Although Clair did not seem to have had any intention of becoming an actor at the time, he nevertheless accepted the Russian director's offer. In a letter to filmmaker Mikhail Arlazorov, Clair wrote that during filming, Protazanov's patience had been sorely tested, as the Frenchman struggled to understand what was expected of him.
However, he emphasised that it was thanks to him and Louis Feuillade that he had discovered that cinema was a fascinating adventure and that, if he wanted to participate fully, his role should be played not in front of the camera, but behind it.
