From 1909 until the outbreak of World War I, the Danish film industry enjoyed a brief period of worldwide triumph. This was possible in the silent film era, when there were no barriers between films from different language areas, as intertitles could easily be changed. Denmark briefly became the most important film center in Europe, and Danish films were shown in cities such as Paris, London and New York. However, during World War I, the Danish film industry lost its worldwide influence (as did the entire European film industry), and the USA, with Hollywood, took over the leading role.
By 1910, Denmark had ten film production companies, and that year Nordisk Films Kompagni, under the leadership of director August Blom, became the first major European company to focus entirely on feature films and achieve international success. With the longer films came growing artistic ambition, best illustrated by Afgrunden (The Abyss, 1910), in which the beautiful actress Asta Nielsen (1881-1972) made her breakthrough as Europe’s first major female film star.
Nielsen’s role in The Abyss defined her career, portraying a strong, independent woman who suffered tragic consequences from her own choices. Although she became the first international film star, her work was often censored for its provocative content – her naturalistic portrayal was considered highly erotic. She often played the role of a seductress or femme fatale, such as Lulu in the film Erdgeist of 1923.
The film tells the story of Magda Vang (Asta Nielsen), a piano teacher who meets Knud Svane (Robert Dineen), the son of a vicar, on a tram in Copenhagen. Knud falls in love with her and has his parents invite her to spend the summer with them at the vicarage in Gjerslev. On Sunday, Magda refuses to go to church and convinces Knud to visit a circus instead. There she falls in love with the charismatic circus artist Rudolf Stern (Poul Reumert), who follows her to the rectory. At night, he enters her bedroom via a ladder to roughly take her into his manly arms and kiss her on the lips while she protests unconvincingly. Magda leaves her safe, respectable fiancé and runs away with the circus artist.
She begins the wandering circus life and, under Rudolf's guidance, becomes a gifted member of the troupe. Although this new life initially fascinates her, she eventually becomes disillusioned when she discovers that Rudolf is also pursuing other women. But despite Knud's efforts to win her back, Magda cannot leave Rudolf.
Magda and Rudolf are hired as dancers in a variety theater, where they perform a sensual dance. During the act, Magda lassoes Rudolf and dances seductively around him. However, when Rudolf pays too much attention to a ballet dancer, Magda becomes furious and starts a fight on stage, in front of the audience. This leads to them both being fired.
In order to earn their living, Rudolf forces Magda to play the piano in a band in a garden restaurant. Knud appears and recognizes her. Incognito, he asks her for a private meeting. Magda thinks he wants to pay her for sex and refuses, but Rudolf forces her to go anyway. When Rudolf arrives later and finds Magda with Knud, he becomes furious and starts beating her. In panic, Magda grabs a knife and stabs Rudolf in the chest. He dies, but her love for him remains undiminished, and in her desperation she clings to his dead body. When the police arrive, she has to be taken away by force. At the exit of the restaurant she passes Knud, but she does not notice him - even now, he doesn't exist for her.
Director Urban Gad used naturalistic settings and innovative techniques such as continuity editing. The film's most memorable scenes are Magda's sensual dance with Rudolf and the final confrontation in which she kills him in self-defense. For 1910, The Abyss is a remarkably refined work, typical of the quality films coming out of Denmark at the time, despite their sensational storylines. Although the acting is sometimes overdone and, as in many silent films, there is more running time than story, Asta Nielsen is a joy to watch. Her sultry, erotic dancing remains remarkably daring even today. Unfortunately, the only available prints are badly deteriorated in some places.
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My goal is to discover interesting movies that are not already on all the "greatest movie" lists.
All films discussed in this article are public domain and can be watched via YouTube or Archive.org