Paul Wegener Movies

It would be nice if we could view the German historical epic Der Grosse Koenig (The Great King) objectively. This is, after all, a sweeping biography of Friedrich the Great, tracing the life of the fabled Prussian leader from his early setbacks to his ultimate victory over the Austrians at the end of the Seven Years' War. This is the heroic stuff from which greats films are made (vide Lawrence of Arabia, El Cid et. al.) However: Der Grosse Koenig was filmed at the behest of Nazi minister-of-Propaganda Joseph Goebbels, and directed by Veidt Harlan, the man responsible for that most-reprehensible of anti-Semitic films, Jud Suss. Thus, it isn't surprising that the film utilizes the historical facts at its disposal to prime the pumps for the Third Reich. Playing the title role is Paul Wegener, who during the Hitler regime was named Actor of the State, and who like Harlan compromised his talent on behalf of Der Fatherland. Der Grosse Koenig won the Venice Film Festival Award and the Mussolini prize, though odds are the contests were fixed. On the strength of Der Grosse Koening, Veidt Harlan was assigned to direct the infamous money-squandering propaganda picture Kollberg, which in its own spendthrift way contributed to the ultimate downfall of Nazi Germany. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The music of Johann Strauss counterbalances the various intrigues in Ein Liebesroman im Hause Habsburg (A Romance in the House of Hapsburg). Karl Ludwig Diehl stars as military activist Johann Salvador, who plots to place Austro-Hungarian Prince Rudolph (Paul Richter) on the Bulgarian throne. This displeases Emperor Franz Josef I (Paul Otto) and Russia's Czar Alexander II (Fritz Alberti). Surprisingly, Salvador is aided in his mission by Olga (Ellen Richter), the wife of the Russian ambassador. But when our hero falls in love with cabaret singer Milly Stubel (Greti Thelmer), the scorned Olga plans a wicked revenge. Despite its many crosses and double-crosses, the film is basically a romantic comedy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Hanns Heinz Ewers' grim science-fiction novel Alraune has already been filmed twice when this version was assembled in 1928. In another of his "mad doctor" roles, Paul Wegener plays Professor Brinken, sociopathic scientist who combines the genes of an executed murderer with those of a prostitute. The result is a beautiful young woman named Alraune (Brigitte Helm), who is incapable of feeling any real emotions -- least of all guilt or regret. Upon attaining adulthood, Alraune sets about to seduce and destroy every male who crosses her path. Ultimately, Professor Brinken is hoist on his own petard when he falls hopelessly in love with Alraune himself. Alraune was remade in 1930, with Brigitte Helm repeating her role, and again in 1951, with Hildegarde Knef as the "heroine" and Erich von Stroheim as her misguided mentor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Magician was loosely based on the 1908 novel by Somerset Maugham -- which, in turn, was inspired by the controversial career of "Black Arts" practitioner Aleister Crowley. The great German actor Paul Wegener stars as Doctor Haddo, a self-styled sorcerer who has unearthed an ancient document revealing the formula for creating artificial life. The instructions are detailed and specific -- especially the one that lists "the heart's blood of a maiden" as a principal ingredient. Haddo selects the virginal Margaret Dauncey (Alice Terry) as the blood donor, first mesmerizing her into cooperating with his diabolical experiments then strapping her to the operating table in his crumbling, palatial laboratory. The film's literally explosive climax could not help but have influenced such future horror classics as The Bride of Frankenstein, though The Magician is itself less horrific than sensual, especially in the scene where Haddo convinces the hypnotized heroine that she is taking a journey into Hell. Dismissed as "tasteless" by critics in 1926, The Magician remains one of director Rex Ingram's most fascinating films; alas, most currently available prints are dupes, robbing the film of its original visual magnificence. Among Ingram's talented assistants on this film were future directors Harry Lachman and Michael Powell. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

One Arabian Night is the inadequate American title bestowed upon director Ernst Lubitsch's brilliant German drama Sumurun. In what turned out to be his last on-camera appearance (he was a former slapstick comedian), Lubitsch stars as Yeggar, a hunchbacked clown who works with a travelling carnival. Arab sheik Paul Wegener demands that the troupe's dancing girl Pola Negri be sequestered in his harem. Yeggar faithfully follows along, and is a horrified witness as Wegener kills Negri for presumed unfaithfulness. The wizened clown vows revenge on the wicked Sheik. Inspired by the popular stage pantomime "The Arabian Nights", Sumurun is the film that encouraged Hollywood to invite Lubitsch into its fold-whereupon the director abandoned melodrama for good and all and concentrated instead on elegant sex comedies. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Before he became world-famous for his sophisticated sex farces, Ernst Lubitsch was primarily a director of outsized German "spectaculars." One such was Madame Du Barry, an operatic version of the life, loves and death of the legendary 18th-century French courtesan. Pola Negri plays DuBarry, who sleeps her way to the court of King Louis XV (Emil Jannings), ultimately becoming his mistress. Comes the revolution, and the rabble demands DuBarry's head. This gives Negri plenty of opportunity for strenuous histrionics as she's led to the guillotine. Small wonder that this film was retitled Passion for its American release. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide