The Swallow and the Titmouse

Pierre Van Groot owns two barges. He works the northern canals with them. The route runs between Belgium and France. His wife and his sister in law are with him. The cargo he carries is building material. His real earnings come from elsewhere, though. He smuggles diamonds. He hides the stones in the rudder of the boat. Then he takes on a new mate. The man’s name is Michel. After a while Michel works out what is going on. That knowledge changes the balance on board. The film has a strange story of its own. It was shot in 1920 but not released. It was seen complete only once, at a private screening in 1924. Maguy Deliac and Pierre Alcover appear in the seventy eight minute film, a Belgian and French co-production André Antoine finished in 1924.