27 December 2014

Tragödie der Liebe (1923)

The last film special of 2014 is about the Weimar production, Tragödie der Liebe/Love Tragedy (1923). This silent film serial in four parts was produced and directed by Joe May. His wife, Mia May, played the leading role. The villain was played by the great Emil Jannings.

Mia May in Tragödie der Liebe
German postcard by Ross Verlag, no. 653/1, 1919-1924. Photo: May Film. Publicity still for Tragödie der Liebe/Love Tragedy (Joe May, 1923) with Mia May.

Murder


When the husband of countess Manon Moreau (Mia May) is murdered, suspicion falls on André Rabatin (Vladimir Gajdarov), who manages to convince the countess it was all an accident.

When also the count's servant gets murdered, the real culprit of this murder is revealed: the wrestler Ombrade (Emil Jannings), who tried to prevent a secret rendez-vous between his girlfriend Musette (Erika Gläsnner) and the count.

While the countess leaves the courtroom a free woman, Rabatin and Ombrade are condemned to forced labour.

Mia May in Tragödie der Liebe
German postcard by Ross Verlag, no. 653/2. Photo: May-Film. Publicity still of Mia May and Vladimir Gajdarov in Tragödie der Liebe (Joe May, 1923).

Mia May in Tragödie der Liebe
German postcard by Ross Verlag, no. 653/3. Photo: May-Film. Publicity still of Mia May and Vladimir Gajdarov in Tragödie der Liebe (Joe May, 1923).

Mia May and Vladimir Gajdarov in Tragödie der Liebe
German postcard by Ross Verlag, no. 653/4. Photo: May Film. Publicity still of Mia May and Vladimir Gajdarov in Tragödie der Liebe (Joe May, 1923).

Mia May in Tragödie der Liebe
German postcard by Ross Verlag, no. 653/5. Photo: May-Film. Publicity still of Mia May and Vladimir Gajdarov in Tragödie der Liebe (Joe May, 1923).

Jealousy


Ten years after:
Manon returns to Paris and finds out that her daughter Kitty, living with her grandmother, and André, released from prison, have an affair. She begs him not to destroy her daughter's life as well.

Ombrade, released from prison and made jealous by Musette, enters the house and kills André in a fight.

While Manon is first suspected, in the end mother and daughter are cleared from all suspicion.

Emil Jannings in Tragödie der Liebe
German postcard by Ross Verlag, no. 665/2, 1919-1924. Photo: May Film. Publicity still for Tragödie der Liebe/Love Tragedy (1923) with Emil Jannings.

Source: Filmportal.de (German), Wikipedia (German) and IMDb.

No comments: