The wives of Josias Graffenreuth
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| Original title | The wives of Josias Graffenreuth |
| Country of production | German Empire |
| original language | German |
| Publishing year | 1918 |
| length | 82 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Otto Rippert |
| script | Fritz Lang |
| production | Erich Pommer |
| camera | Carl Hoffmann |
| occupation | |
| |
The women of Josias Graffenreuth is a German silent film drama from 1918 by Otto Rippert (director) and Fritz Lang (screenplay). The main roles are Ressel Orla (as Susan) and Arnold Czempin (in the title role) to see. The story is based on a novel by Dorothea Goebler .
action
Germany, in the distant past. Josias Graffenreuth once spent his youth with the girls Ilse and Susanne. As a young man he emigrated to South America. After his return, he woos Ilse's favor, although the other girl, Susanne, has always loved him dearly. With a lot of grief in her heart, Susanne has to accept that Ilse and Josias will get married. After a year, Ilse had a child, but the young mother died a little later. Tormented by emotional pain, Josias begins to bury himself in his endless grief. At the urging of Ursel, a close relative, Josias starts looking for a new mother for the child, a little daughter named Trude. He offers Susanne to marry her, but at the same time makes it clear that he is not in love with her. Susanne accepts the proposal in the hope that his love will come through her love over time.
On the day of the marriage, Susanne is presented with the family jewelry, but Josias withholds a very specific ring, which is traditionally only given to the bride if the marriage is accompanied by deeply felt love. From now on Susanne does her part, with her love to release Josias from his deep melancholy, which was founded in Ilse's death, but she does not succeed in this. Susanne cannot win even Trude's affection. When the little girl wants to nibble on a deadly nightshade, Susanne rushes in between, only to hear from the little girl hitting her that she, Susanne, would not allow her anything. Susanne then withdrew, deeply hurt, and Trude promptly died of the consequences of the deadly nightshade. Now Susanne Graffenreuth is charged with murder and sentenced to death. Susanne's grandmother makes it clear to the unsuspecting husband what the real situation that led to Trude's death is. Although he can not prevent his wife from being executed with the guillotine , he hands Susanne the ring that he had been holding back on the scaffold, with which he finally expresses his love for his second wife.
Production notes
The Women of Josias Graffenreuth was made shortly before the end of the First World War in the Eiko studio in Berlin-Marienfelde , was censored in November 1918 and was premiered shortly afterwards. The length of the film was 1,885 meters, divided into four acts. The film was banned from young people.
criticism
“This plot is constructed in a medieval tone and style, which makes an extremely captivating impression. The portrayal is cast to the best of its ability and finds in Ressel Orla an excellent interpreter of the female lead. (...) The piece has decidedly artistic qualities that are based on the presentation and the way it is played. The technology and direction also do an excellent job. "