Plot: Sergius Alexander gets to decide the fate of two revolutionaries. He sends the guy off to prison, but he keeps the woman as his mistress. She dislikes Sergius with a vengeance, but as she gets to know him a bit better, a level of trust seems to build. When the revolution breaks out, she helps Sergius to escape.
Watches
September 08, 2025
A rather straightforward silent film from Josef von Sternberg. It's a basic narrative with lofty overacting, a continuous score, and lots of intertitles to explain what is happening. It's not the kind of silent cinema I prefer, but I'm not surprised this is what Sternberg was making before there were talkies.
The performances aren't great, the story wasn't very interesting, and even though the film isn't all that long, the pacing is sluggish, and it was a hassle to get to the end. The presentation didn't have anything to offer either. Fans of classic cinema will find something to like, no doubt, but this just wasn't for me.