Customer Reviews

Ladies of the German Cinema (Sappho / Backstairs)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

SAPPHO

Polish actress Pola Negri (1897-1987) stars. Her film career included 1917-1922 in Germany and 1923-1928 in the U.S.

In a German sanatorium, Richard visits his brother, hopelessly mad due to vamp Sappho's immoral abandon. At a club, Richard is accosted by Sappho, and they begin a troubled liaison, which her fat sugardaddy cannot thwart. A long flashback shows her involvement with Richard's brother. In the finale, "Carnival," employing hundreds of milling extras, the escaped madman throttles Sappho.

This 82-min film is divided into 5 "acts," presumably because of reel changes when using a single projector. The print is pretty good, tinted amber. The fresh-sounding full-orchestral score is an unusual plus.

BACKSTREET

Henny Porten (1890-1960) is the menial in an old multistorey Berlin townhouse. In the evening, she habitually meets her manfriend William Dieterle in the backstreet. Suddenly he disappears without a word, and she eagerly awaits postman Fritz Kortner, somewhat disabled, for the letter that never comes. The poor little postman, who lives close by on the backstreet, finally himself writes her a letter seemingly from her lover. She discovers the well-meant ruse, her lover suddenly returns, and tragedy ensues for all three.

This minimalist film (only 50 min) is of the experimental "intimate theater" genre. Porten's performance avoids silent-film cliche'.

Scenario by Carl Mayer, sets by Paul Lini, directed by Leopold Jessner, with good orchestral score.