Sumurun (1920)

The favorite slave girl of a tyrannical sheik falls in love with a cloth merchant. Meanwhile, a hunchback clown suffers unrequited love for a traveling dancer who wants to join the harem.

Director:

Ernst Lubitsch

Writers:

Friedrich Freksa (pantomime), Hanns Kräly (scenario),

Stars:

Ernst Lubitsch, Pola Negri, Paul Wegener

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ernst Lubitsch	...	Yeggar - the Hunchback
Pola Negri	...	Yannaia - a Dancer
Paul Wegener	...	Der alte Scheich
Jenny Hasselqvist	...	Sumurun
Aud Egede-Nissen	...	Haidee
Harry Liedtke	...	Nur-Al Din
Carl Clewing	...	Der junge Scheich
Margarete Kupfer	...	Alte Frau
Jakob Tiedtke	...	Head Eunuch
Max Kronert	...	Muffti, 1st Servant of Nur-al-Djin
Paul Biensfeldt	...	Achmed, the Slave Trader
Paul Graetz	...	Pufti, 2nd Servant of Nur-al-Djin

Storyline

The favorite slave girl of a tyrannical sheik falls in love with a cloth merchant, which puts her life in terrible danger. Luckily, she is beloved of the rest of the harem, which conspires to bring the true lovers together, while distracting the prying eyes of the eunuchs who serve as palace guards. Meanwhile, a traveling dancer is eager to become part of the harem, much to the despair of the hunchback clown who is in love with her.

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Plot Keywords:

harem | dancer | hunchback | slave | clown | 

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Taglines:

Pola Negri As the Wild Desert dancer (1921 One Arabian Night poster)

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Romance

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Details

Country:

Germany

Language:

German

Release Date:

25 September 1921 (USA)

Also Known As:

One Arabian Night

Company Credits

Production Co:

Projektions-AG Union (PAGU)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min 103 min (Kino Print)

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White (tinted)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in Life Is a Dream in Cinema: Pola Negri (2006)

User Reviews

One Arabian Night Tale

In the Orient, a troupe arrives in a village and the hunchback Yeggar (Ernst Lubitsch) is in love with the dancer Yannaia (Pola Negri), who is desired by every men. However, Yannaia has been invited by the slave trader Achmed (Paul Biensfeldt) and is enthusiastic to join the harem of the cruel and tyrannical Old Sheik (Paul Wegener). But when the Young Sheik (Carl Clewing) sees Yannaia, he also desires her and allows the troupe to exhibit in the streets of his village.

Meanwhile, the favorite concubine of the Old Sheik, Sumurun (Jenny Hasseqvist), and the cloth merchant Nur-al Din (Harry Liedtke) are in love with each other. However, the Old Sheik mistakenly believes that the Young Sheik desires her and he decides to punish Sumurun. However, the harem decides to help her to be with her beloved Nur-al Din.

"Sumurun" is one Arabian Night tale divided in six acts with a story of passion, desire, love and jealousy. The story blends drama and romance and fans like me of silent movies will certainly enjoy this film like I did. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Sumurun"