The Kaiser, the Beast of Berlin

Infobox Film | name = The Kaiser, the Beast of Berlin
director = Rupert Julian
producer = Rupert Julian
writer = Rupert Julian
Elliott J. Clawson
starring = Lon Chaney Sr.
Rupert Julian
Elmo Lincoln
Nigel De Brulier
Harry von Meter
cinematography = Edward A. Kull
editing =
distributor = Renowned Pictures Corporation
Jewel Productions, Inc.
released = March 9, 1918
runtime = 70 min
country = USA
language = Silent film
English intertitles

"The Kaiser, the Beast of Berlin", is a 1918 silent movie with a propagandistic view of the First World War, showing the political greed of the German Kaiser Wilhelm, the resistance of some of his own soldiers, and fanciful prediction of the nature of the war's end.

ynopsis

Kaiser Wilhelm II of Hohenzollern is a vain and arrogant tyrant eager for conquest. When Belgium is invaded by the German army during World War I, Marcas, the blacksmith, although wounded, is able to save his daughter from the clutches of a German soldier. Soon after this, the RMS Lusitania is sunk by Capt. von Neigle, who ultimately is driven mad with remorse. After the United States declares war, the Allied generals turn the Kaiser over to the King of Belgium. Incarcerated, the Kaiser faces his jailer, Marcas the blacksmith.

Background

Although frequently listed as a Universal production, this movie was an independent production produced by Rupert Julian for Renowned Pictures. Julian licensed the distribution rights to Renowned, who in turn sold the rights to Universal Jewel for world-wide distribution. Julian was such a convincing Kaiser that he was asked to reprise the role in many subsequent films. The film was a blockbuster when it was released, and Universal spared no expense in advertising their megahit. Carl Laemmle pushed the film to the theater owners as hard as he sold it to the viewing public. "A whirlwind of Applause - A Landslide of Money," "Unparalleled Receipts," and "The Picture That Blocked Traffic on Broadway" were some of the headlines for ads run in trade publications in an attempt to get theater owners to book the picture. Sadly, prints of the film no longer survive, and this title is on the American Film Institute's list of the "Ten Most Wanted" lost films."The Beast of Berlin" and "The Kaiser" are the other titles for this film. In 1919, a short parody of the film was released titled "The Geezer of Berlin.

In a modern interview, Edgar G. Ulmer states that Erich von Stroheim wrote the film's script and played the role of a German general.

References

[http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=496241&category=Overview Article on "The Kaiser, the Beast of Berlin" at TCM Movie Database]

External links

*imdb title|id=0009252|title=The Kaiser, the Beast of Berlin