The Hunchback and the Dancer
The Hunchback and the Dancer (German: Der Bucklige und die Tänzerin) is a 1920 silent German horror film directed by F. W. Murnau and photographed by Karl Freund[1]. This is now considered to be a lost film.[2] The film was written by Carl Mayer, who also wrote The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920).[3] Karl Freund later emigrated to Hollywood where he directed such classic horror films as The Mummy (1932 film) and Mad Love (1935 film).[4] It premiered at the Marmorhaus in Berlin.
The Hunchback and the Dancer | |
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Directed by | F. W. Murnau |
Written by | Carl Mayer |
Cinematography | Karl Freund |
Distributed by | Helios Film |
Release date |
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Running time | 50 minutes |
Country | Weimar Republic |
Language | Silent German intertitles |
Plot
A repulsive hunchback named James Wilton changes his relationship with women when he discovers a diamond mine in Java. A young woman named Gina, on the rebound from an earlier relationship, begins dating him. Later when she decides to break up with him and go back to her former lover, the hunchback manages to taint her with a poisonous substance that will kill anyone who kisses her. After two of her paramours die before her eyes, she finally catches on that he had contaminated her, and she decides to get revenge by luring the hunchback into kissing her himself.
Cast
- Sascha Gura as Gina
- John Gottowt as James Wilton
- Paul Biensfeldt as Smith
- Henri Peters-Arnolds as Percy
- Bella Polini as Tänzerin
- Werner Krauss (unconfirmed)
- Lyda Salmonova (unconfirmed)
- Anna von Palen as Smith's mother
See also
References
- Workman, Christopher; Howarth, Troy (2016). "Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era". Midnight Marquee Press. p. 223.ISBN 978-1936168-68-2.
- "Progressive Silent Film List: The Hunchback and the Dancer". Silent Era. Retrieved 3 November 2008.
- Workman, Christopher; Howarth, Troy (2016). "Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era". Midnight Marquee Press. p. 224.ISBN 978-1936168-68-2.
- Workman, Christopher; Howarth, Troy (2016). "Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era". Midnight Marquee Press. p. 223.ISBN 978-1936168-68-2.