Name: Love
Director: Paul Czinner
Released: 1928-12-16
Duration: 106 min
Rating: 8
Cast: Elisabeth Bergner, Agnes Esterhazy, Elza Temary, Olga Engl, Else Heller

A 1928 costume drama where love is war and the battlefield is a boudoir.

velvet and vitriolcandlelit schemesaristocratic chaos

Overview

Based on Honore de Balzac’s story of Madame de Langeais. Costume drama about the infamous loves of the countess.

DE German

Content warning

power in desireperformance of femininityclass as cage

Standout Aspects

Costume

Elisabeth Bergner's gowns are the real protagonist here.

Acting

Bergner's eyes do more acting than most modern scripts.

Best for:Solo·Streaming

Director

Paul Czinner

ReleasedDec 16, 1928

Runtime1h 46m

StatusReleased

Vibe

Paceslow

Intensitymedium

Tonedark

Feelheavy

Top Cast

Elisabeth Bergner

Herzogin von Langeais

Agnes Esterhazy

Gräfin Serezy (as Agnes Esterhazy)

Elza Temary

Gräfin Fontaine

Olga Engl

Die alte Prinzessin

Else Heller

Leopold von Ledebur

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Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Trivia

Elisabeth Bergner and director Paul Czinner were real-life partners, fleeing Germany as the Nazis rose. This was their last German film before exile.

Cultural

Balzac's original 'La Duchesse de Langeais' was part of his 'Human Comedy' exploring how passion destroys aristocrats. The 1928 adaptation arrived as silent cinema reached its decadent peak.