Ivan Petrovich Movies

Der Gunstling von Schonbrunn was the original title of this well-received German period picture. The story, a familiar one to European audiences, concerns the youthful romance between Austria's Queen Maria Theresa (Lil Dagover) and Hungarian aristocrat Trenck (Ivan Petrovitch). To avoid the terrible jealously of her husband the Kaiser, Maria Theresa arranges a marriage between Trenck and one of her ladies-in-waiting. It is clear, however, that the flames of passion have not entirely been dampened. A silent film, Favorite of Schonbrunn was released with a very brief dialogue sequence. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Mercurial director Rex Ingram closed out his silent-film career with the British production Three Passions. Ingram's lovely wife Alice Terry is cast as Lady Victoria, who tries to dissuade her sweetheart Philip Wrexham (Ivan Petrovitch) from becoming a priest. But Wrexham cannot forget the fact that he was responsible for the death of a foreman in his father's factory, and he intends to shut himself off from the rest of the world. When it turns out that Wrexham is the only man capable of preventing a crippling factory strike, his father prevails upon Lady Victoria to fetch the young man back to the "outside world." But Wrexham is immovable -- at least until he is galvanized into action when a cad tries to put the make on the beautiful Lady V. Realizing that his responsibilities lie with his father and his family business, Wrexham forsakes the priesthood, saves the factory, and weds the heroine. ~ 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