The Grand Duke of Abacco ( Herr Harry Liedtke ) is settled on a Mediterranean island living an altruistic, distracted and careful life. In reality, he’s full of debts but that’s a situation that could change thanks to an unexpected sulphur deposit found on his small duchy.
The Duke, besides his financial problems, is threatened by his villainous principal creditor, who soon stirs up a plot. The dastardly plans count on some of his malicious subjects. Meanwhile other strange characters become involved in what and in will be a peculiar plot full of financial conspiracies and politics concerning the Grand Duke.
Many geniuses in different Arts are also humans. So, due to this, they have virtues and defects. As it happens sometimes with inhuman aristocrats, their major virtues are their defects and minor sins from time to time are revealed. And believed or not, such human weakness was suffered also by the great German film director, Herr Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau, who directed in 1924… a comedy!!.
Herr Murnau’s only comedy, “Die Finanzen des Großherzogs” it is certainly a rare oeuvre in his magnificent career ( although it is possible to appreciate some slight signs of humour in previous films as “Schloß Vogelöd“ - others Herr Murnau’s early film are not well remembered by this German count... ) “Die Finanzen des Großherzogs“ is a unique and special silent comedy piece stretching Herr Murnau’s parameters in what certainly is a bizarre film dealing with idealized and romantic subjects developed in a caricaturized way.
The story of the film is centered around the financial problems of the Grand Duke of Abacco. Together with the different characters involved in such odd story that Herr Murnau describes in a parallel way until little by little everyone comes together in what it is a special comedy of financial intrigue. It‘s a peculiar “totum revolutum” leading to an over-elaborated story.
After having directed “Phantom” (1922) from a script written by Frau Thea von Harbou ( in turn taken from a dense novel by Herr Gerhard Hauptmann ), this time Frau von Harbou and Herr Murnau considered it necessary to select a completely different literary option than the previous one. The choice was a light novel by Herr Frank Heller that in its adaptation to the silent screen has as a result a mixture of folkloric and stereotyped elements with an air of modern serial.
The film deals with idle and bankrupt aristocrats, a rich duchess, angry servants ( certainly, nothing new under the aristocratic sun ), blackmail, swindlers and even a Revolution. Everything is filmed in beautiful Yugoslavian places that give to the film an aesthetic aspect paralleling the story of the film in itself. That is to say, charming but at the same time irrelevant.., a Herr Murnau “divertimento”, certainly.
“Die Finanzen des Großherzogs“ is a transitional experiment, an exception in Herr Murnau’s superb silent career than in spite of its flaws has interest for any silent fan. It should be watched and considered simply as a weird and peculiar comedy of financial intrigues, a decadent passtime, ja wohl!.
And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must flee from his debts.
Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galitzien
-/
El Gran Duque de Abacco ( Herr Harry Liedtke ) Lives a carefree, unselfish and wild life in his Mediterranean island despite their economic situation is not exactly too buoyant, a situation that could change thanks to the discovery in his small duchy of some deposits of sulfur.
The Duke, in addition to their financial problems, has also threatened by its main creditor, which will foster a rebellion among the meanest subjects of the Duke, while this happens, other varied and strange characters will be involved in a plot full of peculiar financial and political conspiracies with the Grand Duke in the middle.
Many different arts geniuses have suffered careers human weaknesses, suffering these virtues as well as defects, as sometimes happens with inhuman aristocrats whose greatest virtue is precisely its great defects, small sins confessed that they occasionally come to light, human weaknesses were even suffered by the great director Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau Herr Germanic, which went silent in the year of 1924 ... a comedy!.
The only comedy directed by Herr Murnau, "Die Finanzen des Großherzogs" is certainly a unique work in its magnificent film career, but it is also necessary to specify that some cryptic samples Germanic humor could be seen in previous films of director Teutonic, as in "Schloß Vogelöd" (from the other early Herr Herr Graf Murnau has a vague memory ...), with "Die Finanzen des Großherzogs" one and special piece of silent comedy too tight to Herr Murnau parameters, resulting in a bizarre film in which certain aspects of history are idealized in a romantic and equally cartoonish.
The story focuses on the financial problems of the great Duke of Abacco, but also other characters of varying importance will be added to it, getting involved in this special financial intrigue comedy, a particular story might be too far-fetched, that Herr Murnau narrates in parallel to finally come together as peculiar "totum revolutum" during the latter part of the film.
After directing "Phantom" (1922) with the help on the script of Frau Thea von Harbou, which adapted the convoluted novel by Herr Gerhard Hauptmann, on this occasion Herr and Frau von Harbou Murnau saw fit to select a work completely different from the aforementioned, opting this time for a light novel written by Frank Heller Herr, resulting in its adaptation for the screen is a strange mix stereotypical aspects of folk elements with a certain air of modernist melodrama.
appear in the film ruined aristocrats, rich dukes, servants angry (come on, nothing new under the sun aristocratic ...) blackmailers, creditors and even a revolution, all filmed in beautiful places in Yugoslavia, imbuing the film with beautiful aesthetic elements fairly consistent with the history of film, this is certainly an air of charming but irrelevant at the same time, a whole "fun" for Herr Murnau film, certainly.
must then consider "Die Finanzen des Großherzogs" as a transitional film and experimental, an exception to the great career of Herr Murnau, that despite its flaws, is more interesting for all fans of silent films and should be seen and considered as a rare and peculiar comedy of intrigue particular financial a kind of decadent pastime, ja wohl!.
And now, if I may, I have to leave because this count Germanic has to flee from his numerous debts.
Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galicia
The Duke, besides his financial problems, is threatened by his villainous principal creditor, who soon stirs up a plot. The dastardly plans count on some of his malicious subjects. Meanwhile other strange characters become involved in what and in will be a peculiar plot full of financial conspiracies and politics concerning the Grand Duke.
Many geniuses in different Arts are also humans. So, due to this, they have virtues and defects. As it happens sometimes with inhuman aristocrats, their major virtues are their defects and minor sins from time to time are revealed. And believed or not, such human weakness was suffered also by the great German film director, Herr Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau, who directed in 1924… a comedy!!.
Herr Murnau’s only comedy, “Die Finanzen des Großherzogs” it is certainly a rare oeuvre in his magnificent career ( although it is possible to appreciate some slight signs of humour in previous films as “Schloß Vogelöd“ - others Herr Murnau’s early film are not well remembered by this German count... ) “Die Finanzen des Großherzogs“ is a unique and special silent comedy piece stretching Herr Murnau’s parameters in what certainly is a bizarre film dealing with idealized and romantic subjects developed in a caricaturized way.
The story of the film is centered around the financial problems of the Grand Duke of Abacco. Together with the different characters involved in such odd story that Herr Murnau describes in a parallel way until little by little everyone comes together in what it is a special comedy of financial intrigue. It‘s a peculiar “totum revolutum” leading to an over-elaborated story.
After having directed “Phantom” (1922) from a script written by Frau Thea von Harbou ( in turn taken from a dense novel by Herr Gerhard Hauptmann ), this time Frau von Harbou and Herr Murnau considered it necessary to select a completely different literary option than the previous one. The choice was a light novel by Herr Frank Heller that in its adaptation to the silent screen has as a result a mixture of folkloric and stereotyped elements with an air of modern serial.
The film deals with idle and bankrupt aristocrats, a rich duchess, angry servants ( certainly, nothing new under the aristocratic sun ), blackmail, swindlers and even a Revolution. Everything is filmed in beautiful Yugoslavian places that give to the film an aesthetic aspect paralleling the story of the film in itself. That is to say, charming but at the same time irrelevant.., a Herr Murnau “divertimento”, certainly.
“Die Finanzen des Großherzogs“ is a transitional experiment, an exception in Herr Murnau’s superb silent career than in spite of its flaws has interest for any silent fan. It should be watched and considered simply as a weird and peculiar comedy of financial intrigues, a decadent passtime, ja wohl!.
And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must flee from his debts.
Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galitzien
-/
El Gran Duque de Abacco ( Herr Harry Liedtke ) Lives a carefree, unselfish and wild life in his Mediterranean island despite their economic situation is not exactly too buoyant, a situation that could change thanks to the discovery in his small duchy of some deposits of sulfur.
The Duke, in addition to their financial problems, has also threatened by its main creditor, which will foster a rebellion among the meanest subjects of the Duke, while this happens, other varied and strange characters will be involved in a plot full of peculiar financial and political conspiracies with the Grand Duke in the middle.
Many different arts geniuses have suffered careers human weaknesses, suffering these virtues as well as defects, as sometimes happens with inhuman aristocrats whose greatest virtue is precisely its great defects, small sins confessed that they occasionally come to light, human weaknesses were even suffered by the great director Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau Herr Germanic, which went silent in the year of 1924 ... a comedy!.
The only comedy directed by Herr Murnau, "Die Finanzen des Großherzogs" is certainly a unique work in its magnificent film career, but it is also necessary to specify that some cryptic samples Germanic humor could be seen in previous films of director Teutonic, as in "Schloß Vogelöd" (from the other early Herr Herr Graf Murnau has a vague memory ...), with "Die Finanzen des Großherzogs" one and special piece of silent comedy too tight to Herr Murnau parameters, resulting in a bizarre film in which certain aspects of history are idealized in a romantic and equally cartoonish.
The story focuses on the financial problems of the great Duke of Abacco, but also other characters of varying importance will be added to it, getting involved in this special financial intrigue comedy, a particular story might be too far-fetched, that Herr Murnau narrates in parallel to finally come together as peculiar "totum revolutum" during the latter part of the film.
After directing "Phantom" (1922) with the help on the script of Frau Thea von Harbou, which adapted the convoluted novel by Herr Gerhard Hauptmann, on this occasion Herr and Frau von Harbou Murnau saw fit to select a work completely different from the aforementioned, opting this time for a light novel written by Frank Heller Herr, resulting in its adaptation for the screen is a strange mix stereotypical aspects of folk elements with a certain air of modernist melodrama.
appear in the film ruined aristocrats, rich dukes, servants angry (come on, nothing new under the sun aristocratic ...) blackmailers, creditors and even a revolution, all filmed in beautiful places in Yugoslavia, imbuing the film with beautiful aesthetic elements fairly consistent with the history of film, this is certainly an air of charming but irrelevant at the same time, a whole "fun" for Herr Murnau film, certainly.
must then consider "Die Finanzen des Großherzogs" as a transitional film and experimental, an exception to the great career of Herr Murnau, that despite its flaws, is more interesting for all fans of silent films and should be seen and considered as a rare and peculiar comedy of intrigue particular financial a kind of decadent pastime, ja wohl!.
And now, if I may, I have to leave because this count Germanic has to flee from his numerous debts.
Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galicia
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