The black adder (1913)

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Movie
Original title The black adder
Country of production Germany
original language German
Publishing year 1913
length 34 (today) minutes
Rod
Director Franz Hofer
script Franz Hofer
production Max Maschke for Luna-Film, Berlin
occupation

The black adder is a German silent film circus and spy drama from 1913 by Franz Hofer .

action

first act

The story presumably takes place in Russia. The snake charmer Zadija appears in a circus under the stage name "the black adder". Nobody knows that she is also doing espionage as an enemy agent. One day, she receives a request from her cousin Olaf, asking if they can help him with an action. Olaf is after the construction plans of the engineer Iwan Korff, who is currently in town under a false name. Korff fell madly in love with a colleague of Zadija. This Blanche d'Estree appears as a circus performer with a horse number in the same ring as the snake charmer. Korff accompanies his beloved to the following performance, where Zadija observes them. The governor of the region has also arrived and is among the guests. In the audience he discovers Iwan Korff, an old friend. They both start talking, and Korff reveals his important plans to the governor. During this conversation, both men are overheard by the servant of the "black adder". Korff then visits his beloved in her dressing room, where she is removing her make-up, and showering her with flowers. Meanwhile, Zadija reads Olaf's despatch in which he once again affirms that Korff is in town and attaches a picture of Korff to her so that she can recognize him more easily. Her servant rushes in and tells his mistress Zadija what he has just heard. Through a hole in the wall, through which she can look straight into Blanches' cloakroom, she sees her circus colleague shuffling around with a guest. Zadija recognizes Ivan Korff in him.

After Blanche has left her dressing room and Iwan is left alone, Zadija uses the opportunity to seduce Korff with all the means of a femme fatale. While she is ensnaring him, Zadija secretly puts a small piece of paper in the drawer of Blanche's dressing table. A little later she pulls the drawer open again and, as evidence of Blanche's alleged backwardness, pulls this slip out again. From what I have written, Iwan can infer that Blanche, as an enemy agent, was only interested in Korff's secret plans. Korff can hardly believe this new knowledge and senses the worst betrayal of love. When Zadija leaves the room with the shocked Korff, she immediately sends a telegram to Olaf, in which she informs him that she now has Korff in her claws and that she would soon take the engineer to Olaf's house. He should be ready. While Blanche received an ovation for her performance, the “black adder” and engineer Korff left the event area. They are watched by the young Lieutenant d'Olton near the train station. Meanwhile, Blanche has returned to her dressing room and is amazed to find that Korff is no longer there.

Second act

In the Olaf's house. When his cousin Zadija arrives with her companion Iwan Korff, Olaf undergoes a masquerade. Meanwhile, the gendarmerie appear in the circus and arrest Blanche. In a rolled out document she is accused of espionage against her country. The ringmaster begs the gendarmes to allow Blanche to make her second appearance with her horses. During this performance, the trained acrobat tries to escape. She escapes over the big top. Finally, during the escape over hill and dale, her captors overtake her and take her prisoner. With her hands in chains, Blanche is brought before the governor. There she protests her innocence. The governor shows her a found letter that allegedly proves her guilt for spying against her own country. Blanche is discharged. However, Lieutenant d'Olton, who was also present at the prisoner demonstration, remembers Zadija and Korff's meeting at the train station and informs the governor of his objections to Blanche's alleged guilt. At first he remains skeptical.

Third act

In Olaf's house, Zadija, the “black adder”, continues to ensnare Korff and tries to make him docile with her attempts at seduction. The engineer quickly gives in to their courtship attempts. D'Olton is on her trail, however, and goes to Olafs Castle in the wintry snow. A servant brings him into the house. There Zadija recognizes d'Olton and instinctively senses danger. While the officer is talking to Korff, thanks to a mini mirror hidden in his hat, he notices that the “black adder” is watching and eavesdropping on both of them from the background. To test her reaction, d'Olton tells Korff that Blanche died when she was captured. This, as d'Olton recognizes thanks to his hat mirror, causes great joy in the face of the opponent. When the officer is escorted outside, he takes the chance, disarms Olaf and, thanks to a masquerade, takes the form of the servant. Zadija feels completely safe now and no longer recognizes the lieutenant, so that he can go to the nearest post office without any problems to telegraph the governor what he has found out so far.

When the governor reads d'Olton's message, he goes immediately to Blanche's dungeon in full regalia and orders her to be released immediately. While the snow is drizzling down outside, the governor and some soldiers and Blanche secretly go to Olaf's castle, where the troop is received by d'Olton, disguised as a servant. In view of the knowledge gained, Zadija, the “black adder”, still feels safe. Suddenly Blanche, who was believed dead, appears behind her, almost frightening Zadija to death. The snake charmer attacks the equestrian, who, however, keeps the attacker at bay with a drawn revolver. Then the disguised “servant” d'Olton Blanche comes to the rescue and finally overwhelms Zadija. Korff, startled by the noise, hurries over, armed with a candlestick. Now he also sees that Blanche is still alive. The governor also steps in and orders the arrest of the “black adder”. He shakes the lieutenant's hand and congratulates him on the job well done, while Korff and Blanche embrace.

Production notes

The black adder was made in the late winter of 1913 in the Berlin Luna Film Atelier at Friedrichstrasse 224. The film was censored in April of the same year and premiered on May 2, 1913. The three-act act is 34 minutes long in the preserved version.

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