The Memoirs of Satan, Part 1: Dr. Mors
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| Original title | The Memoirs of Satan, Part 1: Dr. Mors |
| Country of production | Germany |
| original language | German |
| Publishing year | 1917 |
| length | approx. 74 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Robert Heymann |
| script | Robert Heymann based on a novel by Wilhelm Hauff |
| production | Luna-Film, Berlin |
| camera | Ernst Plhak |
| occupation | |
|
With Friedrich Kühne , Kurt Brenkendorf , Michael Rainer , Paul Passarge , Ilse Oeser , Ingeborg Gleiche , Cläre Bauer , Jutta von Matuszkiewicz , Käthe Dorsch , Grete Weixler , Valy Arnheim , Ernst A. Becker , Hugo Flink , Ernst Hofmann , John Rappeport , Herbert Kieper , Max Köhler , Victor Senger , Arthur Schröder , Harry Wendlandt | |
The Memoirs of Satan, Part 1: Dr. Mors is the first part of a four-part German silent film drama, shot in 1917, about the omnipresent temptations of Satan, whom love opposes. All four parts were directed by Robert Heymann , who also wrote the script.
action
Picture carver Baldamus is about to poison himself in a tavern. Suddenly a distinguished, strange man approaches him and offers him to throw the dice for his life with him. This eerie stranger is none other than Satan, who defeats the godfather at the dice game. From then on, the young artist fell for the devil with skin and hair. Satan reveals to him that he comes from a noble family and that he has a rich family. Obviously Baldamus is not particularly attached to his life, because two more times he begs death to take him with him. The first time it is lovesickness that drives him to this desired act of desperation, because his dearest Eva turns out to be a prostitute who also has it with the mayor. In the case of the second longing for death, it is the artist's aggrieved vanity who has to realize that the image he created is far weaker than the work that Mephisto created with the help of satanic forces.
But unexpectedly everything turns out for the better. Before the jury, which is supposed to examine and assess his work in his studio, comes to a verdict, the sexton's daughter Mathilde has snuck in, dressed as a Madonna, a saint. Armed with a hatchet, the madman wants to hack his work of art, which is now regarded as bumbling, when Mathilde, whom Baldamus has loved for a long time, sinks down before him. Scared to have almost become a murderer, Baldamus tries to escape and escapes his studio into the open. The jury expressed its appreciation and recognized Baldamus' work with a prize. But the artist has disappeared, he has gone underground. Years have passed and Mathilde, grieving for her lost love, has retired to a monastery as a nun. One day a stray dog knocked on the door of the holy sisters looking for shelter. It's Baldamus. Mathilde's goodness and mercy and the greatness to grant forgiveness brings back inner peace to the lost soul so that he can now come before God with a pure heart.
Production notes
The Memoirs of Satan , created in the second half of 1917 in the Luna-Film-Atelier in Berlin's Friedrichstrasse 224, is one of the forgotten major German silent film projects from the imperial era. It is the most elaborate screen epic before the end of the war in 1918 based on Otto Rippert's Homunculus film. Many details (especially the distribution of roles) are no longer known today, and there is even disagreement about the actor who played Satan. While some sources name Friedrich Kühne, others claim that Kurt Brenkendorf played the title hero. Possibly both actors took turns in the four parts as Satan.
The first part Dr. Mors was 1,527 meters long, divided into five acts, passed film censorship in October 1917 and was released in theaters in December of the same year.
criticism
“A powerful and dramatically effective work on a broad, pithy basis. This self-contained film, nevertheless held as an exposition of the whole, shows a topic that is not often seen in the cinema. It is based on the basic idea that pure, self-sacrificing love can overcome everything, whatever Mephisto, the enemy of humanity, does to bring sorrow and hardship over his victims. [...] The logical structure and the well thought-out processing of the material are particularly remarkable. The decorative equipment gives the whole thing a splendid, sometimes shiny frame. "
Paimann's film lists summed up: “The material is fantastic. Game, photos and scenery are very good. "
Web links
- Dr. Mors in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Dr. Mors at The German Early Cinema Database
- Dr. Mors at filmportal.de
Individual evidence
- ↑ z. B. Gerhard Lamprecht: German silent films 1917–1918, pp. 50, 76, 151, 167
- ↑ z. B. the Kinematographische Rundschau in its edition of November 3, 1917, page 76
- ↑ The Memoirs of Satan, Part 1. Dr. Mors ( Memento of the original from March 24, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. In: Paimann's film lists
