During the years around 1919, Germany was competing very hard with Hollywood. As part of that effort, they produced films that appealed to audiences through treating taboo subjects, the use of nudity, and violence. There was usually a contrived "moral" reason for exploitation, but was obvious that the filmmakers were trying to put things in front of the audience that would create a sensation. Thus plot, character development and any kind of sensible continuity was sacrificed to create yet another titillating scene. Since 1919 style sensationalism is fairly tame by today's standards, most of these films are quite dated. Opium is such a film. For some time the film was thought to be lost. Due to tales of it's initial popularity, (three weeks sold out seats) film buffs were anxious to see it. When a very poor quality print was unearthed, it was a disappointment for the reasons given above. To my knowledge that print is the only one available on the market. I have a video copy of that print, and this review is based on it.
The print is washed out and of a very poor quality. It was also made with hand painted German title cards. Although they are the most interesting design element of the film, because of the poor quality of the print they are hard to decipher. My copy contained no English translation but there are copies out there that have an English translation added. In short, it is a very trying, viewing experience.
The film itself, what I could make of it, was a rather turgid, boring, predictable and overwrought tale of temptation, debauchery and a the quest for an ever illusive redemption. A philanthropic European Doctor seeks to find a way to use the medical benefits of opium without it's addictive effects. On this thin premise hangs a tale of addiction, murder, infidelity and sexual abandon that would make any soap opera proud. You might think, "Oh this sounds juicy," but it is also slow moving, full of clichés, riddled with moral lessons, and overacted to the point of tedium. Plot twists are thrown in without any real reason other than sensationalism. You get the impression that the plot has no point except possibly the endless meaningless event of life. It is annoyingly racist in a way that is consistent with the times. Frankly the only thing that kept me interested was seeing if I could overcome the technical limitations of the print. There is a bit of "tasteful" Victorian style nudity to spice things up in the opium dreams. That and the soap-opera appeal of dealing with taboo subjects may have been the reason for its popularity when it was released. There is an "orgy" scene near the end which is actually just a bunch of scantily clad folks running around and overacting. These things add some slight interest but generally the film has the atomic weight and wit of block of plutonium.
I didn't gain any pleasure or insight from watching the film and I doubt that it contributed in any real way to the development of cinema as an art form. The only people it might interest are scholars of that historical period. There are rumors that a better print exists in a museum somewhere in the Germanic part of the world but so far I have heard no official confirmation. I recommend that the common viewer avoid it unless a viewable print emerges from some institute. Then it might have a certain comic appeal due to its ridiculous overacting or its extreme and improbable plot twists.
The print is washed out and of a very poor quality. It was also made with hand painted German title cards. Although they are the most interesting design element of the film, because of the poor quality of the print they are hard to decipher. My copy contained no English translation but there are copies out there that have an English translation added. In short, it is a very trying, viewing experience.
The film itself, what I could make of it, was a rather turgid, boring, predictable and overwrought tale of temptation, debauchery and a the quest for an ever illusive redemption. A philanthropic European Doctor seeks to find a way to use the medical benefits of opium without it's addictive effects. On this thin premise hangs a tale of addiction, murder, infidelity and sexual abandon that would make any soap opera proud. You might think, "Oh this sounds juicy," but it is also slow moving, full of clichés, riddled with moral lessons, and overacted to the point of tedium. Plot twists are thrown in without any real reason other than sensationalism. You get the impression that the plot has no point except possibly the endless meaningless event of life. It is annoyingly racist in a way that is consistent with the times. Frankly the only thing that kept me interested was seeing if I could overcome the technical limitations of the print. There is a bit of "tasteful" Victorian style nudity to spice things up in the opium dreams. That and the soap-opera appeal of dealing with taboo subjects may have been the reason for its popularity when it was released. There is an "orgy" scene near the end which is actually just a bunch of scantily clad folks running around and overacting. These things add some slight interest but generally the film has the atomic weight and wit of block of plutonium.
I didn't gain any pleasure or insight from watching the film and I doubt that it contributed in any real way to the development of cinema as an art form. The only people it might interest are scholars of that historical period. There are rumors that a better print exists in a museum somewhere in the Germanic part of the world but so far I have heard no official confirmation. I recommend that the common viewer avoid it unless a viewable print emerges from some institute. Then it might have a certain comic appeal due to its ridiculous overacting or its extreme and improbable plot twists.
