 |
|
Die Finanzen des Großherzogs
1924 Comedy / Drama
Review
One of F.W. Murnau’s lesser works, Die
Finanzen des Großherzogs is one of the director’s rare
attempts at a satirical comedy. Murnau scripted the film with
Thea von Harbou, a popular German writer who is perhaps best known for
her collaborations with Fritz Lang (to whom she would be married for a
time). Although the film is short on laughs and suffers from an
overly convoluted plot, it is imaginatively shot and offers some
enjoyable performances, notably from its charismatic star actor, Alfred
Abel, who plays a sympathetic rogue. Max Schreck – who is famous
for his portrayal of the vampire in Murnau’s earlier Nosferatu
(1922) – appears in a small role, playing one of the conspirators.
© James Travers 2008 Write a review for this film... User Comments
How do you rate this film?
|
Director:
F.W. Murnau
Starring: Alfred Abel, Mady Christians, Adolphe Engers, Julius Falkenstein, Ilka Grüning Synopsis
Don Ramon XX is the Grand Duke of the Mediterranean island principality
Abacco. Crippled with debts, Ramon and his country face financial
ruin. An unscrupulous businessman offers to buy his island to
exploit its abundant sulphur deposits, but Ramon, aware of the harmful
use to which the mineral will be put, refuses to sell. Offended
by this rejection, the businessman stirs up trouble with malcontents on
the island and has soon organised a revolution to overthrow the Grand
Duke. Ramon is pinning his hopes on Olga, the Grand Duchess of
Russia, whose offer of marriage will put an end to his financial
problems. Unfortunately, Olga’s letter to Ramon goes missing and
falls into the hands of the conspirators. Meanwhile, Olga is on
the run from her own enemies and ends up allying herself with the
adventurer Philipp Collins...
Credits
|
  |
© CinemaForever.com 2009