Die Finanzen des Großherzogs (1924) Directed by F.W. Murnau
Comedy / Drama
aka: Finances of the Grand Duke
Film Review
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.
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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...
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
French cinema during the Nazi Occupation
Even in the dark days of the Occupation, French cinema continued to impress with its artistry and diversity.