Algol
What follows is a condensed plot summary taken from translated inter-titles and from viewing the film -
Prologue
- The star Algol has historically baffled astronomers. It darkens every 4th night.
- Meanwhile, Robert Herne works in the coal mines. He is befriended by Maria Obal.
- A denizen of Algol (named after his planet / star) transports himself before Herne in a secluded mine tunnel.
- Algol gives Herne a prototype machine that can provide Herne with a virtually unlimited source of power.
- He is given 12 months to make use of it.Act 1 (one year later):
- Herne opens the "Bio Factory" to make use of a fully-realized version of the Algol Machine.
- He writes Maria to join him and is refused.
- The workers believe that they will be freed from their toils.
- Economic upheaval ensues due to Herne's actions.Act 2 (20 years later):
- Herne has every country but one under his ecomomic web.
- Maria has moved to this one country and has a son, Peter.
- Herne has a son, Reginald, and a daughter, Magda.
- Reginald is announced as heir of the machine's secret.
- The coal supply of Maria's land are almost depleted.Act 3
- Reginald craves the secret of the machine.
- Peter journeys to plead with Robert Herne.
- Peter meets Magda. She returns with him when her father refuses his help.
- Herne's wife dies at the foot of the machine.Act 4
- Maria discovers Robert's letter to her and recalling their once-friendship decides to visit him herself.
- Reginald leads a coup against his aging father to get the secret.
- Robert Herne destroys the machine with these words: " I regret I abused this force to gain power".I hope I've done the story justice. It was hard for me to even match up the translation with the German title cards. I often got myself out of sync and had to rewind. Plus, it may be my imagination but I don't recall ever seeing a silent film with so much dialogue and so little lip-moving on the part of the actors.
Some misc. closing comments:
- Here's how I qualify this film as science fiction. The s. f. trappings such as the alien Algol's method of interstellar travel and the machine's working details are never explained. They arguably border on the realm of fantasy. But this is a science fiction film all the way because it poignantly attempts to point out the effects of scientific and technological advance on society.
- Much of the imagery was impressive. The observatory sequence in the prologue, the grittiness of the coal miner lives (which alternately reminded me a bit of the German 30s classic Der Tunnel and the resigned marching of the Metropolis workers), the Algol Machine (prototype and full-blown) and the Caligari-like scenes on the planet Algol were some standouts.
- This was my introduction to a film with Emil Jannings.written: 12/12/2004
