"Eifersucht" is a stylish "Kammerspiel" film, that is to say,one of those German films stark in setting and focused mainly on the psychological aspects of the story. This one was directed by Herr Karl Grune and is a very interesting film that depicts the degradation of a happy marriage, that supposedly solid and old institution that is not as strong or as important as that other fundamental institution, the aristocracy.
A couple are at the theatre watching a play with a friend who is the author of the oeuvre; at the end of the piece, the jealous husband strangles his wife to death. When the play ends, the man ( Herr Werner Krauss ) talks to his friend ( Herr Georg Alexander ) about such a nonsensical finale, telling the author that no man with any sense ever gets jealous enough to choke his wife in these modern times.The author decides to test this supposedly perfect couple about their happy feelings for each other..
Herr Grune considered this film as a "tragicomedy between man and woman" and it admirably depicts the process of suspicion, uncertainty, misunderstanding and obsession that will put finally bring the married couple to the breaking point. The film includes some allegorical technical effects to enrich the story, but the psychological study of the characters is the most important and remarkable aspect. At this point, this German count must say that the story was written by an important German director, Herr Paul Czinner, who knew very well what was "psychological depth" in a film, and chose to have those afflicted characters played by two excellent actors of those silent Teutonic days, Dame Lya de Putti and Herr Werner Krauss.
This German count remembered that when the film was premiered in the remote 1926 year, some longhaired critics criticized the film for being poorly acted, accusing the cast of incompetence
as it happens, the passing of time is the better judge and proves that those critics were absolutely wrong, because the film maintains in these modern days intact its artistic merit and validity.
And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must be aware of some German heiress's jealous husband.
Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galitzien http://ferdinandvongalitzien.blogspot.com/
