The Abyss (Danish: Afgrunden), also known as Woman Always Pays, is a 1910 Danish silent black-and-white drama film, written and directed by Urban Gad. The lead performance and natural acting by Asta Nielsen led to her international stardom. Because of the overt eroticism of Nielsen's performance, the film was censored in Norway and Sweden.[1]
| The Abyss | |
|---|---|
 "Gaucho dance" scene | |
| Directed by | Urban Gad |
| Written by | Urban Gad |
| Produced by | Hjalmar Davidsen |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Alfred Lind |
Production company | Kosmorama |
| Distributed by | Kosmorama |
Release date |
|
Running time | 38 minutes |
| Country | Denmark |
| Language | Silent |
Plot edit
Knud, a vicar's son, meets Magda, a piano teacher, on a tram. He falls in love with her and introduces her to his parents. She refuses to go with them to the Sunday service and convinces him to go to the circus with her. She dances with the performers and at night and one of them, Rudolf, comes to seduce her. They run away on horseback. Magda is not happy with Rudolf who keeps flirting with other girls, but she cannot leave him, despite Knud's efforts.[2]
Cast edit
- Asta Nielsen as Magda Vang
- Robert Dinesen as Knud Svane, Magda's fiancé
- Poul Reumert as Rudolf Stern, circus performer
- Hans Neergaard as Peder Svane, vicar
- Hulda Didrichsen as the Vicar's wife
- Emilie Sannom as Lilly d'Estrelle, singer
- Oscar Stribolt as Waiter
- Arne Weel as garden guest
- Johannes Fønss as garden guest
- Torben Meyer
References edit
- ^ Engberg, Marguerite (March 1993). "The Erotic Melodrama in Danish Silent Films 1910-1918". Film History. 5 (1): 63–67.
- ^ Review, synopsis and link to watch the film: "A cinema history". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
External links edit
- Afgrunden, at the Danish Film Institute
- Afgrunden / The Abyss (1910) is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
- The Woman Always Pays at IMDb
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