Starring Paul Richter, Margarete Schon, Theodor Loos, Hanna Ralph, Hans Adalbert Schlettow
Directed by Fritz Lang
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
The mighty hero and king Siegfried seeks the hand of the sister of King Gunther of Burgundy, but is persuaded in return to help Gunther win the hand of a warrior queen, a choice that will lead to his doom.
This is another silent masterpiece from director Fritz Lang, based on an epic Norse poem, and lavishly filmed and released at a length of nearly five hours, although the story is divided into two parts. The first part tells the tale of Siegfried, and is enhanced with remarkable special effects, as the hero battles a convincing dragon, wins the treasure of the Nibelung, and a gains a cap which can make him invisible or grant him the appearance of anyone he chooses. Without spoiling anything, the second part focuses on Siegfried's queen Kriemheld and the blood feud that takes her to the kingdom of the Huns, where she sows the seeds for a deadly battle that will take place there. As Siegfried, Richter is an ebullient hero, full of joy and freedom and signified by his wild mop of hair. As Kriemheld, frequently wrapped in her cape, and often using only a hand gesture or her eyes to communicate, Schon may make the greatest impact in the film, showing off regalness and a brooding heart. Thea von Harbou's script tells the tale straightforwardly and is very easy to follow, and massive sets and a cast full of extras bring an epic scale to the film's concluding battle. A real asset to the production is the original score by Gottfried Huppertz, with majestic and emotional themes that drive the picture through its entire length, and helps the story flow throughout its entirety.
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