Zalamort

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Movie
Original title Zalamort
Country of production Germany
original language German
Publishing year 1924
length approx. 78 (one-part version) minutes
Rod
Director Emilio Ghione
script Emilio Ghione
production Fern Andra for FAJ-Film / National-Film (Berlin)
camera Eugen Hamm
Franz Stein
occupation

Zalamort is an originally two-part German film by the Italian film veteran Emilio Ghione , who also played the title role, from 1924. Fern Andra played the main female role .

action

First part

Zalavie loves the strong man Zalamort and has married him. There are countless adventures in her dreams. Both have made it their mission to look for the good in even the worst person and to awaken the same. For this reason, they nestle in a big city pub, where sinister rabble regularly comes and goes. When a noble company arrives in this dive bar and is besieged and attacked by a handful of sinister people, Zalamort bravely steps in and proves to be a fearless savior. The rescued Perla Cristal, an urbane and seductive lady, feels magically attracted to Zalamort and ensnares him with questionable methods, but is rejected by Zalamort. Out of injured pride, the scorned, who is the tool of the paralyzed criminal king Livido, wants to take revenge on the hero and ensures that Zalamort is accused of robbery and murder. He goes to prison and is sentenced to life in forced labor. Perla causes Zalavie to lose her memory by stabbing her temple and gradually falling into madness. With wax in Livido's hands, Perla also steals documents and, with the help of her Chinese helper Hasuma, who stuns the diplomat, steals an important box from an ambassador.

Second part

Zalamort wouldn't be a superhero if he didn't escape prison for granted. Thirsting for revenge, he takes on the form of an Indian maharajah and invites Perla to his palace. There he takes on the villain and wants to strangle her for her malice and her crimes committed on behalf of the paralyzed Livido, when Zalavie appears, who has just regained her sanity by falling. Zalamort lets off Perla, who then searches the distance. Zalamort is barely able to prevent her lackey Hatsuma from escaping. He elicits a confession for his, Perla and Livido's misdeeds. Now, at last, Zalavie wakes up from her dream, pale with horror. But the whole story does not seem to have been dreamed of, because Zalavie discovers a flower basket that Perla Cristal had sent to her savior Zalamort ...

Production notes

Zalamort , heralded as Za La Mort on movie posters . Experiences of a beautiful woman , was created in the early winter of 1923/24. The film passed film censorship on February 18, 1924. The first part of the film was 1807 meters long, divided into six acts, the second was 1,439 meters long, also divided into six acts. However, there was initially no performance.

Initially, the strip was banned for its alleged glorification of crime. The statement of February 28, 1924 stated, among other things: “The depiction of the crime in this film becomes an end in itself. Such a representation undermines the concept of the public legal order and leads to imitation; it acts demoralizing and, insofar as it is directly capable of awakening raw instincts, brutalizing. This effect is reinforced by the framework story. ” Zalamort was then massively re-cut and combined into a one-part film, which was finally approved by the film censors on April 3, 1924. This version still had six acts, but only a total length of only 1979 meters. The premiere therefore took place somewhat late on May 1, 1924 in Berlin's Marble House .

Fritz Lederer designed the film structures.

Director Ghione, who had already captured the film material Zalamort in his Italian homeland, came to Berlin especially for a German version. Since the hoped-for success did not materialize, his career as a film director came to an end and he returned to Rome.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Justification of censorship from February 28, 1924 on filmportal.de