Music Box Piece in 'The Devil Doll'?

[ThalbergFan]

Is there anyone who can name the piece playing in Melita's music box in "The Devil Doll"? I heard it again tonight, and I'd appreciate even a guess! Thanks very much.

[1968B2]

No, I'm curious too! I knew it when I first saw this movie. Isn't it a good, weird horror movie? So compelling! You just can't stop watching it, its so weird! Wish TCM would show it on Halloween!

[Jezebel38]

I found the trailer for this film on Youtube, and it has a short excerpt of the music box playing while two doll people are dancing. The tune is Valse Des Rayons, also known as Valse Chaloupee from Offenbach?s ballet Le Papillon. This tune is the standard song played for Apache dancing in the movies (and cartoons ; Bluto and Olive Oil).

 

Edited by: Jezebel38 on Mar 20, 2011 8:03 PM

[ValentineXavier]

> {quote:title=Jezebel38 wrote:}{quote}

> the standard song played for *Apache* dancing in the movies (and cartoons ; Bluto and Olive Oil).

>

 

Since there may be a few here who don't know, "Apache" has nothing to do with Indians, it is pronounced 'a-posh,' more or less, and is defined by wikipedia as being popular with Parisian street culture at the turn of the century, that would be 1899-1900, century turning wise...

[musicalnovelty]

> {quote:title=Jezebel38 wrote:}{quote}

> ....Music box playing while two doll people are dancing. The tune is Valse Des Rayons, also known as Valse Chaloupee from Offenbach?s ballet Le Papillon.

>

On the MGM Music Cue Sheet for the movie, dated August 12, 1936, the title of the selection is given as "L'Amour de L'Apache".

 

For anyone watching the movie who wants to follow along and learn the titles of all the music used in it here's the complete listing from the Cue Sheet:

 

1. Main Title (Franz Waxman).

2. Improvisation (Waxman).

3. The Little Dog (Waxman).

4. The Big Dog (Waxman).

5. Laschna (Waxman).

6. Paris (Waxman).

7. Boat Rescue #1 (Edward Ward).

8. Doll Dance (Waxman).

9. The Little Horse (Waxman).

10. Lorraine and Her Father - Part 2 (Waxman).

11. Eifel Tower (Waxman).

12. Buying Flowers (Waxman).

13. A Nightmare (Waxman).

14. The Jewel Thief (Waxman).

15. L'Amour de L'Apache (Offenbach).

16. In the Restaurant (Waxman).

17. A Nightmare (Waxman).

18. A Nightmare (Waxman).

19. The Jewel Thief (Waxman).

20. Lorraine and Her Father - Part 1 (Waxman).

21. Lorraine and Her Father - Part 2 (Waxman).

[FredCDobbs]

The traditional French style Apache Dance is when a man and women come on stage, dressed in low-class street clothes, they dance a little, and then the man slaps the girl and throws her around. She gets up and they dance some more, then he slaps her around some more. Sometimes she slaps him around.

 

 

 

A special variation for the ladies in American audiences:

 

 

[ThalbergFan]

Yes, I do love this one- Lionel Barrymore is endlessly entertaining, and I love all those little old-timey toys on the workbench! The woman who plays Melita ( sp?) is a treat.

[ThalbergFan]

Thanks so much to everyone who replied! I was touched by that piece of music, even though it was during one of the weirder parts of the movie ( the woman being entertained by 2 people who used to be normal-sized... but Ernest Hohl deserved it. : ) )

[1968B2]

Yes, you are right. It is from "Papillon," and is by Offenbach. My niece dances in "Papillon," and I have in an Offenbach, so I knew I knew it.