The Kaiser, the Beast of Berlin (lost propaganda melodrama film; 1918)
The Kaiser aka The Beast of Berlin is a 1918 film that was produced by, directed by and starred the actor Rupert Julian. Julian played the title role, that of Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany, while Elmo Lincoln portrayed a blacksmith who is victimized by the Kaiser. The film is now considered lost and is on the American Film Institute's list of the "Ten Most Wanted" lost films.[1][2] In 1919, a parody of the film, titled The Geezer of Berlin was released.[3]
Synopsis
The film depicts the atrocities committed by the Kaiser against the Belgian people including Marcas, a blacksmith, who loses his wife to one of the Kaiser's attacks on his own people. Marcas is able to save his daughter from a German soldier. Eventually, the Kaiser is captured by the Allied generals and turned over to the Belgian people, who imprisoned him in a dungeon, guarded closely by the blacksmith.[1]
Reception
The film was distributed by Jewel Productions (now Universal Pictures) and was an immediate hit.[4] “Audiences were told that they could ‘hiss the Kaiser’ every time his mustachioed face appeared on the screen.”[5] Riding on his success of the movie, Rupert Julian went on to play the role of the Kaiser in other films later on.
Gallery
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 AFI catalog page on The Kaiser aka The Beast of Berlin Retrieved 25 Sept ‘18
- ↑ American Film, Volume 5, Issues 1-10 Retrieved 25 Sept ‘18
- ↑ Michigan Film Review - Now Booking All NEW RELEASES of CHARLIE CHAPLIN AND PETROVA SUPER-PICTURES Retrieved 25 Sept ‘18
- ↑ The Films of Lon Chaney by Michael Blake Retrieved 25 Sept ‘18
- ↑ History News Network article on the effect of propaganda Retrieved 25 Sept ‘18