The Red Signal (film)

1949 film
  • 4 February 1949 (1949-02-04)
Running time
98 minutesCountryFranceLanguageFrench

The Red Signal (French: Le signal rouge) is a 1949 French drama film directed by Ernst Neubach and starring Erich von Stroheim, Denise Vernac and Frank Villard.[1] It is based on a novel of the same title by Adolf Schütz and Paul Baudisch.[2] It was shot at the Victorine Studios in Nice. The film's sets were designed by the art director Louis Le Barbenchon.

Synopsis

In a small Austrian town, physician Mathias Berthold is haunted by the memory of his wife who died in a train accident. Under psychological strain he hears his wife's voice commanding him to "stop the train". In a trance-like state he attempts to sabotage the railway tracks, and is shot and wounded by the police. Realising his torment, he goes for treatment in a specialist clinic in Vienna. Doctor Irène Dreiser, who is sympathetic to Berthold, takes over his patients during his absence.

Cast

  • Erich von Stroheim, as Le docteur Mathias Berthold
  • Denise Vernac, as Dr. Irène Dreiser[3]
  • Frank Villard, as Ing. Nicolas Riedel
  • Yves Deniaud, as Le clochard Emil
  • Pierre Sergeol, as Le commissaire
  • Claude Chenard, as Poldi Paladi, chanteuse
  • Roland Clair, as Peter
  • Marcel Maupi, as Le contremaître
  • Jules Dorpe, as Le chef de gare
  • Jean Gabert, as Le gendarme
  • Claire Gérard, as Marie
  • Jean-François Martial, as Le contrôleur

References

  1. ^ "Le Signal rouge de Ernst Neubach (1949) - Unifrance". UniFrance.org.
  2. ^ "The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film", The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film, De Gruyter Saur, p. 23, 2011-09-08, doi:10.1515/9783110951943, ISBN 978-3-11-095194-3, retrieved 2024-02-09
  3. ^ Gobeil, Charlotte (1966). Hommage À Erich Von Stroheim, a Tribute, Compilation of Selected Articles and a Filmography. Canadian Film Institute. p. 50.

Bibliography

  • Bessy, Maurice & Chirat, Raymond. Histoire du cinéma français: encyclopédie des films, 1940–1950. Pygmalion, 1986
  • Rège, Philippe. Encyclopedia of French Film Directors, Volume 1. Scarecrow Press, 2009.
  • The Red Signal at IMDb


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