Die Nibelungen: Siegfried (1924)
Country: GER
Technical: bw 143m
Director: Fritz Lang
Cast: Paul Richter, Theodor Loos, Margarete Schön, Hanna Ralph
Synopsis:
Siegfried abandons the forge in which he has been brought up, slays a dragon, thus acquiring invincibility, and subdues twelve kingdoms. At this point, having plundered the Nibelung hoard, he travels to the Burgundian court, where he hears there is a maid to be won; the Burgundian king persuades him to help tame the proud queen of the Valkyries for his own bed.
Review:
What is it about this material that leads to such stolidity? The normally brisk and mischievous Lang is here reduced to a series of scenes/tableaux in which the characters stand, rather than emote, amid neo-gothic sets. Admittedly, things pep up a little when Ralph's Brunhild arrives, but the repeated shot of her warriors leaping around in circles to celebrate the contest with Gunther almost bespeaks a desperate act on the part of the director to inject some fitful life into the proceedings. In short, undoubtedly an important film historically (certain Germans would import its wholesome blond hero into their own burgeoning ideology), but not an easy watch.
Country: GER
Technical: bw 143m
Director: Fritz Lang
Cast: Paul Richter, Theodor Loos, Margarete Schön, Hanna Ralph
Synopsis:
Siegfried abandons the forge in which he has been brought up, slays a dragon, thus acquiring invincibility, and subdues twelve kingdoms. At this point, having plundered the Nibelung hoard, he travels to the Burgundian court, where he hears there is a maid to be won; the Burgundian king persuades him to help tame the proud queen of the Valkyries for his own bed.
Review:
What is it about this material that leads to such stolidity? The normally brisk and mischievous Lang is here reduced to a series of scenes/tableaux in which the characters stand, rather than emote, amid neo-gothic sets. Admittedly, things pep up a little when Ralph's Brunhild arrives, but the repeated shot of her warriors leaping around in circles to celebrate the contest with Gunther almost bespeaks a desperate act on the part of the director to inject some fitful life into the proceedings. In short, undoubtedly an important film historically (certain Germans would import its wholesome blond hero into their own burgeoning ideology), but not an easy watch.
Country: GER
Technical: bw 143m
Director: Fritz Lang
Cast: Paul Richter, Theodor Loos, Margarete Schön, Hanna Ralph
Synopsis:
Siegfried abandons the forge in which he has been brought up, slays a dragon, thus acquiring invincibility, and subdues twelve kingdoms. At this point, having plundered the Nibelung hoard, he travels to the Burgundian court, where he hears there is a maid to be won; the Burgundian king persuades him to help tame the proud queen of the Valkyries for his own bed.
Review:
What is it about this material that leads to such stolidity? The normally brisk and mischievous Lang is here reduced to a series of scenes/tableaux in which the characters stand, rather than emote, amid neo-gothic sets. Admittedly, things pep up a little when Ralph's Brunhild arrives, but the repeated shot of her warriors leaping around in circles to celebrate the contest with Gunther almost bespeaks a desperate act on the part of the director to inject some fitful life into the proceedings. In short, undoubtedly an important film historically (certain Germans would import its wholesome blond hero into their own burgeoning ideology), but not an easy watch.