Student of Prague (1913)

Balduin (Paul Wegener) is a penniless student in 19th century Prague who, in a chance encounter, rescues the beautiful Countess Margit Schwarzenberg and becomes romantically obsessed with her. Scapinelli, the sorcerer, lures the student with a bargain - 100,000 gold pieces - a vast fortune - in return for which "...he shall take from this room whatsoever he chooseth for his own use..." and Balduin hastily signs the contract. Much to the student's astonishment, the old magician approaches a large mirror, extracts Balduin's reflection and departs with it! Intoxicated with his new-found wealth, the student is unaware that he is now doomed to a horrific fate.

With it's Faustian theme, 1913's The Student Of Prague is one of the first "horror" movies and a true classic of German expressionist cinema. Alpha Video is pleased to present this landmark film with an original score by Paul David Bergel and completely restored title cards.

Paul Wegener and Stellan Rye's THE STUDENT OF PRAGUE is one of the earliest silent horror films, following Georges Melies' horror shorts and Thomas Edison's 1910 version of FRANKENSTEIN. The film, which is based on the Faust legend, along with Wegener's three versions of THE GOLEM, directly influenced future German horror films (THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI, NOSFERATU). Balduin (Wegener) is the best student and swordsman in Prague, but he confides to creepy, mysterious Scapinelli (John Gottowt), that he really desires money or a rich heiress. Balduin fortuitously saves Countess Margit (Grete Berger) from a riding accident, and instantly falls in love. Margit doesn't love her fiancé, the Baron (Fritz Weidemann), but Balduin's poverty discourages him from pursuing her. One day, Scapinelli appears in Balduin's room offering riches in exchange for something in the student's room. Balduin eagerly signs the proffered contract, but is shocked when Scapinelli takes his image from the mirror. Only the smitten gypsy girl Lyduschka (Lyda Salmonova) realizes the true gravity of the situation until Balduin's doppelganger begins wreaking havoc. Wegener's gripping horror classic features strong performances, lovely location shooting and some surprising special effects for such an early film.