Decameron nights

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Movie
German title Decameron nights
Original title Decameron Nights
Country of production Germany
United Kingdom
original language German
Publishing year 1924
length 108 minutes
Rod
Director Herbert Wilcox
script Herbert Wilcox
Noel Rhys based
on two stories from Giovanni Boccaccio's Decamerone cycle
production Erich Pommer for UFA (Berlin), Herbert Wilcox (London)
music Giuseppe Becce
camera Theodor Sparkuhl
occupation

Dekameron-Nights is a German-British silent costume film from 1924 based on two stories from Giovanni Boccaccio's Decamerone cycle . The main roles are played by Werner Krauss , Hanna Ralph and Lionel Barrymore, who was specially hired from Hollywood .

action

The film presents two Boccaccio stories that are interwoven.

In the main episode, an oriental potentate, called the Sultan for short, ally with another ruler, the King of Algarve. According to this agreement, the son of the Arab, who is strongly oppressed by the European crusaders, is to marry the daughter of the European king, Princess Ataliel. For this reason Saladin travels north across the sea to bring the bride home to his father's kingdom. During this trip he met the shipwrecked Perdita, with whom he fell in love. Against the resistance of the father responsible for the marriage arrangement, his son Saladin wants to marry this girl. So the new flame is brought home instead of the intended bride. Only in his palace does he find out that the "castaway" is none other than Princess Ataliel, the arranged future woman.

At the center of the parallel story are Torello, a crusader from Venice, and his colleague Count Riciardo. Torello has bequeathed his wife Teodora a talisman as a farewell, but this is stolen by Riciardo, who chases every woman's skirt. Torello now believes his wife cheated on Riciardo. As a punishment, according to Torello's intention, she should be displayed naked in front of the people at the upcoming festival of chastity. But Teodora is lucky; a solar eclipse saves them from shame, and their innocence is proven by a sign from heaven, a kind of divine judgment everyone believes. The crusader Riciardo, who once brazenly harassed her, dies in a duel at the hands of Saladin.

Production notes

Dekameron-Nights was created in June / July 1924 in the UFA Studios in Neubabelsberg . The six-act film with a length of 2092 meters had its world premiere on September 1, 1924 in London's Drury Lane Theater. The German premiere took place on March 23, 1925 in the Tauentzienpalast .

Reviews

"It's a wonderful film in every respect (...) 'Decameron Nights' is characterized by its artistic camera work and its superbly set up scenery."

- The Star, London 1924

“'Decameron Nights', produced by a British company, is a triumph for film production. (…) It follows scene after scene of memorable beauty. "

- Daily Sketch, 1924

“It's a really fine production; rich in technical qualities and with some of the best acting performances any British company has ever presented (...) 'Decameron Nights' couldn't help but be one of the hits of this year. "

- Morning Advertiser, London 1924

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