Ahasver (1917)

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Movie
Original title Ahasver
Country of production Germany
original language German
Publishing year 1917
length approx. 175 (all three parts) 59 (one-part new version 1920) minutes
Rod
Director Robert Reinert
script Robert Reinert
production Robert Reinert for Deutsche Bioscop GmbH, Berlin
camera Helmar Lerski
occupation

Ahasver is a three-part, German silent film in the form of a fantastic-mystical play from 1917 by Robert Reinert with Carl de Vogt in the title role.

action

1st chapter

Ahasver , the symbolization of the once guilty, Eternal Jew, reached the gates of a castle during a stormy night on his wandering through the time in 1400, but was initially turned away by the tenants. While the storm is raging outside, people feel sorry for him and bring Ahasver into the sheltered rooms. There he begins to tell of his story of suffering and why he is condemned to eternal restlessness. He describes how, according to legend , he is said to have cold-heartedly rejected Jesus Christ, who collapsed in front of his house in Jerusalem . Ahasver later marries the farmer's daughter, but from then on only brings great misfortune to this family due to the curse that weighs on him. And so he has to wander restlessly.

Part 2

Next, Ahasver met Count Gotheberg on his endless wandering, which is also said to be the catharsis of a person shaped by sin and fallibility, egoism and wickedness, dishonest desire and jealousy. This was sentenced to death and is to be judged by means of a guillotine . Ahasver is able to save him from his bloody fate, but develops erotic desires towards the count's lover Eleanor. It happens as it has to: the two men get into an argument about the coveted woman, and the count's rival dies in the fight.

3rd part

His next stop is a mine, of which Ahasver becomes director. He discovers a pretty young girl named Johanna in the ghetto, takes her with him and gives her to a second-hand dealer to look after. Johanna grows up and falls in love with Ahasver's mining engineer Baumann. And again Ahasverus fell into sin: he desires the other woman. He seduces Johanna and ensures that his competitor Baumann perishes.

Production notes

The film was shot in the Bioscop studios in Neubabelsberg from May to June 1917 . All three parts passed the film censorship in August 1917 and were banned from young people. The first performance of part 1 was on September 21, 1917, the two following parts with the subtitles The Tragedy of Jealousy and The Ghost of the Past were shown for the first time in the following month of October. All three parts had four acts each. The first part was 1,729 meters long (about 63 minutes). The second part was 1526 meters long (about 56 minutes). The third part was 1526 meters long (about 56 minutes). In Austria-Hungary, the three parts started on October 19, 1917, March 22, and April 12, 1918.

The film structures were designed by Robert A. Dietrich and carried out by Artur Günther . Hanns Lippmann was production manager.

In 1920 Ahasver made a one-piece version that was shortened to five acts and almost an hour playing time and was released a little later (probably after the film censorship was passed in 1921) again in German cinemas.

Reviews

“All the advantages that we highlighted in the huge film" Homunculus "at the time also apply to this film ... The acting is also excellent. The main actor Carl de Vogt deserves special mention. Even with his gloomy appearance, he seems to have been made for the role of the eternal Jew. He also knows how to express the terrible anguish of the restless. "

- New Kino-Rundschau

In Paimann's film lists it can be read: "Very good material, excellent game, photos and scenery. (For a more refined audience.)"

In Paimann's film lists it can be read: "The subject is very mysterious and difficult to understand for the large masses. The game is excellent, photos and scenery are very good. (For a fine audience.)"

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ cf. Paimann's film lists ( Memento from May 18, 2014 in the Internet Archive )
  2. ↑ Neue Kino-Rundschau from September 1, 1917. P. 9
  3. ↑ Ahasver, Part 1 in Paimann's film lists ( Memento from May 18, 2014 in the Internet Archive )
  4. ↑ Ahasver, 2nd and 3rd part in Paimann's film lists ( Memento from May 18, 2014 in the Internet Archive )