Bela Lugosi's continued cult following has led to the unearthing of some rare material, including Daughter of the Night, the USA cutdown of a two-part German epic, Dancing on the Volcano (1921), directed by Richard Eichberg. Actually there are only a few flashbacks to part one, "Sybil Young". This cutdown consists mostly of part two, "The Death of the Grand Duke". On the evidence of this "film", Herr Eichberg easily surpasses Edward D. Wood, Jr. as the world's worst director. If the movie had been made in 1902, there may have been some excuse for the ridiculous, over-the-top "posing" (one cannot call it "acting"), complete with bug eyes and other woefully heavy-handed mannerisms by a collection of thespic hams who would be booed off the stage at the Lower Podunk Drama Club.
Except for one or two shots when it actually pans, the camera is bolted to the floor, while the actors strike emphatic positions in front of the lens. The pace is super slow, the story totally indigestible, and although he has the main male role (at least in this version), Herr Lugosi displays as much charisma as a waxworks dummy (although he is by no means the worst offender. That honor is easily won by Robert Scholz, although Gustav Birkholz, who plays the Grand Duke whose death is celebrated in the movie's title, runs him close). The film's only saving grace lies in the exotic presence of Violetta Napierska - a charisma that not even her dumb "acting" can totally erase. (The Alpha DVD is watchable, if you are such a sold-out Lugosi fan, you must see this bankrupt-of-interest rarity).
Except for one or two shots when it actually pans, the camera is bolted to the floor, while the actors strike emphatic positions in front of the lens. The pace is super slow, the story totally indigestible, and although he has the main male role (at least in this version), Herr Lugosi displays as much charisma as a waxworks dummy (although he is by no means the worst offender. That honor is easily won by Robert Scholz, although Gustav Birkholz, who plays the Grand Duke whose death is celebrated in the movie's title, runs him close). The film's only saving grace lies in the exotic presence of Violetta Napierska - a charisma that not even her dumb "acting" can totally erase. (The Alpha DVD is watchable, if you are such a sold-out Lugosi fan, you must see this bankrupt-of-interest rarity).