Another little masterpiece from legendary German director F.W. Murneau. This one is an ambitious "film within a film" picture.
A supposedly faithful housekeeper (Rose Valetti) to an aging employer has scheme to dupe the old man out of his fortune by having him prepare a will disinheriting his grandson (Andre Mattoni). The old man prepares the will. His grandson arrives and is promptly thrown out by the old man. The grandson sees what is happening and vows to expose the hypocrite of a housekeeper.
He disguises himself and goes to his grandfather's house under the guise of a travelling movie exhibitor. He gathers the grandfather and the housekeeper into the parlor to watch a movie on hypocracy based on Moliere's "Tartuff".
In the movie within the movie, Herr Orgon (Werner Krauss) and his wife Elmire (Lil Dagover) are a once happily married couple of some considerable wealth. Herr Orgon returns home after an extended trip a changed man. It seems he has fallen under the spell of a religious fanatic whom we'll call Tartuff (Emil Jannings). Tartuff has convinced Orgon to rid himself of all of his luxuries and to live a more modest existence. Tartuff, nose stuck in a prayer book arrives at Orgon's home.
Tartuff appears to be a pious religious fanatic who is controlling Orgon through some sort of hypnosis. Frau Elmire see through his scheme. She gets her husband to consent to having her trap Tartuff into revealing his true intentions. Unfortunately, Tartuff spots Orgon hiding behind the curtains and begs off. Not to be discouraged, the voluptuous Elmire invites Tartuff to her bedroom for "some tea" where Tartuff reveals his true self guzzling down glass after glass of wine. She tries to get Tartuff to seduce her but stops short when it is revealed that the whole scam is to have Orgon sign over his fortune to the hypocrite. Tartuff leaves in disgrace.
The story reverts to the original trio, the grandson removes his disguise and..............................................................................
The performances are excellent all round but it is the great Emil Jannings steals the film as usual. Lil Dagover is really sexy as the wife. It's a better film than it is often given credit for but after all it IS a Murneau film.
I really enjoyed it and recommend it to those who have not yet seen it.
A supposedly faithful housekeeper (Rose Valetti) to an aging employer has scheme to dupe the old man out of his fortune by having him prepare a will disinheriting his grandson (Andre Mattoni). The old man prepares the will. His grandson arrives and is promptly thrown out by the old man. The grandson sees what is happening and vows to expose the hypocrite of a housekeeper.
He disguises himself and goes to his grandfather's house under the guise of a travelling movie exhibitor. He gathers the grandfather and the housekeeper into the parlor to watch a movie on hypocracy based on Moliere's "Tartuff".
In the movie within the movie, Herr Orgon (Werner Krauss) and his wife Elmire (Lil Dagover) are a once happily married couple of some considerable wealth. Herr Orgon returns home after an extended trip a changed man. It seems he has fallen under the spell of a religious fanatic whom we'll call Tartuff (Emil Jannings). Tartuff has convinced Orgon to rid himself of all of his luxuries and to live a more modest existence. Tartuff, nose stuck in a prayer book arrives at Orgon's home.
Tartuff appears to be a pious religious fanatic who is controlling Orgon through some sort of hypnosis. Frau Elmire see through his scheme. She gets her husband to consent to having her trap Tartuff into revealing his true intentions. Unfortunately, Tartuff spots Orgon hiding behind the curtains and begs off. Not to be discouraged, the voluptuous Elmire invites Tartuff to her bedroom for "some tea" where Tartuff reveals his true self guzzling down glass after glass of wine. She tries to get Tartuff to seduce her but stops short when it is revealed that the whole scam is to have Orgon sign over his fortune to the hypocrite. Tartuff leaves in disgrace.
The story reverts to the original trio, the grandson removes his disguise and..............................................................................
The performances are excellent all round but it is the great Emil Jannings steals the film as usual. Lil Dagover is really sexy as the wife. It's a better film than it is often given credit for but after all it IS a Murneau film.
I really enjoyed it and recommend it to those who have not yet seen it.