Madness (1919 film)

Madness
Madness
Directed by	Conrad Veidt
Written by	Hermann Fellner; Margarete Lindau-Schulz; Kurt Muenzer (novel);
Produced by	Conrad Veidt
Starring	Conrad Veidt; Reinhold Schünzel; Grit Hegesa; Gussy Holl;
Cinematography	Carl Hoffmann
Production; company	Veidtfilme
Release date	15 October 1919
Country	Germany
Languages	Silent ; German intertitles

Madness (German:Wahnsinn) is a 1919 German silent horror film directed by Conrad Veidt and starring Veidt, Reinhold Schünzel and Grit Hegesa.^[2] The film's art direction was by Willi Herrmann.

After becoming a successful actor, Veidt formed his own production company called Veidtfilme and decided to try his hand at directing movies. Madness was one of two films directed by Veidt during his career, the other being the 1920 Die Nacht auf Goldenhall. Both films are lost today. The films had little impact at the box office. After 1920, Veidt returned exclusively to acting.^[3]

The screenplay of Madness was adapted from an obscure novel written by Kurt Muenzer.^[4]

Plot edit

A wealthy banker (Veidt) is given a key to a lost trunk by a Gypsy, who tells him that the trunk's contents will lead him either to happiness or death. He becomes obsessed with finding the trunk, and his vain search leads him to a mental breakdown.

Cast edit

Conrad Veidt as Bankier Lorenzen
Reinhold Schünzel as Jörges
Grit Hegesa as Marion Cavello
Gussy Holl as Mädchen aus dem Althändler Laden

References edit

^ Workman, Christopher; Howarth, Troy (2016). "Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era". Midnight Marquee Press. p. 209.ISBN 978-1936168-68-2.
^ Hutchings p.323
^ Workman, Christopher; Howarth, Troy (2016). "Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era". Midnight Marquee Press. p. 209.ISBN 978-1936168-68-2.
^ Workman, Christopher; Howarth, Troy (2016). "Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era". Midnight Marquee Press. p. 209.ISBN 978-1936168-68-2.