'Der brennende Acker' was directed by F.W. Murnau in 1922, during the German Expressionism.
An art movie which is the first to use the topic of Love Triangles. The plot is about a struggle over petroleum-rich land. Our main character Johannes (Vladimir Gajdarov) finds a job as a secretary in a wealthy household where he overhears the Count's idea of an existent rich land - so he deicides to act as he is in love with Helga (Stella Arbenina) the wife of the Count, so when the Count dies, Johannes inherits the land because he ends up being Helga's husband. Helga, however, really is in love with him, which ends up being her downfall - not to mention the fact that two other girls: Gerda - the Count's daughter (Lya De Putti) and a maid from Johannes poor household is also in love with him.
Johannes's character is sly, cold and the only thing he sees is money - at least in the middle of the movie. By the end and at the beginning, he doesn't care about money - making the whole movie have a circular ending. He ends up where he has been, which makes him human.
Helga doesn't have as much charisma as Gerda has, but you can feel her pain as much as Gerda's and maybe it's done that way for a reason.
Gerda is a strong character, and the goal of her existence can be seen by the finale - by making her burn down the whole Devil's land, vanishing the whole goal of Johannes until the ashes.
The Cinematography is beautiful - the red sky as everything burns is actually breathtaking, not to mention the designs!! Johannes's whole appearance is so well put, it makes him so handsome it's not hard to believe he has three love interests at his table.
Murnau uses popular actors and actresses from different popular movies and also from his own movies as well. Werner Kraus as the Count (who was Dr. Caligar in Robert Wiene's movie) and Lya De Putti (who was the love interest in Murnau's other movie called Phantom) and who is also a Hungarian :))
Overall, a very interesting plot with a unique love triangle (quartet??) and I enjoyed it way more than Nosferatu. This movie is not that popular - but I recommend it to everyone who wants to have a good time.
PS: I love the poster. It's expressionism itself.
An art movie which is the first to use the topic of Love Triangles. The plot is about a struggle over petroleum-rich land. Our main character Johannes (Vladimir Gajdarov) finds a job as a secretary in a wealthy household where he overhears the Count's idea of an existent rich land - so he deicides to act as he is in love with Helga (Stella Arbenina) the wife of the Count, so when the Count dies, Johannes inherits the land because he ends up being Helga's husband. Helga, however, really is in love with him, which ends up being her downfall - not to mention the fact that two other girls: Gerda - the Count's daughter (Lya De Putti) and a maid from Johannes poor household is also in love with him.
Johannes's character is sly, cold and the only thing he sees is money - at least in the middle of the movie. By the end and at the beginning, he doesn't care about money - making the whole movie have a circular ending. He ends up where he has been, which makes him human.
Helga doesn't have as much charisma as Gerda has, but you can feel her pain as much as Gerda's and maybe it's done that way for a reason.
Gerda is a strong character, and the goal of her existence can be seen by the finale - by making her burn down the whole Devil's land, vanishing the whole goal of Johannes until the ashes.
The Cinematography is beautiful - the red sky as everything burns is actually breathtaking, not to mention the designs!! Johannes's whole appearance is so well put, it makes him so handsome it's not hard to believe he has three love interests at his table.
Murnau uses popular actors and actresses from different popular movies and also from his own movies as well. Werner Kraus as the Count (who was Dr. Caligar in Robert Wiene's movie) and Lya De Putti (who was the love interest in Murnau's other movie called Phantom) and who is also a Hungarian :))
Overall, a very interesting plot with a unique love triangle (quartet??) and I enjoyed it way more than Nosferatu. This movie is not that popular - but I recommend it to everyone who wants to have a good time.
PS: I love the poster. It's expressionism itself.