At the anvil of happiness
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| Original title | At the anvil of happiness |
| Country of production | Germany |
| original language | German |
| Publishing year | 1916 |
| length | approx. 71 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Emmerich Hanus |
| script | Max Epstein |
| production | Berlin film manufacturer |
| camera | Max Fassbender |
| occupation | |
| |
Amboß des Glücks is a German silent film drama from 1916 by Emerich Hanus with Friedrich Zelnik in the leading role.
action
Hoven's millionaire is the envy of many, apparently he has everything you could want. He lives in a castle, is embraced by women and is considered a good painter even among art connoisseurs. In Baroness Lydia, he also has a respected woman at his side, who obviously loves his millions more than himself. Despite this apparent happiness, von Hoven has a problem. The overstimulation and saturation that determine his life begin to bore him with difficulty and have made him sluggish. He is looking for a kick that could give his life new impetus. In view of his economic security, he also tends to behave in a manner that is no longer appropriate. So one day, out of sheer high spirits, he knocks the serving tray out of Lisbeth's handmaid. But the young woman is not willing to accept this behavior without comment and immediately quits her job. Hoven, who does not know such a reaction, tries to ridicule the reaction of the little employees, although he understands his wrongdoing.
Count René, his best friend, who has just returned from a long journey, looks at Hovens' inner change with great discomfort. Soon his behavior also seems to develop psychosomatic consequences. The millionaire's health is getting worse and worse. René is ready to help his friend, but only if he gives him a general power of attorney that enables him to represent Hoven in all matters and also gives him access to all of his accounts. Hoven thinks for a moment and finally agrees. However, the millionaire is deeply surprised when René asks him in front of guests the following evening to leave his own house immediately, as he would need it for himself. Surprised and deeply shocked by the betrayal of his "friend", Hoven ends up in poverty and learns what hardship really means. Hoven goes to his lawyer, but he tells him that from a legal point of view, René's behavior is completely okay and irrevocable. Hoven's attempt to sell his own painting for 5,000 marks to alleviate at least the greatest need also fails. He only sees his fiancée Lydia as his last lifeline, but now that he is poor as a church mouse, she disdainfully rejects him.
Hoven is completely at a loss and wanders through the streets without a goal. One day he comes to a forest smithy. The blacksmith turns out to be a good-natured fellow who can listen well and builds him up morally. He should develop more confidence in his own strength, says the craftsman, and employs Hoven as his journeyman. Hoven throws himself into work and falls dead tired into bed in the evening. He also meets the blacksmith's daughter, whom he once hired as a housemaid and then treated so inappropriately, there again, and tender bonds develop between the two. Von Hoven asks the blacksmith for his daughter's hand, and she agrees. The young couple leaves the church beaming and gets into a carriage that is supposed to bring both of them to their new, modest home. But the carriage goes in a completely different direction and stops in front of the castle. Hoven is completely surprised and astonished even more when he recognizes the coachman: it is none other than Count René. He gives the couple a warm welcome and leads them into the great hall, where all of his friends and acquaintances have long been waiting for him. René tears up the power of attorney coram publico and reminds von Hoven that in future he should recognize how to distinguish between true and false happiness.
Production notes
At the anvil of happiness , the film censorship happened on November 8, 1916, was banned from young people and was probably premiered in the following month or in January 1917. The four-stroke was 1460 meters long.
Manfred Noa took care of the film construction.
The basic idea developed here of the rich, oversaturated and bored millionaire who has developed into a disgust and is brought back on the right path by a well-meaning person using shock therapy, was turned into a film again 80 years later: the Hollywood production The Game with Michael Douglas (as modern von Hoven) and Sean Penn (as modern Count René, here as Douglas' younger brother).
criticism
“In this outstandingly good film, which is characterized by a plot that deserves to be judged according to a high moral standard… we are amazed at the acting performance of Zelnik, who can be ranked among the best actors due to his versatile talent. In addition to the brilliant presentation and the literarily valuable plot, the director should also be emphasized, who created a work of the best and most modern technology in this film. "