Known for Acting
1919 film by August Blom
A peace-loving prince and his followers dream of eternal peace – pax aeterna. So far, they have been successful only within the realm. When the neighbouring state declares war, the prince’s heart stops beating. Is the vision of global peace just a naive dream, or will his followers be able to see it through? (stumfilm.dk)
Goethe’s Faust myth makes an appearance in this drama about a dispute between two scientists. When Doctor Voluntas discovers that his rival, the virtuous Doctor Felix, is about to overtake him in the preparation of a serum for cancer, he decides to lure the good doctor into corruption. An innocent woman, Margaret, is reeled in as a decoy and it works! Doctor Felix soon forgets both about his work and himself, while the devil stands ready to take possession of his soul. (Stumfilm.dk)
Meyer the merchant is having a grand old time while his wife is away at a seaside resort. He brushes off her requests for him to visit by fibbing about being busy at work. When Mrs. Meyer returns home unannounced to nurse her poor, overworked husband, she finds the house empty, as Meyer is out at a party. (stumfilm.dk)
Count de Croisset becomes infatuated with the star dancer Odette Blant. She accepts his offer of marriage, but must promise to abandon the stage forever. She sorely misses performing, however, and when the theatre manager Delage asks her to step in after his star is injured, she agrees. Her husband is at the theatre and recognizes her. Thinking she is having an affair with Delage, he challenges him to a duel. Each duellist must swallow a pill, one of which supposedly contains a deadly poison. This is Delage’s idea, allowing him (with the help of his uncle, the apothecary Michot) to engineer a happy ending for all concerned.
The two young officers Edmond and Clayton both fall in love with Rose – the daughter of the Minister of War. When Rose falls victim to a serious accident, Clayton risks his life to save her whereas Edmond cowardly shrinks from helping. As Rose and Clayton become a couple, Edmond's jealousy gets the better of him. (stumfilm.dk)
The popular artist Frank Harvey has been offered a job in America. On the voyage across the Atlantic, Harvey catches sight of the captain’s beautiful daughter, and the two quickly become good friends. However, a fire breaks out in the ship’s hold, and while the crew struggles to put out the flames, Harvey has to keep the passengers calm with his very best performances, and pray for his and the lives of others. (Stumfilm.dk)
Of the films that Psilander made at Nordisk during the first two years it is the film Dødsspring til Hest fra Cirkuskuplen (The Great Circus Catastrophe), that is worth noting. Maybe not so much for Psilander's acting, but for the sensational, action-packed storylines that he was in. This film shows the other side of Psilander's fame: his daring. He was an excellent rider and looked fantastic in long riding boots and elegant riding jackets and this skill was exploited in his films.
1912 film by August Blom
Four good friends are so engrossed with their card game that they are late to pick up their wives at the theatre. So why not continue where they left off? The four gentlemen embark on a wild trip through the Copenhagen night life-- a cornucopia of loose chicks, strong drinks and daring dances. (Stumfilm.dk)
The first film adaptation of Heiberg’s classic play about a superstitious mother, Karen, the elf-maiden Agnete and King Christian IV. Two infants are swapped at birth. Noble-born Elisabeth Munk is found on Elverhøjen (Elves’ Hill) and is brought up as Agnete, a peasant girl, whom all the locals believe to be an elf-maiden. She meets a noble knight, Sir Ebbesen, and the pair fall in love. But Sir Ebbesen is expected to marry a woman of his own noble standing – none other than the girl erroneously brought up as Elisabeth Munk. Suspecting that there is something fishy about the entire affair, King Christian IV sets out for Elves’ Hill to discover the truth of the matter. (stumfilm.dk)
