German aristocrats are famous for their stiff Teutonic humour, but at least once a year-no more than one or two days of course-the German mood lightens and it is time for frivolity. One seeks out the company of a rich and fat heiress and when the planets are in rare alignment it is also good to watch an entertaining though unimportant silent film.
But that it is not an easy matter to achieve because, besides classic Teutonic gravitas, there are no insignificant silent films in Germany. Thus it is necessary to turn to developing cultures, particularly Amerika, where there are many light hearted films that can occasionally be enjoyed even by a strict German count.
"Two Arabian Knights" is one such Amerikan film and was directed in the silent year of 1927 by Herr Lewis Milestone. The film tells of the complicated relationship between two Amerikan soldiers as they travel across Europe; an enmity and rivalry that will traverse frontiers and take those strange comrades from France to Northern Germany and then to Turkey and finally to Arabia. In this latter place they will, after being rescued from a shipwreck, fight each other for the favours of Dame Mirza, a mysterious Arabian lady.
As this German count mentioned before, the only purpose of the film is to entertain and certainly that intention is achieved in this conventional adventure silent film that includes the necessary ingredients of those commercial and popular films; that is to say, exotic settings, some action and funny situations. Herr Milestone has not made a milestone silent film though there is some clever camera-work, particularly at the beginning of the film where, from different angles ( up and down ), we see the two men battling each other in a foxhole while astonished German soldiers look on.
The film intertwines World War I sequences (light hearted rather than dramatic)as well as exotic adventures in the East, an East of course that is seen through Western eyes and one that is deliberately frivolous and cliché ridden. It is the perfect fictional setting for these two strong personalities who, in spite of their rivalry, can't live without each other ( or Dame Mirza, natürlich!.)
And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must continue with the exclusive and aristocratic art of being bored.
Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galitzien http://ferdinandvongalitzien.blogspot.com/
But that it is not an easy matter to achieve because, besides classic Teutonic gravitas, there are no insignificant silent films in Germany. Thus it is necessary to turn to developing cultures, particularly Amerika, where there are many light hearted films that can occasionally be enjoyed even by a strict German count.
"Two Arabian Knights" is one such Amerikan film and was directed in the silent year of 1927 by Herr Lewis Milestone. The film tells of the complicated relationship between two Amerikan soldiers as they travel across Europe; an enmity and rivalry that will traverse frontiers and take those strange comrades from France to Northern Germany and then to Turkey and finally to Arabia. In this latter place they will, after being rescued from a shipwreck, fight each other for the favours of Dame Mirza, a mysterious Arabian lady.
As this German count mentioned before, the only purpose of the film is to entertain and certainly that intention is achieved in this conventional adventure silent film that includes the necessary ingredients of those commercial and popular films; that is to say, exotic settings, some action and funny situations. Herr Milestone has not made a milestone silent film though there is some clever camera-work, particularly at the beginning of the film where, from different angles ( up and down ), we see the two men battling each other in a foxhole while astonished German soldiers look on.
The film intertwines World War I sequences (light hearted rather than dramatic)as well as exotic adventures in the East, an East of course that is seen through Western eyes and one that is deliberately frivolous and cliché ridden. It is the perfect fictional setting for these two strong personalities who, in spite of their rivalry, can't live without each other ( or Dame Mirza, natürlich!.)
And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must continue with the exclusive and aristocratic art of being bored.
Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galitzien http://ferdinandvongalitzien.blogspot.com/