The Solvingsholm judge
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| Original title | The Solvingsholm judge |
| Country of production | Germany |
| original language | German |
| Publishing year | 1916 |
| length | approx. 72 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Emil Justitz or Robert Reinert |
| script | Susa Walther-Grassi |
| production | German Bioscop, Berlin |
| camera | Charles Paulus |
| occupation | |
| |
The Judge from Solvingsholm is a German silent film melodrama from 1916 with Maria Carmi in the title role.
action
In Sweden, at the beginning of the 17th century. Gunna, the wife of the respected judge from Solvingsholm, has just become a widow. As is tradition, she will take over the office of her deceased husband for a year. While the whole place surrenders to mourning, the death of old Hendrik, the servant, is not unjust, as he has long since kept an eye on the beautiful widow. Although Gunna is not averse to Hendrik's solicitations and temptations, in her pain of having become a widow so early, she still feels completely bound to her deceased husband and for this reason rejects Hendrik's endeavors for the time being. Hendrik respects Gunna's grief phase and goes about his work without further harassing the young judge.
One day the old village witch, Zorka, appears, who actually had a chicken to pluck with the dead judge because he had one day thrown into dungeon for theft. Since she can no longer take revenge on the judge, she wants to satisfy her thirst for revenge on his widow. When a young minstrel comes along one day, she also knows how to drive a wedge between Gunna and Hendrik. The minstrel and his wise men attract the young girls of the village. But when the violinist sees Gunna, it's over to him: he leaves all the admirers behind and ensnares the young widow. As expected, this does not meet with much approval from Hendrik, but makes the young servant jealous, as the village witch intended. The violinist, however, has little success with his efforts towards Gunna, who rather laughs at him and covers him with compassionate ridicule. But the devious Zorka knows what to do. She takes the violinist aside and brews him a love potion with which Gunna can be made compliant. At the upcoming autumn festival, the minstrel plans, he wants to use the brew in his favor.
At the autumn festival, those present listen to the musician's violin tones with delight, while Gunna, completely lost in thought, thinks only of her Hendrik. As tradition has it, Gunna should take a sip from every glass that one of those present gives her. With the minstrel, however, she refuses and only complies with his request after massive pressure. From a good distance, Hendrik recognizes how Gunna's cheeks glow and sparkle. Zorka takes advantage of the situation and now approaches Hendrik in order to fan the fire of budding jealousy. In a mocking voice, she advises the young man that he should watch out for Gunna and her endangered innocence in the coming night. After the party was over, Hendrik sneaks after the minstrel and sees him climbing the steps to Gunna's bedchamber. The head servant pounces on the rival, and a life-and-death fight ensues, which the violinist loses. Awakened by the noise, Gunna hurries to the window and sees Hendrik standing bent over the body of the competitor. In pain, she sinks down in front of a picture of Christ and asks for the strength to be able to fulfill her office as judge, who will now also judge Hendrik the next day, in a just manner.
Torn between duty and passion, Gunna, the Solvingsholm judge, wraps a dagger in a piece of labeled paper. It is written on it: “I have to give you death, give me eternal life!”. Then she goes to the prison where Hendrik is waiting for his trial and throws the wrapped weapon through the bars in his cell. A long procession of villagers finally lines up to go to the place of execution, where the delinquent is to be given his “just” punishment. The judge from Solvingsholm walks in it, blindfolded, because Justitia is known to be blind. Arriving at the gates of the village, the blindfolded judge is asked by the village elder whether she would like to show mercy in this case. However, she replies: “He must die”. Then Gunna spreads her arms and, after a long kiss, gives herself to all of Hendrik, who thrusts the dagger that was handed to him and carried in her heart. Then he dies too.
Production notes
The Solvingsholm judge passed film censorship in November 1916 and, according to Gerhard Lamprecht , was premiered in April 1917. The length of the four-act vehicle was 1480 meters.
criticism
“Maria Carmi as Solvingsholm judge! A role in which the great actress wrests wonderful new sides from her art. This consecrated and dignified calm of the game, and this noble balance of its gliding movements, which catches the eye particularly pleasantly from this role. (...) The technology, which adapts itself to the milieu by the hair and enchants our eyes with splendid open-air shots, should also be called great, even ideal. Everything is united here to form a harmonious and beautiful whole, which is satisfactory in all directions ... "
Individual evidence
- ↑ while more recent sources such as Gerhard Lamprecht's "German silent films" state Justitz as the director, Reinert is named by contemporary sources such as the Neue Kino-Rundschau
- ↑ the spelling “Solvigsholm” can also be found occasionally