Living Buddhas (German: Lebende Buddhas) is a 1925 German silent film in five chapters, directed by Paul Wegener and starring Wegener, Asta Nielsen and Käthe Haack.[2] It was co-written by Wegener and Hans Stürm (who also played Professor Campbell in the film). Wegener cast himself as the evil High Llama of a devil cult. Danish actress Nielsen's film career went downhill quickly with the advent of sound films. It was made at the Staaken Studios in Berlin. Only five minutes of footage survive of the original 139-minute running time.[3]

Living Buddhas
GermanLebende Buddhas
Directed byPaul Wegener
Written byHans Stürm
Paul Wegener
Produced byBerthold Held
StarringPaul Wegener
Asta Nielsen
Käthe Haack
CinematographyReimar Kuntze
Josif Rona
Guido Seeber
Music byWilly Schmidt-Gentner
Production
company
Wegener-Film
Distributed byTerra Film
Release date
  • 12 May 1925 (1925-05-12)
Running time
139 minutes (in 5 chapters)[1]
CountryGermany
LanguagesSilent
German intertitles

Plot

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Professor Campbell and his young wife travel to Tibet on an expedition to investigate a primitive and savage cult. The high priest of the cult plans to use Mrs. Campbell as a human sacrifice. The professor succeeds in getting the entire party out of Tibet, and even manages to bring with him a sacred document belonging to the cult. Once back in Europe, he tries to decipher the parchment, but the cult members have followed him home.

Cast

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References

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  1. ^ Workman, Christopher; Howarth, Troy (2016). "Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era". Midnight Marquee Press. p.286. ISBN 978-1936168-68-2.
  2. ^ Schlüpmann, Heide. Asta Nielsen: . Nachtfalter : Asta Nielsen, ihr Filme, Volume 2. Filmarchiv Austria, 2009. p. 359.
  3. ^ Workman, Christopher; Howarth, Troy (2016). "Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era". Midnight Marquee Press. p. 286. ISBN 978-1936168-68-2.
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