Emerald of Death (1919)
"Der Knabe in Blau" (original title)

Director:

F.W. Murnau

Writer:

Edda Ottershausen

Stars:

Ernst Hofmann, Blandine Ebinger, Margit Barnay

Cast

Credited cast:
Ernst Hofmann	...	Thomas von Weerth
Blandine Ebinger	...	Schöne Zigeunerin / Fair gypsy
Margit Barnay	...	Junge Schauspielerin / Young actress
Karl Platen	...	Alter Diener / Old servant
Georg John	...	Zigeunerhauptmann / Gypsy commander
Leonhard Haskel	...	Theaterdirektor
Marie von Buelow	...	Bettlerin
Rudolf Klix	...	Bobby
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Hedda Kemp	...	Dame im Schleier
Hans Otterhausen	...	Guckkastenmann
Hans Schaup	...	Der alte Dietrich - Thomas' Diener

Storyline

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

Germany

Language:

German

Release Date:

July 1919 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Emerald of Death

Filming Locations:

Saturn-Film-Atelier, Berlin, Germany

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ernst Hofmann-Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

54 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is a lost film.

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Connections

Referenced in Die Sprache der Schatten - Murnau: Die frühen Jahre und Nosferatu (2007)

User Reviews

Murnau's first film is LOST; synopsis follows.

Thomas von Weerth is the last survivor of a noble family, now living isolated in his castle. He contemplates his ancestor, the "Blue Boy" who wears the emerald of death which has brought destruction to his family. Is he, Thomas, his reincarnation? The real emerald was hidden in the castle by an ancestor. In his sleep, the painting comes to life and leads him to the emerald. A gypsy group arrives at the castle, the leader's daughter seducing the impressionable Thomas. The group strip him of everything, including the emerald, burn the castle and destroy the portrait. Thomas is near death when he is brought back to health by a young actress.

This film may never have been shown as a feature for it was not reviewed by contemporary critics.

The above information is gleaned from Lotte Eisner's biography of Murnau.

This film is a LOST film- no negative or print materials are known to survive. There are however extant stills.