The Devil Worshippers | |
---|---|
Directed by | Muhsin Ertuğrul[1][2] |
Written by | Marie Luise Droop |
Based on | Karl May (novels) |
Produced by | Ustad Film Dr. Droop & Co. |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Joseph Rona |
Distributed by | Filmhaus Bruckmann & Co. |
Release date |
|
Running time | 76 minutes |
Country | Weimar Republic |
Language | Silent |
The Devil Worshippers (German: Die Teufelsanbeter) is a six-chapter 1921 silent German film written by Marie Luise Droop,[3] directed by Muhsin Ertuğrul[1][2] and featuring Carl de Vogt in the title-role of Kara Ben Nemsi.[4] De Vogt's career as an actor stretched into the 1960s, where he appeared in a number of the then-popular German crimi films.[3] Later horror-star Béla Lugosi is also featured in one of his first supporting roles in a film, although his precise role in the film is unknown (some sources say he played a character called Pir Kamek).
The film was an adaptation of two Karl May novels (The Desert and Wild Kurdistan).[1] It was one of the first German films to be based on the works of Karl May, who was normally known for his novels set in the old American West[3]).
This film was the first of a trilogy of the production company "Ustad-Film" starring actor Carl de Vogt, but it was only released as the third in the cinemas. In several scenes, this black-and-white film has some coloring, e.g. blue for night scenes.
The film is said to have premiered on 2 January 1921 at "Vaters Lichtspiele" at Würzburg,[1] but the first showing is only documented for 14 January 1921 at Wilhelmsburg. The film is now considered to be lost.