Available on YouTube
Die Augen der Mumie Ma (English: The Eyes of the Mummy or The Eyes of the Mummy Ma) is a 1918 German silent film directed by Ernst Lubitsch. The film stars Pola Negri as Ma, Emil Jannings as Radu, and Harry Liedtke as Wendland
Run Time 58 Minutes
Ernst Lubitsch
Born: January 29, 1892, Berlin, Germany - produces 65 silent films before moving to America
1922 Moves to Hollywood- Warner Pictures Signed him to a three year six picture contract
Died: November 30, 1947, Los Angeles, California, United States
Lubitsch directed two of my favourite movies, Ninotchka and To Be or Not to Be.
I am currently reading a very informative biography, Ernst Lubitsch : Laughter in Paradise by Scott Eyman
Here is his assessment of today's movie:
"The Eyes of the Mummy Ma is Lubitsch’s stab at the Far Eastern exotica that would pay rich dividends for Fritz Lang and Joe May, but it lacks their hysterical panache; Ernst plays the silly plot for romance rather than thrills. There are some good touches—a lantern that careens wildly during a fight, fitfully illuminating the struggle; a subtle tracking shot as Emil Jannings exerts his hypnotic power over Pola Negri—but there are just as many odd absurdities: Negri awkwardly struggling to haul herself on to a horse, Harry Liedtke struggling to lift Negri and almost failing. Ernst’s staging and blocking lack the fluidity of the comedies that had been animated by his own vigorous sense of humor or the presence of Ossi Oswalda."
The film is about a young painter named Wendland (Liedtke) who travels to Egypt, where he is haunted by the ghost of a beautiful Egyptian princess named Ma (Negri).
The film is a visually stunning and atmospheric work that is considered to be one of Lubitsch's best films. It is also one of the earliest and most influential horror films. The film's use of lighting, shadow, and camera angles is masterful, and the performances are all excellent. Negri is particularly good as Ma, and she is able to convey both the character's beauty and her sadness.
The film was a critical and commercial success upon its release. It was praised for its originality, its style, and its performances. The film has also been praised for its feminist themes. Ma is a strong and independent woman who is not afraid to stand up for herself. She is also a victim of male violence, and the film can be seen as a critique of patriarchal society.
Films by German directors are an important part of post World War One German Culture, from the groundbreaking silent classics of the Weimar Republic to the movies of Leni Reisenthal in celebration of Nazi rule, beloved by Goebels, to modern Oscar winners, I am pleased to see German Literature Month XIII now welcomes posts on Films by German Directors
This is a post for German Literature Month XIII 2023 November 1 to December 7
German Literature Month is hosted by Lizzy’s Literary Life
https://lizzysiddal2.wordpress.com/2023/09/22/announcing-german-literature-month-xiii/
That does sound like a powerful precursor to feminism with Ma's character, which seems a little surprising in a silent film more than a hundred years old (but perhaps I've simply not seen enough of them).
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