When dashing Prague student Balduin (Adolf Wohlbrück) claps eyes on beautiful opera singer Julia (Dorothea Wieck), he forgets all about Lydia, the innkeeper's pretty niece (Edna Greyff). Being a poor student, Balduin cannot compete with foppish Baron Waldis (Erich Fiedler), who lavishes the singer with expensive gifts. That's where mischievous Dr. Carpis (Theodor Loos) comes in...
An ex-lover of Julia's, who was most likely responsible for her success, Carpis tells Balduin that he can help the young man achieve his desires -- by ridding himself of the sentimental dreamer side of his personality; this Carpis does by covering up Balduin's mirror with a cloak. Free of his more idealistic self, Balduin now finds that he has a 'lucky hand', making himself a small fortune by gambling. Now he has the financial means to woo Julia, but he angers Baron Waldis in doing so, which results in the pair engaging in a duel.
Balduin also finds himself haunted by visions of his former sentimental self, who reminds him of what he has sacrificed to achieve his goals. Gradually, he loses his sanity. To end the madness, he must confront his good side, no matter what the final cost.
The third movie to be based on the novel The Student of Prague by Hanns Heinz Ewers, this one apparently changes a few characters and details, but the Faustian theme remains the same: Carpis is, for all intents and purposes, The Devil, out to corrupt another innocent soul for his own amusement. The film doesn't exactly say as such, but the clues are there, most notably when Balduin repeatedly throws 6,6,6 with three dice. The basic plot is an oldie, but a goodie, and this version does it well, with plenty of energy in the opening scenes, decent performances all round, especially from Wohlbrück and Wieck, and a suitably bittersweet ending, Balduin regaining his sentimentality, but at a price.
An ex-lover of Julia's, who was most likely responsible for her success, Carpis tells Balduin that he can help the young man achieve his desires -- by ridding himself of the sentimental dreamer side of his personality; this Carpis does by covering up Balduin's mirror with a cloak. Free of his more idealistic self, Balduin now finds that he has a 'lucky hand', making himself a small fortune by gambling. Now he has the financial means to woo Julia, but he angers Baron Waldis in doing so, which results in the pair engaging in a duel.
Balduin also finds himself haunted by visions of his former sentimental self, who reminds him of what he has sacrificed to achieve his goals. Gradually, he loses his sanity. To end the madness, he must confront his good side, no matter what the final cost.
The third movie to be based on the novel The Student of Prague by Hanns Heinz Ewers, this one apparently changes a few characters and details, but the Faustian theme remains the same: Carpis is, for all intents and purposes, The Devil, out to corrupt another innocent soul for his own amusement. The film doesn't exactly say as such, but the clues are there, most notably when Balduin repeatedly throws 6,6,6 with three dice. The basic plot is an oldie, but a goodie, and this version does it well, with plenty of energy in the opening scenes, decent performances all round, especially from Wohlbrück and Wieck, and a suitably bittersweet ending, Balduin regaining his sentimentality, but at a price.