Varieté

Synopsis

Boss Huller, a former trapeze artist running a carnival sideshow, abandons his family to return to the circus with a beautiful young dancer named Berta-Marie. Their passion turns to jealousy when a suave acrobat joins the act, leading to a tragic love triangle high above the crowd. Famous for its 'unchained' camera movement and dizzying perspectives, E.A. Dupont’s film is a visual masterpiece of German Expressionism exploring desire, betrayal, and eventual ruin.

Critique

E.A. Dupont’s Varieté is a visual revolution, famous for liberating the camera from the tripod. Cinematographer Karl Freund’s 'unchained camera' swooped through trapeze acts, creating a subjective, dizzying experience never seen before. It transformed the lens into an active participant rather than a passive observer. Beyond its technical wizardry, it offers a gritty, psychological look at jealousy and desire. This film bridged the gap between Expressionism and Realism, directly influencing the fluid visual language of Hitchcock and the future of Film Noir.

Technical sheet

Director

Ewald André Dupont

Year

1925

Country

Germany

Running time

104 min

Genre

Drama, Crime, Romance

Written by

Felix Hollaender, E.A. Dupont

Cinematography

Karl Freund, Carl Hoffmann

Cast

Emil Jannings, Maly Delschaft, Lya De Putti, Warwick Ward, Alice Hechy, Georg John

Production

UFA

Music

Newly composed original score

Licensing