"The Student of Prague" (1913)

Esther Lerch

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Apr 15, 1998, 3:00:00 AM4/15/98

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I've been doing some research on the silent German film, "The Student of
Prague" -- the 1913 version directed by Stellan Rye with Paul Wegener in
the title role.

It seems there was much confusion in the period after WWII as to whether a
print of this film had survived. Does anyone happen to know the story as
to how this film came to be considered "lost" by some writers (including
Kracauer), and how a print of it came to be found (as evidenced in the
1965 revision of Lotte Eisner's L'Ecran Demoniaque)?

Any guidance would be most appreciated.

Evelyn C. Leeper

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Apr 15, 1998, 3:00:00 AM4/15/98

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And as evidenced by the fact that I have a copy. :-)
--
Evelyn C. Leeper | ele...@lucent.com
+1 732 957 2070 | http://www.geocities.com/Athens/4824
"What has the study of biology taught you about the Creator, Dr. Haldane?"
"I'm not sure, but He seems to be inordinately fond of beetles."

SJB

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Apr 15, 1998, 3:00:00 AM4/15/98

to Esther Lerch

Esther,

I don't know the answers to your questions, but I watched a video of the
1913 version of this film last year. The library at the University of
Texas at Austin has a copy. I think the video came from the German
Language Video Center in Indianapolis.

Sandra

Esther Lerch wrote:
>
> I've been doing some research on the silent German film, "The Student of
> Prague" -- the 1913 version directed by Stellan Rye with Paul Wegener in
> the title role.
>
> It seems there was much confusion in the period after WWII as to whether a
> print of this film had survived. Does anyone happen to know the story as
> to how this film came to be considered "lost" by some writers (including
> Kracauer), and how a print of it came to be found (as evidenced in the
> 1965 revision of Lotte Eisner's L'Ecran Demoniaque)?
>

GaryP11111

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Apr 16, 1998, 3:00:00 AM4/16/98

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Esther Lerch wrote:
>
> I've been doing some research on the silent German film, "The Student of
> Prague" -- the 1913 version directed by Stellan Rye with Paul Wegener in
> the title role.
>
> It seems there was much confusion in the period after WWII as >to whether a
print of this film had survived. Does anyone >happen to know the story as to
how this film came to be >considered "lost" by some writers (including
Kracauer), and how >a print of it came to be found (as evidenced in the 1965
revision >of Lotte Eisner's L'Ecran Demoniaque)?
>
> Any guidance would be most appreciated.

LSVideo sells the 1913 version on videotape. Their website URL is:
http://www.spvi.com/~lsvideo

Gary P.

Noctur...@yahoo.com

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Apr 16, 1998, 3:00:00 AM4/16/98

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Can someone compare the two versions of the movie - camera shot wise? I
thought the scene where Scapinelli's shadow rises, giant and batlike, on the
wall below where Veidt and the actress are standing was a great scene,
innovative camerawork, then I saw a still of the same scene from the Wegener
version, and it's an identical setup.

In article <199804160418...@ladder01.news.aol.com>,

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JB Wood

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Apr 17, 1998, 3:00:00 AM4/17/98

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Yes, this version of THE STUDENT OF PRAGUE exists and his held in at
least two American collections. It can be rented non-theatrically from
the Douris Corp. (614) 469-0720

Esther Lerch

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Apr 18, 1998, 3:00:00 AM4/18/98

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Thanks everyone for your input. I'll try to get back to you individually.
Anyone with more info, pls e-mail in addition to posting.

Esther