Master of the House (1925)
"Du skal ære din hustru" (original title)

Victor Frandsen is a domestic tyrant. His wife Ida has to work as a slave for him and the rest of the family. She rises early to prepare everything for the day, she toils all day long, and ... See full summary »

Director:

Carl Theodor Dreyer

Writers:

Carl Theodor Dreyer, Svend Rindom (play),

Stars:

Johannes Meyer, Astrid Holm, Karin Nellemose

Cast

Credited cast:
Johannes Meyer	...	Viktor Frandsen
Astrid Holm	...	Ida Frandsen
Karin Nellemose	...	Karen Frandsen
Mathilde Nielsen	...	Old Victor's Wetnurse
Clara Schønfeld	...	Alvilda Kryger
Johannes Nielsen	...	Doctor
Petrine Sonne	...	Laundress
Aage Hoffman	...	Dreng - Son
Byril Harvig	...	Barnet - Son
Viggo Lindstrøm
Aage Schmidt
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Vilhelm Petersen

Storyline

Victor Frandsen is a domestic tyrant. His wife Ida has to work as a slave for him and the rest of the family. She rises early to prepare everything for the day, she toils all day long, and she is often up also in the night, doing some sewing to earn extra money for the household. In daytime she is supported by an old woman called Mads, who was Victors' nanny when he was a child. Mads is filled with loathing for Victor's behavior towards his wife, and calls him a brute. She understands that Ida is on the verge of a serious breakdown, and persuades Ida's mother, Mrs. Kryer, to take Ida away. Mads will herself take care of the household and the children for a time. When Victor comes home and finds out that Ida is gone, he gets angry. He asks his daughter, Karen, where her mother is, but she refuses to tell him. She only says that her mother is very ill, and that it will be his fault if she dies. The accusation strikes Victor in his heart, and he sits down, feeling dejected. Karen ...

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Plot Keywords:

family abandonment | transformation | diaper | mistreatment | mother in law | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Country:

Denmark

Language:

Danish

Release Date:

5 October 1925 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Master of the House

Company Credits

Production Co:

Palladium Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min 78 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

At the time of its original release in Paris, France this film played in 57 theaters in three weeks.

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Connections

Edited into Mathilde Nielsen - Kavalkade (1941)

User Reviews

Touching morality tale from Carl Dreyer

This is a fine little film, almost entirely filmed in two adjoining rooms. The plot is outlined elsewhere in these reviews. It's a simple tale of a spoiled brat of a husband being made aware of the work and devotion of his taken for granted wife, through the intervention of his former Nanny.

The performances are all solid, the acting is subtle and completely believable. Meyer, who played the lusting monk in Dreyer's LEAVES FROM SATAN'S BOOK does a remarkable transformation as the autocrat husband here and Mathilde Nielsen (from his THE PARSON'S WIDOW) does a fine job as the wise old Nanny.

Once again it is a tale supporting the value of women and the matriarchy and taking the unfeeling patriarchal world to task. A double bill with Dreyer's THE PARSON'S WIDOW would be apt as the themes are similar - wise old woman intervenes in youthful folly.

The first part of the film, showing the many steps involved in the running of a household, are almost all done in long shot and medium shot. It is only when the characterizations begin to unfold that we are slowly allowed to move in closer and closer to the faces.

My print ran 111 minutes, not the 107 listed here on the IMDb site.