The Zola-Rochefort Duel (1898)

Documentary | 1898

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HISTORY

The Biograph catalog summarized this film as follows: “This is a replica in all its details of the famous duel with rapiers between Emile Zola the novelist, and Henri Rochefort, the statesman. The duel takes place on the identical ground where the original fighting occurred; seconds and doctors being present as in the original combat. The picture gives one a very good idea of how a French affair of honor is conducted.”
       From all indications, the original duel never took place.
       The American Mutoscope Company was co-founded in Dec 1895 by former Edison Manufacturing Company inventor William K. L. Dickson (who left Edison in Apr of that year), fellow inventors Herman Casler and Harry Marvin, and businessman Elias Koopman. Their Mutoscope, which originally made flip-card peep show movies, soon rivaled Thomas Edison’s Kinetoscope (see Edison Kinetoscopic Records for 1893). In the summer of 1896, when Edison introduced the Vitascope 35mm projector, American Mutoscope immediately came out with its own 68mm projector that offered a superior image. In 1899, the company changed its name to the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company, then shortened it nine years later to the Biograph Company.
       William K. L. Dickson moved to Great Britain in 1897 to film for the British Mutoscope and Biography Company. ...

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The Biograph catalog summarized this film as follows: “This is a replica in all its details of the famous duel with rapiers between Emile Zola the novelist, and Henri Rochefort, the statesman. The duel takes place on the identical ground where the original fighting occurred; seconds and doctors being present as in the original combat. The picture gives one a very good idea of how a French affair of honor is conducted.”
       From all indications, the original duel never took place.
       The American Mutoscope Company was co-founded in Dec 1895 by former Edison Manufacturing Company inventor William K. L. Dickson (who left Edison in Apr of that year), fellow inventors Herman Casler and Harry Marvin, and businessman Elias Koopman. Their Mutoscope, which originally made flip-card peep show movies, soon rivaled Thomas Edison’s Kinetoscope (see Edison Kinetoscopic Records for 1893). In the summer of 1896, when Edison introduced the Vitascope 35mm projector, American Mutoscope immediately came out with its own 68mm projector that offered a superior image. In 1899, the company changed its name to the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company, then shortened it nine years later to the Biograph Company.
       William K. L. Dickson moved to Great Britain in 1897 to film for the British Mutoscope and Biography Company.

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SOURCE CITATIONS
SOURCE
DATE
PAGE
AMB Picture Catalogue
Nov 1902
p. 238
PRODUCTION CREDITS
NAME
PARENT COMPANY
DISTRIBUTION COMPANY
NAME
CREDITED AS
CREDIT
DIRECTOR
DETAILS
Release Date:
1898
Production Date:
Jun or Jul 1898
Physical Properties:
Silent
Black and White
Length(in feet):
30
Countries:
United Kingdom, United States
Language:
English
SYNOPSIS

This is a replica of a supposed duel with rapiers between novelist Emile Zola (1840-1902) and journalist-publisher-statesman Henri Rochefort (1831-1913). The two men disagreed over the guilt of Captain Alfred Dreyfus, who had gone to prison for treason several years earlier. In Jan 1898, Zola wrote an inflammatory open letter called "J'Accuse...!" on the front page of L'Aurore, a popular newspaper, claiming Dreyfus had been framed by anti-Semitic forces in the French government. Rochefort was a rapid proponent of the anti-Dreyfus side. The duel takes place at the purported location of the original duel, complete with seconds and doctors. ...

More Less

This is a replica of a supposed duel with rapiers between novelist Emile Zola (1840-1902) and journalist-publisher-statesman Henri Rochefort (1831-1913). The two men disagreed over the guilt of Captain Alfred Dreyfus, who had gone to prison for treason several years earlier. In Jan 1898, Zola wrote an inflammatory open letter called "J'Accuse...!" on the front page of L'Aurore, a popular newspaper, claiming Dreyfus had been framed by anti-Semitic forces in the French government. Rochefort was a rapid proponent of the anti-Dreyfus side. The duel takes place at the purported location of the original duel, complete with seconds and doctors.

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GENRE
Genre:
Sub-genre:
Political


Subject

Legend
Viewed by AFI
Partially Viewed
Offscreen Credit
Name Occurs Before Title
AFI Life Achievement Award

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The American Film Institute is grateful to Sir Paul Getty KBE and the Sir Paul Getty KBE Estate for their dedication to the art of the moving image and their support for the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and without whose support AFI would not have been able to achieve this historical landmark in this epic scholarly endeavor.