Young man shows his millionaire grandfather a play based on Molière's Tartuffe, in order to expose the old man's hypocritical governess who covets his own inheritance.
This is a film that really shows the talent of Emil Jannings and why he was so popular in Germany. He is assisted by Lil Dagover. The story is surprisingly lecherous for its time, though the overall tale is simple. I have not read the Moliere tale, but I have to imagine that it goes into a great deal more depth than this.
Professor Jan-Christopher Horak notes that "the frame story is shot realistically, with Freund and Murnau consistently emphasizing depth through movement from background to foreground, and by opening and closing doors in such a way that they are literally in the spectator's face." I did not notice all that, but I will take his word for it.
This is a film that really shows the talent of Emil Jannings and why he was so popular in Germany. He is assisted by Lil Dagover. The story is surprisingly lecherous for its time, though the overall tale is simple. I have not read the Moliere tale, but I have to imagine that it goes into a great deal more depth than this.
Professor Jan-Christopher Horak notes that "the frame story is shot realistically, with Freund and Murnau consistently emphasizing depth through movement from background to foreground, and by opening and closing doors in such a way that they are literally in the spectator's face." I did not notice all that, but I will take his word for it.