Twilight of a Woman's Soul
About Twilight of a Woman's Soul
Vera Dubovskaya, bored with the party at her mother's house, goes with the countess to visit the poor and decides to keep helping them. Maksim Petrov lures her back with a false story about his injured hand, rapes her, and passes out; she kills him. She marries Prince Dolsky, then tells him what happened. He recoils. She leaves, and years later he finds her on stage under the name Ellen Kay. She refuses him. He goes home and shoots himself.
Cast & crew
More about Twilight of a Woman's Soul
Yevgeni Bauer directed for Aleksandr Khanzhonkov. V. Demert, who plays Maksim, is credited with the script. Nikolai Kozlovsky photographed it, including a tracking shot that follows Vera in the opening section. Bauer is also credited with the production design.
Background
Released in 1913, in the last years of the Russian Empire's commercial film boom, from Khanzhonkov's Moscow company.
Making
Bauer staged the rich garden party and the poor rooms as opposing sets. Kozlovsky's camera moves with Vera instead of staying locked off for the whole opening.
Look
Nikolai Kozlovsky shot it. In the first section the camera tracks with Vera as she moves forward.
Preservation
A print survives and has been posted as a full-length copy.
Notes
- Nina Chernova plays Vera Dubovskaya, A. Ugryumov plays Prince Dolsky, and V. Demert plays Maksim Petrov.
- After she leaves the prince, Vera works as an actress under the name Ellen Kay.
- On the honeymoon she tells him, "I pity you, Prince," and walks out.
- A print runs 48 minutes and 38 seconds.
Scenes
- Maksim passes out after the assault, and Vera kills him.
- Dolsky finds Vera performing as Ellen Kay and she turns him away.
- He shoots himself at home.
Also available
- Wikimedia Commons (1913 Сумерки женской души.webm)
Quotes
Whatever may have happened in your past, nothing will shake my love.
I pity you, Prince.
I loved you once, but now my love has been extinguished.
