American references in Le Corbeau

posted 13 years ago by viaggio1
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I found 2 interesting American references Le Corbeau; --- anyone else find others ?

First of all, when we the audience first get to read a letter from the Raven (over Dr. Germain's shoulder, as he is being spied on through the keyhole by the young girl), part of the translation of the French text (not accurately portrayed in the subtitles) is "I have the American eye on you" (J'ai l'oeil AMÉRICAIN). Originally, this expression was a reference to the sharp eyesight of Hawkeye in the novels of James Fenimore Cooper, but it also later came to mean a "private eye".

(Interesting string on the derivation of this French term can be found here):
http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=49270

Secondly, when Dr. Germain first picks up the stuffed raven (and especially in the publicity still of him holding and contemplating the raven, visible as the menu on the Criterion DVD), he bears an uncanny resemblance to Edgar Allen Poe (balding, short-cropped black hair; black mustache), whose most famous poem is, after all, The Raven !

Perhaps Clouzot was presenting a bit of a visual joke --- there does not seem to be much else in the movie referring to Poe, outside of the grisliness implied by Dr. Germain's washing the blood off of his hands at the beginning of the film, and of his apparent reputation for "relieving mothers of their burdens" --- the mothers apparently not having asked for this "help".

"A bride without a head !"
"A wolf without a foot !"

[–] viaggio1 13 years ago

In retrospect, I suppose that there IS a strong influence of EA Poe in Le Corbeau:

There is the fierce paranoia of "The Telltale Heart," and the onslaught of everyone eventually becoming caught up and affected, just as in "The Masque of the Red Death." No one can escape --- the townspeople are all "walled-in" with their torment, just as the victim is in the "Cask of Amontillado" --- everyone is affected, and no one gets away.

There are a tormented brother & sister in "The Fall of the House of Usher," although the character Denise seems more tormented than her schoolteacher brother, in the wake of their infirmities.

Much madness in Poe, reflected in the disturbed characters of Denise, the "later" Laura Vorzet, and of course in all of the characters in the movie, allowing their venomous feelings to overflow their better judgment in copycat hate letters. This is especially true in the pathological behavior of Dr. Vorzet.

Any other Poe possibilities ?

"J'ai l'oeil AMÉRICAIN !"

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] viaggio1 13 years ago

Thank you for your kind comments !

There's a cool discussion of the various permutations of "l'oeil AMÉRICAIN" through time here:

http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=49270

I agree that Clouzot had to have been familiar with Poe's works, and that there are multiple layers of meaning in his works. The problem is, I don't think that even the French could fully comprehend Le Corbeau --- as I'm sure you've heard, Clouzot was fired from the French-based German film company over Le Corbeau (perceived as anti-Nazi), and then was punished for 10 years after the war by the French (Le Corbeau seen as anti-French) !!

That being said, I am sure that there are subtleties in Le Corbeau that are lost on us, not being French, and not having lived through the 2nd World War.

But I wonder if Le Corbeau itself had been damaged by Clouzot having to live within such constraints --- trying to appear neutral to the Nazis, while trying to prove to the French that he was no collaborator, while trying to teach humans something about themselves !

"J'ai l'oeil AMÉRICAIN"

[–] John-367 9 years ago

I'm not a French speaker but, as I understand it, the usual translation of "Le Corbeau" is "The Crow". If this is the case, and assuming that Poe's The Raven isn't known in France as Le Corbeau, then any resemblance to Poe is probably accidental.
Why at least one set of English subtitles translate Le Corbeau as The Raven I don't know.

[–] viaggio1 9 years ago

...assuming that Poe's The Raven isn't known in France as Le Corbeau, then any resemblance to Poe is probably accidental.

Hi John-367 ---

Due to the vagaries of language, corbeau can be translated as either "raven" or "crow;" likewise, "crow" can be translated as either corneille or corbeau.

However, Poe's poem The Raven is definitely translated as Le Corbeau:

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Corbeau_(po%C3%A8me)

Enjoy !

J'ai l'œil AMÉRICAIN !

[–] John-367 9 years ago

Thanks Viaggio, that solves that,
Regards
John

[–] viaggio1 9 years ago

Thanks Viaggio, that solves that,
Regards
John

Thank you, John ---

Somehow, the late, humid summer seems perfect for a re-watching of this creepy classic !

J'ai l'œil AMÉRICAIN !