Carlos und Elisabeth (1924)

The story of the German silent historical drama Carlos und Elisabeth/Carlos and Elisabeth (Richard Oswald, 1924) is based on 'Don Carlos', the play by Friedrich Schiller and the opera by Giuseppe Verdi. Director Richard Oswald modelled the film's visuals on a staging of the play by Max Reinhardt at the Deutsches Theater. The film is abundantly operatic, with romantic passion and politics intertwining. The main character is King Philip of Spain (Eugen Klöpfer), who married Mary Tudor Queen of England, and wanted to marry her sister, Elizabeth I. His second wife was a French princess, Elisabeth de Valois (Dagny Servaes), who thought she was intended for his son Carlos (Conrad Veidt), the crown prince of Spain. Don Carlos is a poetic and liberal young man who is the hope of those who would like to see freedom of religion, while his father is a promoter of the Inquisition and oppression both in Spain and in Flanders. Carlos remains in love with Elisabeth.


German postcard by Ross Verlag, Berlin, no. 674/1. Photo: Krabbe / ROFilm. Dagny Servaes as Elisabeth of Valois, wife of Philip II and Queen of Spain in Carlos und Elisabeth/Carlos and Elisabeth (Richard Oswald, 1924).


German postcard by Ross Verlag, Berlin, no. 674/2. Photo: Krabbe / RO-Film. Conrad Veidt as Don Carlos in Carlos und Elisabeth/Carlos and Elisabeth (Richard Oswald, 1924).


German postcard by Ross Verlag, Berlin, no. 674/3. Photo: Krabbe / RO-Film. Conrad Veidt as Don Carlos in Carlos und Elisabeth/Carlos and Elisabeth (Richard Oswald, 1924).


German postcard by Ross Verlag, Berlin, no. 674/4. Photo: Krabbe / RO-Film. Conrad Veidt as Don Carlos and Wilhelm Dieterle as Marquis Posa in Carlos und Elisabeth/Carlos and Elisabeth (Richard Oswald, 1924).


German postcard by Ross Verlag, Berlin, no. 674/5. Photo: Krabbe / ROFilm. Dagny Servaes and Conrad Veidt in Carlos und Elisabeth/Carlos and Elisabeth (Richard Oswald, 1924).


German postcard by Ross Verlag, Berlin, no. 674/7. Photo: Krabbe / ROFilm. Conrad Veidt as Don Carlos and Aud Egede Nissen as the Princess of Eboli in Carlos und Elisabeth/Carlos and Elisabeth (Richard Oswald, 1924).

Sources: Wikipedia and IMDb.