Balzac's "Eugenie Grandet" is the powerful story of a miser's daughter who becomes attracted to her cousin Charles, who is a fortune hunter. After giving him all her savings and hoping to join him, Charles disappears - only to meet years later when he is passing through her village on his way to Paris. His life tells on his face - he is overweight, debauched and has married a much older woman for her fortune. Eugenie, however, has grown as a person and unlike her father is a beloved person in the village. When I first started watching "The Conquering Power" I thought NO!!! - it can't have the same ending (in the movie Charles is so sensitive and nice), and, with the two stars being Alice Terry and Rudolph Valentino, it didn't.
Charles Grandet (Rudolph Valentino) is spoilt and pampered and leads a hedonistic existence in Paris. His father, Victor, is in deep financial distress and writes to Charles (Ralph Lewis) his brother, begging him to look after young Charles and treat him as a son. Young Charles is also anxious to see his cousin Eugenie (beautiful Alice Terry). His father has speculated heavily and plans to kill himself during Charles' absence.
Charles Grandet is the village miser. He is a wine grower, has orchards and owns half the town but lives in a sparsely furnished dwelling. The villagers despise him. He keeps an eye on all household expenses - even doling out the flour for Eugenie's birthday cake. Every year, on her birthday Eugenie is given a sovereign but she must not spend it - she must keep it safe.
Young Charles, along with his poodle, is an unexpected guest at Eugenie's birthday. He is appalled at the miserliness of his uncle. When he hears of the death of his father he draws closer to Eugenie for comfort. When Eugenie finds out Charles wants to go to the West Indies to make his fortune - she gives him all the money she has saved - as she says she has no use for it. When her father realises what she has done, he goes mad and attacks Eugenie, dragging her to her room and locking her in. Eugenie's mother dies of the shock. All the villagers are horrified at his treatment of Eugenie and now the secret is revealed that Eugenie is his step-daughter - and not his natural daughter. If she finds out she could force him to divide his property and take half of it, so says the Notary, who wishes his son to marry Eugenie. Eugenie is let out of her prison and then finds hidden letters that prove her father has cheated Charles out of his inheritance ( and also declaring his love for Eugenie). He father accidentally locks himself in his counting room and goes mad after having hallucinations about his gold. This is a particularly harrowing scene and Ralph Lewis handles it very well.
Eugenie doesn't marry and years later when Charles returns to visit the old garden where they used to meet - they are re-united.
The film is a beautiful and stylish love story. Alice Terry shows what an under-rated actress she was and Valentino was wonderful in his under-stated acting. He should have made more of these type of films and if he had stayed with Ingram he may well have.
Highly Recommended.
Charles Grandet (Rudolph Valentino) is spoilt and pampered and leads a hedonistic existence in Paris. His father, Victor, is in deep financial distress and writes to Charles (Ralph Lewis) his brother, begging him to look after young Charles and treat him as a son. Young Charles is also anxious to see his cousin Eugenie (beautiful Alice Terry). His father has speculated heavily and plans to kill himself during Charles' absence.
Charles Grandet is the village miser. He is a wine grower, has orchards and owns half the town but lives in a sparsely furnished dwelling. The villagers despise him. He keeps an eye on all household expenses - even doling out the flour for Eugenie's birthday cake. Every year, on her birthday Eugenie is given a sovereign but she must not spend it - she must keep it safe.
Young Charles, along with his poodle, is an unexpected guest at Eugenie's birthday. He is appalled at the miserliness of his uncle. When he hears of the death of his father he draws closer to Eugenie for comfort. When Eugenie finds out Charles wants to go to the West Indies to make his fortune - she gives him all the money she has saved - as she says she has no use for it. When her father realises what she has done, he goes mad and attacks Eugenie, dragging her to her room and locking her in. Eugenie's mother dies of the shock. All the villagers are horrified at his treatment of Eugenie and now the secret is revealed that Eugenie is his step-daughter - and not his natural daughter. If she finds out she could force him to divide his property and take half of it, so says the Notary, who wishes his son to marry Eugenie. Eugenie is let out of her prison and then finds hidden letters that prove her father has cheated Charles out of his inheritance ( and also declaring his love for Eugenie). He father accidentally locks himself in his counting room and goes mad after having hallucinations about his gold. This is a particularly harrowing scene and Ralph Lewis handles it very well.
Eugenie doesn't marry and years later when Charles returns to visit the old garden where they used to meet - they are re-united.
The film is a beautiful and stylish love story. Alice Terry shows what an under-rated actress she was and Valentino was wonderful in his under-stated acting. He should have made more of these type of films and if he had stayed with Ingram he may well have.
Highly Recommended.