Die schwarze Natter

Name: Die schwarze Natter
Director: Franz Hofer
Released: 1913
Duration: 34 min
Cast: Emmerich Hanus, Margarete Hübler, Hermann Seldeneck, Ludwig Trautmann, Miriam Horwitz

1913 34 minutes (surviving print) Directed by Franz Hofer

About Die schwarze Natter

In a Russian circus, snake charmer Zadija works under the name die schwarze Natter and spies for her cousin Olaf. He wants the plans of engineer Iwan Korff, who is in town under another name and in love with the rider Blanche d'Estree. Zadija plants a note, makes Korff think Blanche is after the plans, and takes him to Olaf. The gendarmerie arrest Blanche for espionage. Lieutenant d'Olton, who saw Zadija leave with Korff, doubts the charge. He tells Korff that Blanche died, watches Zadija's face in a mirror hidden in his hat, then wires the governor. Blanche is freed, walks in alive, and holds Zadija with a revolver. The governor arrests Zadija. Korff and Blanche embrace.

Cast & crew

More about Die schwarze Natter

Franz Hofer wrote and directed the circus spy picture for Luna-Film in Berlin. Max Maschke produced it. The surviving version runs 34 minutes. It was released in 1913.

Themes

A spy in the snake act
A note in the makeup drawer
A lieutenant with a mirror in his hat
Zadija
Blanche d'Estree
Iwan Korff
circus
espionage
Franz Hofer

Making

Hofer sets both agents in one ring: Zadija with the snakes, Blanche on the horse. The proof against Blanche is a paper Zadija put in the dressing room.

Preservation

A 34-minute version survives.

Notes

Mirjam Harwitz plays Zadija. Margarete Hübler plays Blanche d'Estree. Emerich Hanus plays Iwan Korff. Ludwig Trautmann plays Lieutenant d'Olton. Hermann Seldeneck plays the governor.
The governor is in the circus audience, recognizes Korff as an old friend, and talks about the plans. Zadija's servant listens.
Blanche tries to escape over the circus dome during her horse act and is caught.
d'Olton disarms Olaf, puts on a servant's clothes, and sends the telegram that frees Blanche.
The German Wikipedia times the print now in circulation at 34 minutes.

Scenes

Zadija slips a note into Blanche's makeup drawer and then shows it to Korff.
Blanche tries to get out over the circus dome and is brought down.
d'Olton watches Zadija's face in a hat mirror when he says Blanche is dead.
Blanche walks in alive and keeps Zadija back with a revolver.

Also available

Internet Archive (silent-die-schwarze-natter)