Die Finanzen des Großherzogs (1924)
Directed by F.W. Murnau

Comedy / Drama
aka: Finances of the Grand Duke

Film Review

Abstract picture representing Die Finanzen des Grossherzogs (1924)
One of F.W. Murnau's lesser works, Die Finanzen des Großherzogs is one of the director's rare attempts at a satirical comedy.  Murnau scripted the film with Thea von Harbou, a popular German writer who is perhaps best known for her collaborations with Fritz Lang (to whom she would be married for a time).  Although the film is short on laughs and suffers from an overly convoluted plot, it is imaginatively shot and offers some enjoyable performances, notably from its charismatic star actor, Alfred Abel, who plays a sympathetic rogue.  Max Schreck - who is famous for his portrayal of the vampire in Murnau's earlier Nosferatu (1922) - appears in a small role, playing one of the conspirators.
© James Travers 2008
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Next F.W. Murnau film:
Faust (1926)

Film Synopsis

Don Ramon XX is the Grand Duke of the Mediterranean island principality Abacco.  Crippled with debts, Ramon and his country face financial ruin.  An unscrupulous businessman offers to buy his island to exploit its abundant sulphur deposits, but Ramon, aware of the harmful use to which the mineral will be put, refuses to sell.  Offended by this rejection, the businessman stirs up trouble with malcontents on the island and has soon organised a revolution to overthrow the Grand Duke.  Ramon is pinning his hopes on Olga, the Grand Duchess of Russia, whose offer of marriage will put an end to his financial problems.  Unfortunately, Olga's letter to Ramon goes missing and falls into the hands of the conspirators.  Meanwhile, Olga is on the run from her own enemies and ends up allying herself with the adventurer Philipp Collins...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.


Film Credits

  • Director: F.W. Murnau
  • Script: Thea von Harbou, Fritz Wendhausen, Frank Heller (novel)
  • Cinematographer: Karl Freund, Franz Planer
  • Cast: Mady Christians (Großfürstin Olga von Rußland), Harry Liedtke (Don Roman XX), Robert Scholtz (Bruder der Großfürstin), Alfred Abel (Philipp Collins), Adolphe Engers (Don Esteban Paqueno), Hermann Vallentin (Herr Binzer), Julius Falkenstein (Ernst Isaacs), Guido Herzfeld (Markowitz,ein Wucherer), Ilka Grüning (Augustine,die Köchin), Walter Rilla (Luis Hernandez), Hans Hermann Schaufuß (Der bucklige Verschwörer), Georg August Koch (Der gefährliche verschwörer), Max Schreck (Der unheimliche verschwörer), Balthasar von Campenhausen (Adjutant), Hugo Block
  • Country: Germany
  • Language: German
  • Support: Black and White / Silent
  • Runtime: 77 min
  • Aka: Finances of the Grand Duke

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