The Oppressed, (Les Opprimés), a 1923 film starring Raquel Meller and André Roanne, 9.5mm S646 F921

The 1923 film "The Oppressed" (AKA "Les Opprimes": and "Flanders Under Philip the II").
Concepcion de la Playa Setta (referred to as Dona Delores in this edit), the daughter of a kindly Spanish administrator of the Flanders region falls in love with Duke Philip de Hornes. He is a nobleman of Flanders with a grudge against the nasty Spanish Duke de Alba who controls the region for King Philip of Spain. The young de Hornes leads a revolt against the Spanish occupiers of Flanders. During a night time attack he is wounded but Dona Delores saves him and takes him back to her father's home where she tends his wounds. His dislike of Spaniards causes him to leave, but he decides to return at night as a masked man to speak with his love. His intentions are misunderstood, and he is arrested for the attempted murder of the father. However, father and daughter come to realise he is a good egg really, and defend him at his tribunal. All was well until the hated Duke de Alba intervenes at the tribunal causing a sentence of death to be passed.
At the point of execution (with sword BTW), he is saved just in time as the nasty Governor (Duke de Alba) is suddenly replaced by order of King Philip of Spain....and without any real explanation either! The new Governor was someone who also loved our Dona Delores, but decides to pardon the young de Horne for the sake of their happiness...and as a symbol of a new cordiality between Flanders and Spain. The common folk then cheer to think that one less person needed to be killed that day, and the couple live happily ever after.
I believe the original film was a French release from 1923 and ran for 1hr 55m. I think this UK Pathescope abridged version was released around 1929. I think it would run to about 40mins if I had not been so stingy with title timings. The film stock is 9.5mm notched film on two 300ft reels with a UK Pathescope catalogue nos of S646 (2*reels). The film was quite warped but all of it was filmed. The digital captured was frame by frame at 2K (2048*1536).
Interestingly the lead actress Raquel Meller was quite the star in the 1920/30s, and particularly famous for her singing voice. But not a name we hear so much of now.
Credits:
Original Distributors: Société Anonyme Française des Films Paramount (1923)
This edit Distributor: Pathescope (C1929)
Director: Henry Roussel (1870-1946)
Writer: Henry Roussel
Original Production: Henry Roussel
Actors
Philippe de Hornes: André Roanne(1896-1959)
Raquel Meller: Dona Delores (Conception de la Playa Serra...referred to a Dona Delores)
Maurice Schutz: Ferdinand Alvarez de Tolède, duc d'Alba (1866-1955)
Music
Kevin Macleod: Scheming Weasel
Kevin MacLeod: Sovereign
Kevin MacLeod: Clash Defiant
Kevin MacLeod: Inspired
Kevin MacLeod: Dark Hallway
Kevin MacLeod: Peace of Mind
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100 years old this year...the idea of this still blows my mind!

[@TheMontyPythonMuseumOnline]

Ah, you translated the title cards as extra service? Wow! (OOI the Spanish were not occupiers; the rightful lord, under the systems of that time, was also king of Spain. Details, details, I know.)

[@maxustaxus]

I did not translate the wording of the cards because this version of the film had them in English already....I did photo shop the cards to make them look more clear because they were in a bad state...so I guess any mistake regarding who rightfully owned what 400 years ago is a matter for Pathescope or the original script writer...me, I am merely a humble disseminator who is at your service in a kind of 16thc way.

[@TheMontyPythonMuseumOnline]

@@maxustaxus Ah I see. Thank you. Funny take on history, this film. It's more what you'd expect the Dutch to make at that time.