Michael (1924)

Director:

Carl Theodor Dreyer

Writers:

Herman Bang (novel)
Thea von Harbou (adaptation) ...
(more)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Triangle story: painter, his young male model, unscrupulous princess.

Plot Keywords:

Will | Swan Lake Ballet | Adopted Son | Romance | Love Affair

Cast

Walter Slezak	...	Michael
Max Auzinger	...	Jules - Majordomo
Nora Gregor	...	Princess Lucia Zamikoff
Robert Garrison	...	Charles Switt - Journalist
Benjamin Christensen	...	Claude Zoret
Didier Aslan	...	Duc de Monthieu
Alexander Murski	...	Mr. Adelsskjold
Grete Mosheim	...	Mrs. Alice Adelsskjold
Karl Freund	...	LeBlanc - Art Dealer
Wilhelmine Sandrock	...	Widow de Monthieu
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mady Christians	...	Woman (uncredited)

Directed by
Carl Theodor Dreyer

Writing credits
Herman Bang		(novel "Mikaël")
Thea von Harbou		(adaptation and screenplay) &
Carl Theodor Dreyer		(adaptation and screenplay)

Produced by
Erich Pommer	....	producer

Cinematography by
Karl Freund		(photographed by)
Rudolph Maté		(photographed by)

Costume Design by
Hugo Häring

Art Department
Hugo Häring	....	sets

Music Department
Neal Kurz	....	music compiler (2004 alternate version)
Neal Kurz	....	musician (2004 alternate version)

Other crew
David H. Shepard	....	video producer (2004 alternate version) (as David Shepard)

Thanks
Bret Hampton	....	with appreciation to (2004 alternate version)
Monica Paulsen	....	with appreciation to (2004 alternate version)
Ulrich Ruedel	....	with appreciation to (2004 alternate version)
Bret Wood	....	with appreciation to (2004 alternate version)

Production Companies

• Universum Film (UFA)

Distributors

• Universum Film (UFA) (1926) (USA)

Other Companies

• Anthology Film Archives  with appreciation to (2004 alternate version) (as Anthology Film Archive)

Also Known As:

Chained (USA)
Chained: The Story of the Third Sex (USA)
Heart's Desire (UK)

Runtime:

90 min (20 fps, 2006 restored version) | USA:86 min (2004 alternate version) | Canada:93 min

Country:

Germany

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

USA:TV-14 (TV rating) | Finland:S

Company:

Universum Film (UFA)

Goofs:

Continuity: When the painter Claude Zoret is talking to Mikael's creditor he switches from standing up to sitting down back to standing up between shots.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Motto (titlecard): Motto: Now I can die in peace for I have known a great love.

Movie Connections:

References The Kid (1921)

Good Movie Disagree on Other's View

People in the modern era always seem to want to interpret older movies as having an entirely homosexual undertone, whether they do or they don't. It's clear that Zoret was definitely in love with Michael, but that Michael was heterosexual.

In the beginning, when Adelsskjold remarks that Michael has a "monopoly" on modeling for Zoret, Michael is obviously shaken, even angry/horrified. There are also two references to Michael in that first scene as Zoret's "adopted son." Michael doesn't even live with Zoret. Also, in the second scene, Michael is reported as having an obsession with a ballerina at the theater, and then falls head over heels for the "Princess." Michael was not a young hustler in this movie, but a penniless man who was taken in by a successful and older mentor whom he viewed more as a father, not a lover.