Opium
About Opium
At the end of his research in China, Professor Gesellius hears of Nung-Tschang, who keeps a stronger opium. Nung-Tschang tells him that his wife had a child by a European, that he killed her, kept the child, and used the European as a test subject. A young woman, Sin, asks Gesellius to get her away from Nung-Tschang. She is that child. At home, Gesellius's wife Maria is involved with his student Richard Armstrong. Armstrong's father, long missing and addicted, is admitted to the clinic under another name. The film ends with Magdalena and Gesellius cleared of Armstrong's death. Gesellius dies smoking a last pipe.
Cast & crew
More about Opium
Robert Reinert wrote, directed, and produced it for Monumental-Film in Munich. Helmar Lerski photographed it. Isaak Polischuk is credited with the music. Stern-Film distributed it. The German release was January 29, 1919. English Wikipedia gives 112 minutes. A German note lists 121 minutes for 1919 and 96 minutes for a current version. Eduard von Winterstein plays Gesellius. Sybill Morel plays Sin and Magdalena. Werner Krauss plays Nung-Tschang. Conrad Veidt plays Dr. Richard Armstrong. Hanna Ralph plays Maria.
Themes
Making
Reinert frames the China story as a tale Nung-Tschang tells the professor, then cuts back to the clinic.
Music
Isaak Polischuk is credited with the music on the German release.
Preservation
A shorter print than the 1919 release is the one described as current. A copy is on Wikimedia Commons.
Notes
- Sybill Morel doubles as Sin in China and Magdalena at home.
- Friedrich Kühne plays Armstrong's father. Loni Nest plays a child.
- A copy is on Wikimedia Commons.
- The German Wikipedia distinguishes the 1919 length from a shorter print in circulation now.
Scenes
- Nung-Tschang tells how he killed his wife and kept the child.
- Gesellius dies with a last pipe after he and Magdalena are cleared.
