The Blue Light (1932)

When the moon is full, young men die attempting to reach the mysterious blue light in the mountains.

Directors:

Leni Riefenstahl, Béla Balázs (uncredited)

Writers:

Béla Balázs, Leni Riefenstahl (story)

Stars:

Leni Riefenstahl, Mathias Wieman, Beni Führer

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview:
Leni Riefenstahl	...	Junta
Mathias Wieman	...	Vigo
Beni Führer	...	Tonio
Max Holzboer	...	Innkeeper
Martha Mair	...	Lucia
Franz Maldacea	...	Guzzi

Storyline

Junta is hated by the people in the village where she lives, especially by the women, who suspect her of being a witch. Only she can climb the nearby mountains to a cave high up, whence a mysterious blue light glows when the moon is full. Many young men of the village have died trying to follow her. She is driven out of town, and takes to living in the mountains. Eventually she shares the secret of the blue light with one man, and he betrays it.

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Plot Keywords:

village | mountain | f rated | tragic love | dog | 

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Mystery

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Details

Country:

Germany

Language:

German Italian

Release Date:

8 May 1934 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Blue Light

Filming Locations:

Foroglio, Val Maggia, Cantone Ticino, Switzerland

Company Credits

Production Co:

Leni Riefenstahl-Produktion

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Tobis-Klangfilm)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was a groundbreaking film at the time. It was a sound film shot all on location high in the mountains. Real mountain people were used as supporting players.

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Alternate Versions

The first version in 1932 acknowledged all creative assistants. In 1938 she gave all story concept to her not of a Dolomite legend and then later in 1952 she even emitted the Jewish 'Béla Balázs' refusing to pay his last installment of fees.

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Connections

Featured in The Story of Film: An Odyssey: The Arrival of Sound (2011)

User Reviews

Visually stunning mountain film!!!

`Das blaue Licht' (The Blue Light) tells the legend of Junta, a strange woman living in the Alpine heights above a Tyrolean village, who has privileged access to a cave of crystals. On full-moon nights a blue light emanates from this secret grotto, luring young men from the valley to seek out the force of the radiant beam. Their quest invariably end in death and causes the towns-people to vilify junta. A painter from Vienna, Vigo, befriends the outcast woman. He becomes her protector and falls in love with her. Following her one blue-lit night, he discovers the way to the cave. He draws a map, thinking that the safe passage to the grotto will serve the best interest of both Junta and the villagers. The towns-people arm themselves with tools and climb to the cave, plundering the valuable crystals and celebrating their new found fortune.

Riefenstahl's film -(fantasy) sanctifies nature and reflects a fascination with beauty and harmony. The photography of this picture is visually stunning, and Riefenstahl's masculine beauty and physical abilities make her the perfect choice for the role of Junta. `Das blaue Licht' is one of the last great Weimar films and a ‘must see' not only for movie buffs.