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Journey into the Night
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Wikipedia article
'Journey into the Night' is a 1921 silent German drama film directed by F. W. Murnau. Prints of the film still survive, thus making it the earliest surviving F. W. Murnau film.
Plot
An upright, straight-laced physician, Dr. Eigil Brne (Olaf Fnss), has long been engaged to Hlne (Erna Morena). To celebrate Hlne's birthday, the couple goes to a cabaret. A dancer, Lily (Gudrun Bruun-Stefenssen), is fascinated by the doctor and pretends to sprain her ankle. Brne attends her, and she seduces him. Brne becomes infatuated, breaks his engagement to Hlne, and marries Lily.
The Brnes move to the country, where they meet a blind painter (Conrad Veidt). Dr. Brne restores his sight. Dr. Brne learns that Hlne's health is failing, as she is heartbroken over her broken engagement. He tries to see her, but is turned away. When he returns home, Dr. Brne discovers Lily is having an affair with the painter and abandons her.
Years later, Lily seeks out Dr. Brne. The painter has gone blind again, and she pleads with him to operate once more. Dr. Brne refuses. Lily, he says, is incapable of true love and doesn't really love the painter. At any rate, he would not operate unless Lily left the painter. Lily runs off. A short time later, Dr. Brne goes to see Lily and discovers she has poisoned herself so that Brne will operate on her lover. The painter declines treatment. Brne commits suicide as well, preferring to live in darkness rather than without Lily.
Cast
* Olaf Fnss as Dr. Eigil Brne
* Erna Morena as Hlne
* Conrad Veidt as Der Maler (The Painter)
* Gudrun Bruun-Stefenssen as Lily
References
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