Der Student von Prag (1913)

Directors:

Stellan Rye
Paul Wegener

Writers:

Hanns Heinz Ewers (writer)
Edgar Allan Poe (story)
(more)

Release Date:

22 August 1913 (Germany)

Genre:

Drama | Horror

Plot:

A poor student rescues a beautiful countess and soon becomes obsessed with her. A sorcerer makes a deal...

Plot Keywords:

Doppelganger | Haunted

Cast

Paul Wegener	...	Balduin
John Gottowt	...	Scapinelli
Grete Berger	...	Komtesse Margit
Lyda Salmonova	...	Lyduschka
Lothar Körner	...	Graf von Schwarzenberg
Fritz Weidemann	...	Baron Waldis-Schwarzenberg
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Alexander Moissi

Directed by
Stellan Rye
Paul Wegener

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Alfred de Musset		poem (adaptation)
Hanns Heinz Ewers		writer
Edgar Allan Poe		story "William Wilson"

Original Music by
Josef Weiss

Cinematography by
Guido Seeber

Production Design by
Robert A. Dietrich
Klaus Richter

Costume Design by
Robert A. Dietrich
Klaus Richter

Production Companies

• Deutsche Bioscop GmbH

Distributors

• Alpha Video Distributors (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• LS Video (????) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

A Bargain with Satan (USA)
The Student of Prague (International: English title)
El estudiante de Praga (Spain) [es]
L'étudiant de Prague (France) [fr]
Prahan ylioppilas (Finland) [fi]
Student z Pragi (Poland) [pl]

Runtime:

85 min | 41 min (Alpha Video)

Country:

Germany

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Filming Locations:

Prague, Czech Republic

Company:

Deutsche Bioscop GmbH

Trivia:

This is often considered to be the first horror film ever made.

Movie Connections:

Remade as Der Student von Prag (1935)

Given that it was made in 1913, this is an exceptional film

A stupid young man becomes obsessed with a woman--so obsessed that he loses perspective and common sense. An evil magician approaches him and informs him he can give him great wealth that he can use to win the lady's heart IF he agrees to give him anything he wants that's within their room. The dumb guy agrees and the magician steals the man's reflection out of the mirror--and bad things naturally occur as a result.

If this film had been made just a decade later, I am sure I wouldn't have been so charitable in reviewing and scoring this film. After all, the film's plot is a bit vague in spots and the acting is, at times, a bit stilted. However, when you consider that in 1913 "full-length" films were rare--and often only 20 to 30 minutes long! Plus, the whole idea of a complex story like you get in this film is very unusual--as stories were very short and broadly acted. So, given the limitations of the time, this film is pretty good and is one of the earlier horror films known.