The next film in the series by George Méliès is “Dreyfus is Put in Irons”. The scene takes place in Dreyfus’s cell, he is asleep and two guards enter and wake him up. One guard reads Dreyfus something from a piece of paper. Dreyfus reacts in a surprised and incredulous manner, pointing to himself and finally falling back down into his bed and clasping his hands. The guards then move furniture out of the way and put Alfred Dreyfus’s feet in irons, attached to the bed. Dreyfus continues to look as though he cannot believe what is happening. He seems to make a final plea but the guards ignore him and walk out.
Dreyfus was put in irons after an article was published in London stating that Alfred Dreyfus had escaped Devil’s Island. This article was written not only to sell newspapers, but also to keep interest in the Affair alive. Dreyfus’s family knew that the only way to get a retrial besides getting new evidence was to maintain public interest in the story. Despite these efforts to help him, they actually worsened his time at Devil’s Island. Dreyfus was now shackled to his bed every night, had shorter time outside and could no longer view the ocean.
The following film is the “Suicide of Colonel Henry”. This film like its name depicts Colonel Henry’s suicide. Colonel Henry is anxiously pacing back and forth in the room. Then he makes up his mind, sits down, and picks up a quill. He writes a note and then shoots up. He picks up a razor, takes a few final moments and then slits his throat. He falls to the floor and three guards burst in, presumably after hearing the noise, but this is a silent film. One guard takes Colonel Henry’s pulse and another finds a note.
Colonel Henry was the forger of the secret dossier used against Dreyfus in his first trial. He fabricated evidence because the military was worried they did not have enough evidence to convict Dreyfus of treason. A few years after the trial Colonel Henry did commit suicide and had left a note stating it was he who fabricated the secret dossier. However this did not clear Dreyfus’s name. In fact some Anti-Dreyfusards, as they were called, claimed this to be a patriotic act and that Dreyfus was still guilty. I still cannot comprehend this willful ignorance and plain stupidity.
