Der Cowboy (1918)

Der Cowboy/The Cowboy (1918) is one of the first German wild west films ever. Star and director was Alwin Neuss, who was known for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes. He was influenced by such American Western stars as William S. Hart and Tom Mix. The silent film was produced by Erich Pommer for the Decla Studio and was made in the Eiko film studio in Berlin-Marienfelde.


German postcard by Photochemie, Berlin, no. K.1835. Photo: Alex Binder, Berlin. Alwin Neuss on a publicity still for Der Cowboy (Alwin Neuss, 1918).


German postcard by Photochemie, Berlin, no. K 1439. Photo: Alex Binder, Berlin.


German postcard by Photochemie, Berlin, no. K.1440. Photo: Alex Binder, Berlin. Alwin Neuss in Der Cowboy/The Cowboy (Alwin Neuss, 1918).

A cowboy at the castle

The script of Der Cowboy/The Cowboy (Alwin Neuss, 1918) was written by the Austrian actor and author Max Jungk. German Wikipedia offers the storyline: Fred Hagenow, a German gentleman, runs a large farm on Java. One day he travels to New York City to visit Gerd von Rauenstein (Alwin Neuss), the son of an old friend (Max Laurence). He learns from his friend that Gerd recently made an ominous acquaintance with a certain Baroness von Wartenberg, a fraudulent adventurer who has murdered men.

When Gerd, who had been rejected by his father because of this improper acquaintance, caught her 'in flagranti' with a rival, he drew a gun to shoot the competitor. Obviously, he then stopped himself from the murder and then fled to America to make a fresh start there as a cowboy. Fred invites Gerd to follow him to his farm, where he could be useful. That's what happens.

Fred connects behind Gerd's back with old Von Rauenstein's lawyer to find out whether a reconciliation between father and son would be possible. The lawyer asks Fred to send Gerd home as soon as possible since the old man is dying and Gerd von Rauenstein is the only heir. Gerd swings into the saddle and starts to ride to the next port. But a bad guy strikes him out of the ambush. His name is Hollmann (also Alwin Neuss), he is a cousin of Gerds and he wants to take advantage of the striking resemblance to his cousin in order to enjoy the inheritance himself. Hollmann steals from the wounded Gerd the documents that can prove his identity and leaves.

While Gerd, who has promptly lost his memory due to the grazing shot on the head, is being well cared for on the farm, Hollmann goes to Rauenstein Castle to deceive the old man as a false son and to take over the inheritance. Hollmann quickly swings himself up as the new gentleman on Rauenstein and has also cast an eye on the neighbouring landlord's daughter Eulalia, who had previously been adored by Gerd.

Gerd has a fragmentary memory, only suddenly he believes that he is Hollmann and should take over the small inheritance of the windy, villainous cousin, whose mother has passed away. It is only when he has all his senses back together that he realises that Cousin Hollmann has obviously pushed him away as the legitimate heir of Rauenstein Castle.

Gerd tries to confront the usurper. He comes across Eulalia, who admits that she, too, has long seen through the wrong Gerd alias Hollmann. Both make a plan to expose and get rid of the villain. At a lavish castle festival, Hollmann disguises himself as a cowboy to give truth to his past life. A second man appears in cowboy disguise and with a mask. He unmasks himself and reveals himself as a true Gerd von Rauenstein. Hollmann is unmasked, flees to an adjacent room and shoots himself.


German postcard in the Film-Sterne series by Rotophot, no. 545/1. Photo: Decla. Alwin Neuss in Der Cowboy/The Cowboy (Alwin Neuss, 1918).


German postcard in the Film-Sterne series by Rotophot, no. 545/2. Photo: Decla. Alwin Neuss in Der Cowboy/The Cowboy (Alwin Neuss, 1918).


German postcard in the Film-Sterne series by Rotophot, no. 545/3. Photo: Decla. Alwin Neuss in Der Cowboy/The Cowboy (Alwin Neuss, 1918).


German postcard in the Film-Sterne series by Rotophot, no. 545/4. Photo: Decla. Alwin Neuss in Der Cowboy/The Cowboy (Alwin Neuss, 1918).


German postcard in the Film-Sterne series by Rotophot, no. 545/5. Photo: Decla. Alwin Neuss in Der Cowboy/The Cowboy (Alwin Neuss, 1918).

Sources: Wikipedia (German) and The German Early Cinema Database.

This post was last updated on 24 March 2023.