“Danton”
This assignment relies on excerpts from the controversial 1983 French film “Danton” as well as reviews about the film to examine the conflict and political struggle between two of the main figures of the Radical Phase and Terror of the French Revolution: Georges Danton and Maximillian Robespierre.
STEP 1:
Begin by reviewing issues we have discussed in class with this humorous but accurate summation of the key events leading up to, during, and after the French Revolution, with comparisons to the American Revolution along the way: The French Revolution: Crash Course World History (11:54).
STEP 2: Read these two brief reviews of the film from the time of its release in 1983 for background about the film.
The following three excerpts from “Danton” are 27:25 total and come from different points in the film. Aside from the specific questions asked for each of the three sections, for the assignment as a whole watch for the role and position of women as well.
STEP 3: View the first excerpt from the very beginning of the film and answer the questions below. They give the date according to the new revolutionary calendar of the time, Printemps 1794 (March/April—early Spring). Danton is quietly returning to the city in a carriage after resting for a while in the countryside—he had stepped out of the political scene for a while because of fatigue (notice by the way that fatigue is a common issue among the revolutionary leaders). The Citizen’s militia is searching the carriages for deserters, traitors, contraband, criminals, etc. Danton notices the Guillotine from his carriage in the rain…
KEY CHARACTERS:
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The daughter of Robespierre’s landlord, Éléonore Duplay (1768-1832) was widely believed to have been his lover. We first see her as she is bathing and forcing her young brother to recite the “Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen.”
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We first see Maximillian Robespierre (1758-1794) lying sick in bed.
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And, of course, Georges Danton (1759-1794), who is riding into Paris in his carriage.
VIEW THE 1ST EXCERPT (8:04) (Login: jwjones@uncg.edu; PASSWORD: HIS-223; STOP at the 8:04 mark when Robespierre tells the Police Chief to “Get going!”) THEN ANSWER THE QUESTIONS BELOW (type up your answers to bring to class):
1. What are the people in the street upset about and what do they cite as possible causes of their problems? Why do they all suddenly fall silent?
2. Where are they taking the guy they’re marching through the streets? What do you think may be significant about the fact that he is walking instead of riding in a cart?
GO
TO STEP 4