The waltz of death
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| Original title | The waltz of death |
| Country of production | Austria-Hungary |
| original language | German |
| Publishing year | 1914 |
| length | approx. 65 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Fritz friend |
| script | Felix Dörmann |
| production | Duca-Film, Vienna |
| occupation | |
| |
Die Sterbewalzer is an Austrian silent film love drama from 1914 with the young Paul Richter in one of the leading roles.
action
The plot is a classic love triangle - a woman between two men who are also best friends. The two men are called Gregor and Felix, are hussar officers and both fell in love with Mascha, the daughter of a lawyer. Both would like to marry the pretty girl, but they don't know who Masha will give preference to. While Gregor comes from a wealthy family, the blonde Felix is rather penniless. The latter is the one who ultimately wins, as Masha reciprocates his feelings. But the two men are not yet aware of Mascha's decision and decide to write to the girl. She should give her favor to the one whom she gives the preference of the first dance at the upcoming ball evening in her father's house. However, Gregor and Felix make an appointment, without telling anyone, that the one of them who will lose out should then voluntarily and without resentment against the other part from the life.
This terrible agreement is said to have fatal consequences, because Mascha's father got into acute financial difficulties, and so the young woman, as a good daughter, feels compelled to give the unloved but rich Gregor the first dance, in the hope that this will help the father out of the financial bottleneck to help. She does not know that she is thereby signing the death sentence for Felix, the man she loves above all else. While Felix disappears, she dances with Gregor, but confesses to him the real reasons for her decision after the dance. Gregor can no longer contain himself and tells Mascha about the secret additional protocol of their deadly agreement. Immediately they both rush outside and look desperately for Felix. They find him in his apartment. He is dead - this last dance became a waltz for him.
Production notes
Die Sterbewalzer , often wrongly called Sterbewalzer , was filmed in Vienna in autumn 1913 and premiered there on February 20, 1914. It had three (according to other sources four) acts and was around 1200 meters long.
Paul Richter and the experienced theater actor Eugen Jensen made their film debut here, the other two leading actors presumably as well.
Reviews
“This film, which is outstanding in its structure, is not only captivating and varied from scene to scene, but also extremely dramatic. Not a showpiece, but an elegant spectacle is offered here. The photography is excellent and the actors in the work in the main roles (Berta Borutin, Eugen Jensen and Paul Richter) perform very well. Due to its peculiarity and artistic execution, the entire film is a showpiece of modern cinematic art. "
In the Neue Freie Presse it was stated on February 22nd, 1914: “Felix Dörmann is particularly valued as a portrayal of Viennese milieus and characters. With the sure gaze of the sly theatrical man, the romance novel of two young, elegant hussar officers, whose hearts are devoted to one and the same girl, is constructed. (...) Friendship triumphs over life. (…) The moment when the decision about the fate of the lovers is made is dramatically powerful: the one to whom the girl grants the first waltz wins her hand, the other is lost. Hence the title 'The Waltz of Death'. (...) The film, whose lively social scenes are particularly to be praised, does the Viennese film company 'Duca' all credit. "
“The waltz is a highlight of Austrian film production (…) The drama is wonderfully played. The actor of Felix is in no way inferior to the most important film stars. He is an extremely personable figure with great artistic creative power. Eugen Jensen as a lawyer expresses the good actor. The daughter Mascha is played perfectly and the second hussar Gregor joins the ensemble with understanding. A thoroughly successful film. "
Web links
- Dying Waltz at filmportal.de
- The death waltz in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- The waltz at The German Early Cinema Database
Individual evidence
- ↑ "The waltz of death". In: Neue Freie Presse , February 22, 1914, p. 26 (online at ANNO ).