Wrestling souls

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Movie
Original title Wrestling souls
Country of production Germany
original language German
Publishing year 1918
length approx. 69 minutes
Rod
Director Eugene Illés
script based on a novel by Lothar Schmidt
production Paul Davidson for PAGU
occupation

Ringende Seelen is a German silent film company melodrama from 1918 by Eugen Illés with Gilda Langer in one of the leading roles.

action

The dancer Gerda Vanini is a morally questionable woman. First she financially ruins her friend von Sandenstein, who loves her dearly, then makes him the obscure suggestion that he should marry the well-behaved and well-heeled banker's daughter Doris Amberg in order to get out of her financial worries. Immediately before the marriage, Gerda decides again and rediscovers her desire for her ex. She agrees to Sandenstein's marriage only on condition that he agrees in writing to divorce Doris in two years. Sandenstein, obviously a slave to the dancer, accepts this deal. In the next two years, however, the impoverished aristocrat got to know his wife Doris as an extremely lovable, humble and gentle person.

Two years have passed and Gerda is demanding her rights. Sandenstein does not want to get a divorce and is now trying to buy himself free from this amoral obligation. Without further ado, he sent Gerda 5,000 marks and believed that that would put the tedious thing out of the world. Then Mr. and Mrs. Sandenstein set off on a vacation trip to the mountains, also to avoid Gerda Vanini. But she learns their whereabouts from Sandenstein's servant and quickly travels to them. In order to drive a wedge between the couple, Gerda Sandenstein's letter with the 5000 Mark offer plays into Doris's hands. But the couple speak out and take a trip into the mountains, secretly pursued by Gerda. There it comes to a direct confrontation when Gerda presented Doris with Sandenstein's written promise to divorce her after two years. As befits her class, Madame faints and conveniently falls straight into an abyss. However, her body is not found. Badly shaken by this loss, von Sandenstein became seriously ill.

Gerda now sees the chance to get her ex-lover back completely, but the latter, preserving the memory of his wife, brusquely rejects her advances. Thereupon Gerda wants revenge on the reluctant and claims that Sandenstein wanted to get rid of his unloved old woman without further ado. He was charged with murder, and Gerda was able to present two documents that weighed heavily on him: the two-year marriage document and Sandenstein's 5,000 mark letter. But her plan doesn't work out: just at the right moment, Gerda, who has risen from the dead, appears, accompanied by two farmers and a baby in her arms. The peasant couple had discovered Doris, who had temporarily lost her memory and language skills as a result of the fall, and nursed it back to health, and during this time the believed dead had also given birth to her and Sandenstein's child. A newspaper report about her husband's trial brought her memory back. Doris' testimony exonerates her husband Sandenstein, whereupon the charges are dropped. Gerda puts a melodramatic end to her miserable intriguing life in the courtroom with a revolver.

Production notes

Wrestling Souls was created in the UFA Union studio in Berlin-Tempelhof . The four-act act with a length of 1432 meters passed the film censorship in July 1918 and was officially premiered on October 18, 1918 in Berlin's Kurfürstendamm UT.

The film structures were designed by Ernst Lubitsch's long-time film architect Kurt Richter .

Reviews

“The film is particularly characterized by magnificent decorations, beautiful nature shots and great play. Gilda Langer gives the dancer seductively ... and makes us wish to see her again in many other tasks ... The film is enhanced by a charming dance interlude. The game played by the other contributors is also excellent. "

- New Kino-Rundschau of July 13, 1918. P. 91 and 96

"Who could feel the magic of the personality of the charming actress Gerda Vanini in the film novel Wrestling Souls by Dr. Lothar Schmidt, director: Eugen Jllés close? Gilda Langer, who knows how to make the great lady so lavish in her love and whims, fights the bitter struggle of love for the man whom fate has denied her, and at the end of her hopes draws the consequences of her failed existence, that without the man of her choice has lost its charm for her. "

- Lichtbild-Bühne , Berlin, issue 11, no. 34 of August 24, 1918, p. 59

“Undoubtedly the best film that will be screened in the Union theaters this week is the four-act play" Wrestling Souls ", in which Gilda Langer plays the leading role. The manuscript alone is exciting, some ideas are even, which means a lot, new. There are twists and turns (e.g. solving the alleged murder question) that make the entertainment film seem worth seeing. The content is too complicated to be reproduced here with single lines. The game is played to satisfaction. "

- Der Kinematograph , Düsseldorf, Issue 12, No. 616 of October 23, 1918

“A bit of cinema, but technically very well done. Gilda Langer plays the dancer and meets type and character quite well. Of the rest of the cast, Ms. Licho should be mentioned. Eugen Illés took care of the staging and photography and created excellent pictures. Particularly noteworthy are the excellent interiors for which Kurt Richter draws. "

- Der Film, Berlin, Issue 3, No. 43 of October 26, 1918

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