|
Die Nibelungen: Siegfried
|
Die Nibelungen is a duology of silent fantasy films created by Austrian director Fritz Lang in 1924: Die Nibelungen: Siegfried and Die Nibelungen: Kriemhild's Revenge. They were co-written by his then-wife Thea von Harbou, based upon the epic poem Nibelungenlied written around AD 1200.[1]
Plot summary
Die Nibelungen: Siegfried
The title character Siegfried masters the art of forging a sword at the shop of Mime. On a journey home, Siegfried hears tales of Kriemhild, the princess of Burgundy. En route to Burgundy, Siegfried slays the dragon Fafnir, and bathes in his blood. This makes him invulnerable to attack — except for one spot on his shoulder blade which is missed after being covered by a falling leaf. Soon after, the powerful Siegfried encounters and defeats Alberich, King of the Dwarves, and obtains an invisibility cap. After finding the treasure of the dwarfs, Siegfried arrives in Burgundy. Siegfried wins the love of the beautiful princess Kriemhild, but cannot marry her until he has helped Kriemhild's brother, King Gunther, to marry Queen Brunhilde. With Siegfried's help, Gunther beats the powerful Queen in a battle of strength and wins her as his wife, while Siegfried weds Kriemhild. After finding out about Siegfried's role, Brunhild plots to have him killed; she makes up lies about him to the King and Gunther's uncle, Hagen von Tronje, finding Siegfried's weak spot, pierces it with a spear. After confessing her lies, Brunhilde kills herself.
A transformation sequence from Die Nibelungen: Siegfried
Die Nibelungen: Kriemhilds Rache
Kriemhild vows to avenge her murdered husband, as her brother is too weak to bring the murderer, Hagen, to justice. In a marriage-of-state, she marries Etzel, King of the Huns. At the wedding feast, she imprisons the Burgundian guests and orders them to kill Hagen, who is among them, to obtain freedom. They refuse and defend the place they are staying against the assaults sent by Kriemhild until all are dead.
Cast
References
- ^ Jeff Krispow (10-91). "DIE NIBELUNGEN: SIEGFRIED". http://www.laserrot.com/.+Retrieved on 2006-12-07.
See also
External links
Notes
|
The films of Fritz Lang |
|
| 1910s |
|
|
| 1920s |
|
|
| 1930s |
|
|
| 1940s |
|
|
| 1950s |
|
|
| 1960s |
|
|
|
