Earth Spirit - 1923 - Germany

Earth Spirit - 1923 - 5/10
AKA - Erdgeist

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Lulu proves hard to handle for her husband, Dr. Schoen.
Admirers flock in, including the doctor’s son, Lulu’s elderly pimp, and a strongman.
Why this is not coupled with every version of Pandora’s Box (1928) is beyond me.
In this version, Lulu is as innocent as syphilis.
The acting is theatrical, melodramatic, with broad gestures and heavy makeup.
Almost to a soul, every player over emotes with facial contortions.
Definitely merits a watch – once – then go back to the masterpiece by Pabst.
English subs = https://subscene.cam/subtitle/3242706

Warning Shadows - 1923 - Germany

Warning Shadows - 1923 - 6/10
AKA - Schatten: Eine Nächtliche Halluzination

 
Perhaps a high-water mark in Expressionistic cinema, but this may prove tedious for many.
A successful man suffers a young wife with a roving eye.
Suitors arrive at a house party: three older man, and a youthful stud.
Whom the flirtatious wife clearly has designs on.

 
Then there is the puppet show by a practitioner who may be using actual magic.
Aside from opening cast introductions, there are no inter-titles.  No dialogue, no comments on actions.
Audiences must infer everything in this garish, if slow, blend of horror, melodrama, surreal.

L'autre Aile - 1923 - France

L'autre Aile - 1923 - 6/10

 
After Reymat perishes in an aeroplane crash, wealthy fiancé Hélène decides to be an aviatrix
In no time flat, this buxom beauty is the toast of the tarmac.
The press adores her, men chase and grope after her, women hate her.
One even tries to kill her!
Yes, Grade A melodrama.
Restoration is outstanding, tinting sublime, aerial sequences likely state of the art in the 1920’s.

Be Prepared! - 1923 - Czechoslovakia

Be Prepared! - 1923 - 6/10
AKA - Buď  Připraven!

 
Silent film of boy scouts learning skills.
Survival, rescue, roughing it.
Film has been restored and nicely tinterd.
With a new, modernist score, which may alienate some.
Now – – on their website, they offer two versions, both with the same score.
The reconstructed scout camp side by side with an experimental montage.
This is a voyage into the video abyss, alternative transmissions from elsewhere.

https://www.filmovyprehled.cz/cs/season-of-classic-films/bud-pripraven-be-prepared

The House Of Mystery - 1923 - France

The House Of Mystery - 1923 - 7/10
AKA - La Maison du Mystère

 
Ten episode silent serial from France.
Straight off, serial rules do not necessarily apply to surviving Silents, likewise European serials.
After marrying his childhood sweetheart, Julien is convicted of murder and sent to Devil’s Island.
While imprisoned, his boyhood friend runs his factory for him, and secretly attempts to seduce his wife.
Events spin out over twenty years, before – during – and after the Great War.
Blackmail, murder attempts, harrowing escapes, fights, disguises.
Dr. Mabuse, der Spieler came out a year before, and may have been an influence, especially with the disguises.
Nonetheless, the French DNA predominates.  Interiors, clothing, attitudes.
While only ten parts, each episode runs approximately 40 minutes.  Few bonefide cliffhanger endings, though no cheats.
The print I viewed had been immaculately restored, excellently tinted, nicely subbed.