Herr Gustav Machaty's main claim to fame and glory was due to an early talkie wherein a young fraulein romped naked and merry through the Czech countryside; this holds no great interest to this Herr Graf (that is, the success of an early talkie not watching a beautiful streaker). But certainly this does not do justice to Herr Machaty's silent achievements because before his notorious international success, the Czech director had already an important background as an assistant to such Hollywood directors as Herr von Stroheim ( a distant kinsman this to this Herr Graf
) and Herr Griffith. Herr Machaty directed a number of remarkable silent films and "Kreutzerova Sonáta" ( The Kreutzer Sonata ) (1927) is one of this most accomplished oeuvres.
"Kreutzerova Sonáta" was an adaptation of Herr Leo Tolstoy's story which was in turn inspired this by Herr Beethoven's "Kreutzer Sonata". The genius of the Russian writer in depicting the conflicts, mistrust and decadence of love in matrimony, is skillfully transferred to the silent screen by Herr Machaty where the Czech director carefully shows through a long flashback the gradual deterioration of a bourgeoisie couple. The husband is driven mad by jealousy once he suspects his modern wife has a lover. Herr Machaty depicts in detail such marital conflicts, showing a carefree and liberal wife to whom family life holds little appeal. Instead she enjoys the resplendent night social life and neglects her family, paying no attention to her husband and children.
So we have a liberal, modern Czech flapper bound to a serious and bored husband and don't forget the important fact that the wife has a lover so soon the widening gulf between husband and wife leads to stress and resentment and we get a tormented psychological study of irreconcilable differences that will lead to tragedy.
With lavish art direction, convincing performances and skillful direction, "Kreutzerova Sonáta", is an outstanding production of the Czech film industry which was small and modest but not lacking in talent and inventiveness.
And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must put aside some differences with one of his Teutonic rich heiresses.
Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galitzien http://ferdinandvongalitzien.blogspot.com/
