Prapancha Pash (1929)

AKA:
A Throw of Dice  >> English
A Throw of Dice Romance of India >> English
Schicksalswürfel  >> German
Ein Königsdrama aus dem indischen Dschungel >> German
Schicksalswürfel - Eine indische Liebesgeschichte >> German
La partie de dés >> French
Sunita >> Greek

About:
This movie is called to be the first Indian Film ever to showcase a lip-to-lip kiss scene, which was between Seeta Devi and Himansu Rai.

Synopsis:
Two rival kings addicted to gambling, Ranjit (Roy) and the evil Sohan (Rai), also vie for the same woman, Sunita (Seeta Devi), Kanwa the hermit's (Gupta) daughter. Ranjit loses his kingdom and his love and becomes Sohan's slave through a crooked game of dice.

Starring:
Seeta Devi
Himansu Rai
Charu Roy

Director: Franz Osten

The Last Warning (1929)

Starring:
Laura La Plante
John Boles

Director: Paul Leni

The Iron Mask (1929)

AKA:
Die eiserne Maske >> German

Synopsis:
King Louis XIII of France is happy to be born a son - an heir to the throne. But when the Queen offers a Richelieu, Cardinal second twin sees the child as a potential for revolution, and has him sent to Spain to be raised in secret to ensure a peaceful future for France. Alas, keeping the secret means sending Constance, lover of D'Artagnan, out of a convent. D'Artagnan hears of this and rallies the Musketeers in a bid to rescue her. Unfortunately, Richelieu out smarts the Musketeers and banishes them forever. Richelieu asks D'Artagnan to look after and protect the young prince. Meanwhile, Rochefort learns of the twins and Richelieu's plans, and kidnaps the twin, raising him in secret. Many years later, with Richelieu dead and the young prince crowned King Louis XIV, Rochefort launches his plan. The king is kidnapped, replaced by his twin brother, put an iron mask to avoid being recognized, and taken to a remote castle to be arrested. Louis XIV is able to alert D'Artagnan, who realizes that only his friends Athos, Porthos, and Aramis can help him, then he meets the Musketeers to derail Rochefort nefarious plot, but a heavy toll.

Starring:
Belle Bennett
Marguerite De La Motte
Dorothy Revier

Director: Allan Dwan

Dans la nuit (1929)

AKA:
In the Night  >> English
Im Dunkel der Nacht  >> German

Synopsis:

After a tragic accident a quarry worker must carry a face mask to hide his injuries. His wife, who are increasingly alienated from him, takes a lover. Than one day he uses the same mask, which also carries the Disfigured- this bad joke leads to a fateful mistake.
End of the 20s this marital drama caused a stir, because of its rather unusual (for that time) display of cruelty. So was producer Fernand Weill forced to add a happy ending- not to fall victim to censorship.
The filmmaker was born in Rennes and began his acting career in 1908 at the Theater in Paris. In 1920 he changed, after numerous tours and great success, to the cinema. He appeared in over 200 films before he gave in 1929 with "Dans la nuit" his directorial debut ,in 1932 a second film, "Affaire Classée" followed. Vanel died in 1989 at the age of 96 years in Cannes.

Fräulein Else (1929)

AKA:
Miss Else >> English

Synopsis:
Else, the light-hearted daughter of the Viennese lawyer Dr. Thalhoff spends a relaxing winter vacation in St. Moritz, when she receives a depressing message: Her father is in financial need, As he has lost his clients' money in the stock market. Now he faces prosecution. His only hope is the help of the wealthy art dealer, Mr. von Dorsday, who dwells also in St. Moritz. At the entreaty of her mother Elsa turns to the disgusting wealthy man. Dorsday is willing to help financially Else's father out of trouble, but on one condition: Else should show him naked. The young woman wrestles with her decision, finally made ​​love to her father fulfilling Dorsdays request. Wrapped only in a white fur coat, she goes to him. But before that Else has taken poison. Notice the Olympic Winter Games 1928 in St.Moritz during Film shooting.Else, the light-hearted daughter of the Viennese lawyer Dr. Thalhoff spends a relaxing winter vacation in St. Moritz, when she receives a depressing message: Her father is in financial need, As he has lost his clients' money in the stock market. Now he faces prosecution. His only hope is the help of the wealthy art dealer, Mr. von Dorsday, who dwells also in St. Moritz. At the entreaty of her mother Elsa turns to the disgusting wealthy man. Dorsday is willing to help financially Else's father out of trouble, but on one condition: Else should show him naked. The young woman wrestles with her decision, finally made ​​love to her father fulfilling Dorsdays request. Wrapped only in a white fur coat, she goes to him. But before that Else has taken poison. Notice the Olympic Winter Games 1928 in St.Moritz during Film shooting.

Starring:
Elisabeth Bergner
Albert Bassermann
Albert Steinrück

Director: Paul Czinner

Frau im Mond (1929)

AKA:
Woman in the Moon >> English

Starring:
Gerda Maurus
Willy Fritsch
Gustav von Wangenheim
Claus Pohl
Gustl Gstettenbaur
Fritz Rasp
Tilla Durieux
Hermann Vallentin
Max Zilzer
Borwin Walth
Mahmud Terja Bey
Karl Platen

Director: Fritz Lang

Asphalt (1929)

AKA:

Der Polizeiwachtmeister und die Diamantenelse >> Germany
Asfalto >> Italy, Portugal, Spain

Synopsis:

Else, played by Betty Amann, becomes the tragic hero of Asphalt as her character transcends her unhappy criminal life to redeem herself in an unfolding confession of true love.

As fitting with the harsh urban landscape of Berlin, Else begins as a gorgeous trickster when the story begins. Her high fashion clothes and perfectly ornamented makeup make her deserving to be peering over diamond cases while batting her eyes in want at the jeweler. We immediately experience the power of her female persuasion between the cuts between the almost possessed jeweler and her. She is good at what she does- seducing men- not stealing diamonds parse. She lies as she gets caught professing it was the first time, that she needed the money. Even when she meets Albert, played by Gustav Frohlich, she insists her luxurious apartment and belongings are not hers. She maintains her story and pristine female fatal composure until she flings herself into his arms and confesses to him, I like you. A close-up captures the couples passionate embrace.

Yet, it is the rare moments when Else thinks about Albert that we begin to see her character evolve. With most of her expression transcending from her sad eyes throughout the film. Her first smile in the film comes after she finds the passport photo of Albert in her apartment. Gazing at the photo she smiles comparing him to her criminal older and uglier boyfriend in a photo beside her. This is the first soft moment with this character and the smile is very contrast as well. She will stare and smile at his picture again in the nightclub, when she becomes compelled to return his passport and give him a gift of cigars, a scene that results to a confession of love from both Else and Albert.

It is when Albert is at Elses feet, begging for her to be his wife when she can no longer stand the differences between them. As he looks up to her in her white elegant dress and she runs away. She breaks away and exposes all her stolen goods from her criminal past. Her confession becomes a conduit metaphor for the criminal underworld of the city as she pleads with him, Dont go, dont let me go down. She is looking for mercy and seeking to be redeemed. She believes he can save her and this is motivation enough for her to confess.

In the closing scene, the director portrays Else in a dark suit voluntarily turning herself into the police. Her once flashy, teary eyes are humbled and filled with tears of compassion and love. This confession becomes an expression of her love and she rescues her lover from being accused of murder.

She is able to smile once again as Albert follows her and professes he will wait for her. The gorgeous closing shot shows Albert watching Else through a barred doorway as she goes off to jail or some dark underworld in the city.


Starring:
Albert Steinrück
Else Heller
Gustav Fröhlich

Director: Joe May

A Throw of Dice (1929)

AKA:
Schicksalswürfel >> German
Prapancha Pash >> Hindi
Prapancha Pasha >> Hindi

About:
Franz Osten was one of the early Indian film director. He directed in a total of 57 films. He was born in Munich, Germany on 23 December 1876 as Franz Ostermayr. During living and shooting films in India he joined Germany's Nazi Party. He died on the 2 December 1956 in Bad Aibling, Germany. He mentored and starred Himanshu Rai, who later became one of the legendary name in the field of Indian Film Industry, later popularly called as Bollywood.

Synopsis:
Two rival kings addicted to gambling, Ranjit (Roy) and the evil Sohan (Rai), also vie for the same woman, Sunita (Seeta Devi), Kanwa the hermit's (Gupta) daughter. Ranjit loses his kingdom and his love and becomes Sohan's slave through a crooked game of dice.

Starring:

Seeta Devi   - Sunita
Himansu Rai - King Sohat
Charu Roy - King Ranjit
Modhu Bose - Kirkbar, King Sohat's Henchman
Sarada Gupta - Kanwa, Sunita's Father, the Hermit
Tincory Chakrabarty - Kanzler Raghunath
Lala Bijoykishen - Raghunaths Sohn Beerbal

Director: Franz Osten

Um Cão Andaluz / Un Chien Andalou (1929)

WARNING : DISTURBING MOVIE

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