The charity performance of the four devils
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| Original title | The charity performance of the four devils |
| Country of production | Germany |
| original language | German |
| Publishing year | 1920 |
| Rod | |
| Director | AW Sandberg |
| script | Karl Rosenbaum |
| production | Primus Film, Berlin |
| camera | Gustave Preiss |
| occupation | |
| |
The benefit performance of the four devils is a German silent film drama from 1920 by Robert Dinesen based on Herman Bang's novella " The Four Devils ".
action
In the world of circus and vaudeville, tough customs apply. One day, Aimée and her sister Luise, both daughters of the circus artist Cecchi, find out when they witness the "admission" of two orphaned boys who are actually being sold here. From now on this means daily beatings and hardships, humiliation and hunger, cruel training for their profession and ruthless exploitation and all that only to increase the prosperity of their new master and master. While Aimée takes care of the boy Fritz, Luise takes care of his brother Adolf. The four children form a sworn trapeze team and eventually become a big train number for the circus as “The Four Devils”.
Aimée's love for Fritz grows out of a great sense of togetherness. And he? He loves another woman, a countess. The noblewoman tries to wrap it around her finger. Finally he gives in to her efforts and lets himself go to the stable duty. Aimée witnesses the event, and jealousy is boiling up in her. Full of restlessness, she watches him and one day sneaks after him as his path leads to the count's villa. When Aimée believes she has lost Fritz to the competitor, the thought of suicide matures in her.
Meanwhile, the unequal love affair between Fritz and the countess begins to show its first effects. Fritz effeminates, appears unfocused and powerless at work in the circus. Often he misses his partner in the trapeze act. When one day the four devils are supposed to have a charity performance, this time he wants to dare the “death jump” without a net in order to give the circus act a very special charm. Promptly it comes as it should: Fritz misses Aimée's catching hands and falls from the big top into the depths. His body hits the ground hard and is shattered. Now at last Aimée sees the opportunity to be united with her loved one at least in death and also lets herself fall into the abyss.
Production notes
The charity performance of the four devils originated in Berlin and was censored on November 24, 1920. The premiere took place two days later in the UFA-Palast am Zoo . The film could be seen in Vienna from January 5, 1921.
Reviews
“The film is great and shows in content and execution that it emerged from the 'high school'. (...) The director AW Sandberg shows the same understanding for generosity and mood painting. "
Paimann's film lists summed up: “The material is highly dramatic, photos, game and scenery are excellent. (A hit of the first order.). "
Further films
- Alfred Lind first filmed this Danish material in his Danish homeland in 1911 under the original title “De fire djaevle”.
- Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau shot a much-noticed remake in Hollywood in 1928 under the title Four Devils .
Web links
- The benefit performance of the four Devils in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- The charity performance of the four devils at filmportal.de
Individual evidence
- ↑ The charity performance of the four devils in Paimann's film lists ( memento of the original from August 20, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
