A middle-aged magician is in love with his beautiful young assistant. She, on the other hand, is in love with the magician's young protege, who turns out to be a bum and a thief.
Acting
Veidt's face does what dialogue cannot.
Direction
Fejös's roaming camera broke silent-film rules.
Director
Pál Fejős
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Fejös pioneered the 'camera personality' technique, strapping cameras to moving platforms—unheard of in 1929.
This was Universal's attempt to keep Veidt from returning to Germany; they paired him with Philbin fresh off Phantom of the Opera's success.
US
