Free of all the "Expressionist" cinema trappings this one brings an A feature cast to a regrettably predictable plot - evil Capitalists turn idealistic Chemist Stüwe's formula into a weapon of mass destruction. Handling, by a director who would serve out his time in Russia, fields Kortner and Abel, two of the greats of the German entertainment scene, opposite Baranovskaya star of Pudovkin's MAT/MOTHER. Her scenes are the best in the film.
There's a distinct change from the near realistic handling of the body of the production to a crazy montage finale which seems to have picked up a lot of the Gance J'ACUSE.
Surviving copy is dire - soft, goes out of rack, dupey.
Still an intriguing record of major talents trying for significance.
There's a distinct change from the near realistic handling of the body of the production to a crazy montage finale which seems to have picked up a lot of the Gance J'ACUSE.
Surviving copy is dire - soft, goes out of rack, dupey.
Still an intriguing record of major talents trying for significance.
