from the movie The White Devil with Jaroff's choir

White Devil was the last of 5 German & Italian vehicles and might well have returned the actor to his former stature, were it not for a technical revolution that was sweeping through the industry.

For this film is the first of Mosjoukine's to include a synchronised soundtrack. The film boasts an effective score - with compiled elements and original music by Michael Lewin, Marc Roland & Willy Schmidt-Gentner - some sequences of singing and whistling, and a range of sound effects... but no dialogue.

It's likely that the film was initially shot silent then retrofitted with sound in order to make it more attractive in a rapidly changing market. As such it comes off very well, with an exciting and action packed plot and a meaty role for it's expressive and versatile star.

Mosjoukine stars as a fiery Caucasian captain Hadscht Murat who quarrels with his leader (initially over a perceived insult to the leader's daughter and then more seriously over the fate of some prisoners) and apparently defects to fight for the despotic Czar Nicolai I (Fritz Alberti) and becomes involved with Neidowa (played by Lil Dagover - beautiful but rather wasted in a smallish part)

Hoping to use Murat as a go-between in his plans to conquer the Caucasus, the Czar ruler finds that our hero is not so easily manipulated. Rescuing Neidowa from the Czar's clutches, Murat leads a people's revolt against the despotic regent.

Alexandre Wolkof directs with great style and visual flare in a film that represents the European silent tradition at it's finest and most dynamic. This has some wonderfully atmospheric cinematography - right up there with Sunrise & Docks of New York. Mosjoukine himself gives a moving and potent performance as the noble Murat -- and the film ranks amongst his best,

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Pascha
• Serge
• Jaroff
• The
• don
• Cossacks
• Easter

[FinnishKnife]

It would be fun to see the whole film!

[vereiana]

Thank you very much, Sasha!

This blue effect is also very interesting...