So this is Paris (1926)

AKA:
Ernst Lubitsch
Myrna Loy

Geheimnisse einer Seele (1926)

AKA:
Secrets of a Soul

Starring:
Werner Krauss
Ruth Weyher
Ilka Grüning

Director: Georg Wilhelm Pabst (G. W. Pabst)

Der heilige Berg (1926)

AKA:

The Holy Mountain >> English

Synopsis:
The simple storyline is about Diotima, an inspirational dancer played by Leni Riefenstahl, and her love story with Karl, a tough mountain lover who, in the best German romantic tradition, finds the Absolute climbing the highest peaks. The greatness of the movie is in the winter mountain scenery and in the filming of ski competitions. Some of the filming was done in Upper Engadin, in Sils-Maria, a small Swiss village about 6 miles west of St. Moritz. In one scene it is clearly recognizable the Mount Margna and in a few others, the village of Sils-Maria is visible with the Hotel Alpenrose and the Chesa Zuan (both are still standing and look remarkably similar). Some other filming is probably from the nearby Val Fex, and there is also a beautiful view of the Silsersee with Maloja visible in the distance.  Considering the limited technical support available for winter alpine filming in 1926, it is remarkable that the photography is mostly crisp and engaging, and that it shows the peculiar light quality of Upper Engadin.   Riefenstahl's acting is fantastic but inevitably dated. She is expressive and intense, with a bit of influence from Weimar Expressionism. She outclasses all other actors, who appear unidimensional.  A movie strongly recommended, if only for the incredible quality of alpine photography and for the timeless Riefenstahl performance.

Starring:
Leni Riefenstahl
Luis Trenker
Ernst Petersen

Director: Arnold Fanck

The Student of Prague (1926)

Director: Henrik Galeen

Faust - Eine deutsche Volkssage (1926)

AKA:
Faust >> Austria, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Hungary, International
Fausto >> Argentina, Brazil, Portugal, Spain
Faust: A German Folk Legend Canada, English

Synopsis:
God and Satan war over earth; to settle things, they wager on the soul of Faust, a learned and prayerful alchemist. During a plague, Faust despairs and burns his books after failing to stop death; Satan sends Mephisto to tempt Faust, first with insight into treating the plague and then with a day's return to youth. Mephisto is clever, timing the end of this 24 hours as Faust embraces the beautiful Duchess of Parma. Faust trades his soul for youth. Some time later, he's bored, and demands on Easter Sunday that Mephisto take him home. Faust promptly sees and falls in love with the beautiful Gretchen, whose liaison with him brings her dishonor.

German alchemist Faust is the object of a wager between God and Satan. Satan sends Mephisto to Earth to offer Faust an end to the plague that is making it's way through the local population, and eternal youth, in return for the small price of his soul.

Murnaus Film verwebt Motive aus dem Volksbuch über Johann Fausten mit Elementen aus den Dramatisierungen dieses Stoffes durch Christopher Marlowe und J. W. Goethe: Die Suche des alten Faust nach Weisheit, das Angebot Mephistos, dem greisen Gelehrten mittels eines mit Blut besiegelten Pakts ein Leben in ewiger Jugend zu verschaffen, sowie Fausts Begegnung mit Gretchen mit den Episoden Verführung, Duell mit Gretchens Bruder Valentin, Pranger, Scheiterhaufen und Erlösung durch die Liebe. Und dies alles eingerahmt von den Streitgesprächen zwischen dem Erzengel und dem Herrn der Finsternis.

Starring:
Gösta Ekman
Emil Jannings
Camilla Horn

Director: F. W. Murnau