Nathan the Wise (film)
Nathan the Wise (German: Nathan der Weise) is a 1922 German silent historical film directed by Manfred Noa and starring Fritz Greiner, Carl de Vogt and Lia Eibenschütz. It is based on the 1779 play Nathan the Wise by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing. It was made by Bavaria Film at the Emelka Studios. The film provoked protests in Munich from far-right groups who felt it was too pro-Jewish.[1]
| Nathan the Wise | |
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| Directed by | Manfred Noa |
| Produced by | Erich Wagowski |
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Production company | |
| Distributed by | Bavaria Film |
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Running time | 128 minutes |
| Country | Germany |
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In 2010 oud player and composer Rabih Abou-Khalil released a soundtrack composed for the film entitled Trouble in Jerusalem.[2]
Plot
One of the main works of the Age of Enlightenment, it is a powerful plea for tolerance, humanity and freedom of opinion. Set in the age of the crusades, it deals with the relations between the three monotheistic religions. Characters include the historical figure of Sultan Saladin, and the Jewish merchant Nathan; the character of Nathan is based on Lessing's friend, the renowned philosopher Moses Mendelssohn. When the play was published in 1779, this was considered breaching a taboo.
Cast
- Fritz Greiner as Sultan Saladin
- Carl de Vogt as Assad von Filneck, sein Bruder / Junger Tempelherr
- Lia Eibenschütz as Sittah, seine Schwester
- Werner Krauss as Nathan
- Bella Muzsnay as Recha
- Margarete Kupfer as Daja, die christliche Pflegerin Rechas
- Rudolf Lettinger as Klosterbruder Bonafides - früherer Reitknecht Assads
- Ferdinand Martini as Al-Hafi, Derwisch
- Ernst Schrumpf as Patriarch von Jerusalem
- Max Schreck as Grossmeister der Tempelherren
- Wolfgang von Schwindt as Emir von Kurdistan
- Ernst Matray as Spassmacher des Sultans
References
- Prawer p. 20
- Vasan, V.. Rabih Abou-Khalil: Trouble in Jerusalem – Review at AllMusic. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
Bibliography
- Prawer, Siegbert Salomon (2007) [2005]. Between Two Worlds: The Jewish Presence in German and Austrian Film, 1910–1933. Berghahn Books. ISBN 978-1-84545-303-9.
