Customer Reviews

Siegfried [VHS]

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

 

 

Siegfried, the ancient Teutonic hero of Wagnerian opera, comes to the silver screen in this classic film. He slays a dragon, and bathes in its blood to achieve invincibility, much like Achilles. Yet Siegfried's adventures are quite unlike those of the ancient Greek. See the quest for the gold of the Niebelungen. The "Tarnkappe" makes Siegfried invisible, and just imagine how useful that can be in wooing the ladies! A classic tale of good vs evil, with an Apocalyptic overtone.

Having seen the reels available only a short time ago from the German embassy, I being a true silent film buff and classical music fan was delighted seeing this film on video. Great direction by a seminal director..Fritz Lang show why students studied HIS approach to the art.

I watch the remake version in 1968 and the title of the movie was "TO WHOM THE GODS WISH TO DESTROY'. I think it was the same movie but with better cinematography AND OF COURSE IT WAS COLORED. Well the movie was fantastic during its time. But I hope someone could help me find the remake movie of Die Nibelungen.

Expecting to see an early bit of Wagnarian Opera, I was much surprised to find this little gem of a movie.The sets and costumes are amazing and the plot is vastly different from the Opera Seigfried. The characters are magnificent, direction is pure Lang. If you buy it, save time and order "Kreimhilds' Revenge" as well. I know I'm going to have to eventually; Fritz Lang is addictive. You might keep a good tape or CD of Highlights of the Ring to hand to suppliment the original soundtrack. Subtitles are rare; bring your immagination and your horned helm. Great fun!

Siegfried (1924) filmed at UFA (The UFA Story ISBN: 0809094835). Director Fritz Lang, the original story "Siegfried's Tod" I have seen it with German subtitles and other versions with English subtitles. Paul Richter (Siegfried) was in 45 other films, from 1921 to 1972. The dragon is actually a machine with people inside. There are pulleys and gears and even fire.

Siegfried (Paul Richter) is the son of the King of Xnnetn (Sigmund). He forges his own sward so sharp that it cuts chicken feathers. He is told that near the Rhine at Worms the King of Burgundy (Gunter) and his sister, Kriemhild is at a castle. Siegfried, "On the hour I leave for Worms to win Kriemhild"..."Show me the way if you want to live!" He falls for the "I know a short-cut" routine. Die Nibelungen snickers when he is out of earshot; "Your way leads not to Worms, but to Death" Guess who lives in the heart of the forest? Yep it is Fafnir the Dragon. Poor Fafnir was minding his own business getting a drink when Siegfried gets that "What can I hack" look on his face. The dragon even wags his tail with the approach of Siegfried. I won't give you the blow by blow. I'll just say that smoking can kill you. Fafnir gets stuck for the drinks and dragon blood drinks allows you to understand the birds. A little birdie tells him that bathing in dragon blood will make him invulnerable. You guest it; cover your eyes. Oops look real quick. "Dragon tail flicks linden leaf on Siggie's back." Can you say Achilles heel? Meanwhile back at the castle Volker Von Alzey is already singing to Kriemhild of Siegfried' triumph over Fafnir. From here it goes on to deal with treasure and invisibility and all the stuff that Teutonic mythology holds.

When I got this movie, I was really expecting a bit more, but I was rather dissapointed. The visuals and cinematography were OK, but nothing even remotely close to the best of UFA products. The movie gives a reasonably accurate rendition of the first half of the Niebelungenlied, the national medaeival epic of the Germans, up to Siegfried's death, and to that end is a reasonably good effort, but the movie was really fairly dull I thought, and for a silent expressionist effort, more attention should have been paid to the cinematography.