The story is wacky – a gypsy is cursed by her father, so that she has to deny her illegitimate son in order for him to have a successful life. She gives him to a well-to-do lady who has lost her own child. Later, he has grown up to be a politician who wants to become the foreign minister. He doesn’t know that his real mother is the famous Madame de Thebes, the fortuneteller who all politicians make sure to visit! This information falls into the hands of a rival, who tries to use it to ruin his career. Meanwhile, the rival’s attractive daughter is attacked by a ruffian and needs to be rescued… There are a lot of striking images in this film. You can see the beauty of them even if the state of the print is far from perfect. The Norwegian actress Ragna Wettergreen gives a haunting performance as Madame de Thebes, with wisdom and regret – and quite a few melodramatic gestures. Understatement was not the norm in those days.
Credits
Madame de Thèbes Cast
| Name |
Character |
|
Karin Molander
She was 26, 89 years old when she died
|
as Louise von Volmar |
|
John Ekman
He was 34, 69 years old when he died
|
as Ayla's father |
|
Ragna Wettergreen
She was 50, 93 years old when she died
|
as Ayla |
Madame de Thèbes Crew
| Name |
Department |
|
Julius Jaenzon as Director of Photography. He was 30 (75) years old when He died
|
Camera |
|
Mauritz Stiller as Director. He was 32 (45) years old when He died
|
Directing |