From Morn to Midnight
| From Morn to Midnight | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Karlheinz Martin |
| Produced by | Herbert Juttke |
| Written by |
Karlheinz Martin Georg Kaiser |
| Starring |
Ernst Deutsch Roma Bahn Erna Morena |
| Cinematography | Carl Hoffmann |
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Release date
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Running time
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73 minutes |
| Country | Germany (Weimar Republic) |
| Language |
Silent film German intertitles |
From Morn to Midnight (German: Von morgens bis mitternachts) is a 1920 German silent expressionist film directed by Karlheinz Martin based on the play From Morning to Midnight by Georg Kaiser. It is one of the most radical films of the German Expressionist movement.
The film uses stylized distorted sets, designed by Robert Neppach, which are even more avant-garde than those of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
The film is divided in five acts.
A foreign lady comes into a bank to withdraw money but the bank manager has not received a communication authorising the payment. The Bank Cashier is fascinated by her and contrasts her glamour with his boring life. A Young Man, the son of the Lady, wants to buy a painting from a second-hand shop. The Lady goes back to the Bank to get money, without success. A Beggar Girl comes to the Bank to beg for money. The Cashier sees her as Death. He steals a large amount of money from the Bank.
The Cashier goes to the Lady's Hotel and offers her his money, if she agrees to leave with him, but she only laughs at him and threatens to call her son. Learning that she has a son, he leaves the Hotel. In front of the door, he sees the Beggar Girl again as Death
Meanwhile, his theft is discovered at the bank. At home, the Cashier is welcome by his cosy and nauseating family. Aware of the danger of discovery, he flees on the road in a snow storm. The Bank Manager comes to his house with the Police. A telegraphic message is sent indicating that a cashier is on the run. The Cashier arrives at a large city. He buys top hat, white tie and tails.
The Cashier attends a Six Day bicycle race and offers a large sum of money for a special prize. He wants to buy passion for money. The various classes of society attending the race get very excited. But the arrival of the local Prince douses popular enthusiasm and they all bow to salute him. Disappointed the Cashier leaves and goes to a dancing where he gets a private lounge where he tries to seduce two girls with his money. But the first one throws a glass of Sekt at him and the second one has a wooden leg. He sees her as death.
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Wikipedia