Asta Nielsen
Actor · 1881 – 1972 · Vesterbro, Copenhagen, Denmark
Asta Sofie Amalie Nielsen (1881–1972) is considered one of the most influential figures in early film history. Born on September 11, 1881, in Copenhagen, she grew up in modest circumstances. Her father died when she was young, and the family had to move frequently. Despite these difficult circumstances, Nielsen developed a strong affinity for the stage even as a young girl. She took acting lessons and gained her first experience at small theaters before becoming a mother to a daughter in 1901. The decisive turning point in her career came in 1910 with the Danish film “Afgrunden” (The Abyss). Her passionate, modern performance made her internationally famous overnight. Unlike many of her contemporaries, Nielsen did not act in an overly theatrical manner, but relied on subtle facial expressions and psychologically rich body language. This new style of acting made her one of the first major international stars of silent film. Shortly thereafter, she moved to Germany, where she became one of the most sought-after actresses between 1911 and the early 1920s. Together with director Urban Gad, to whom she was married for a time, she starred in a series of successful films. Nielsen often portrayed strong, independent female characters who challenged social norms—an approach that was both unusual and courageous at the time. Among her best-known works are Die arme Jenny (1912), Engelein (1914), and especially her extraordinary portrayal of Hamlet (1921), in which the title character is raised as a woman. With the advent of sound film, Nielsen increasingly withdrew from the cinema. She was convinced that her expressiveness was better showcased in silent film and later focused on theater work, art, and writing. In 1946, she published her memoirs, “The Silent Muse,” in which she reflected openly on her life and work. Asta Nielsen remained a cultural icon into her old age. She spent her final years living a secluded life in Denmark and died on May 25, 1972, in Frederiksberg. Her influence on the art of film is still felt today: she is regarded as a pioneer of a modern, natural acting style and as one of the first women to possess true star power in the international film industry.
Movies23
Movie5.2DramaNelly's mother is a suffragette and persuades her daughter to join the good cause. Placing a bomb under Lord William's chair love develops between the two.
Movie9.0DramaRomanceA deranged woman artist falls in love with a young sculptor. The impossible love ends tragically.
- Movie8.0
Ester escapes an orphanage and finds employment with Dr. Hoff and later with dramatist Hugo Mayerling. After reading a play of his she succeeds on stage and marries him.
MovieIn a remote german valley, a lord falls in love with a gypsy thief. This film is considered lost.
Movie7.0Actress Dora marries journalist Gustav and lets down her art. She helps him in his political career but finally leaves him and commits suicide.
Dora Brandes
1916 · 1 votes
Movie6.8DramaIn 1921, we follow two women - Marie and Grete - from the same poor Viennese neighborhood, as they try to better the lives of themselves and their families during the period of Austrian postwar hyperinflation.
Movie4.5WarDramaA woman betrays the regiment location in which the officer she is interested in is assigned because he despises her, only to regret it when he is caught and try to free him.
Movie6.3DramaMagda, a piano teacher, meets Knud, a parson’s son, who invites her to spend the summer at his parents’ parsonage. When a travelling circus stops in the village, Magda leaves the meek Knud for the dashing circus rider Rudolf. But circus life with Rudolf quickly turns out to be anything but happy, and Magda comes to a tragic end.
Movie6.5ComedyRomanceWhen Lis meets her fiancé for the first time, she is severely disappointed. Having dreamed of a dashing, mysterious Latino man, she instead finds herself stuck with the shy and inexperienced Philip. Something must be done! Lis takes Philip to Paris, where she intends to teach him to be a real man. But doing so requires her to gain access to male society herself. Disguised as a man, Lis ventures out into Paris nightlife with Philip, only to discover that life as a man is harder than expected. However, the real trouble begins when Lis’s father shows up unannounced. (stumfilm.dk)
- Movie8.0
Steuermann Holk
1920 · 1 votes
Movie6.2ComedyYoung Polar Explorer brings Eskimo Ivigtut to his parents in Berlin. After experiencing Western culture, she finds herself pregnant but the explorer comes to her rescue.
Movie7.0DramaVariety star Kaja falls in love with fisherman Peter. But he in a unfortunate situation kills a man and is sentenced to ten years imprisonment. Kaja promises to wait for him, but things go badly for her.
Movie9.0DramaJonna cheats on her husband with a chauffeur and is discovered by her husband. After the divorce, she falls into a life of theft and poverty until her daughter helps her reconcile with her ex.
Movie6.3DramaGypsy girl Zidra falls in love with the lieutenant she is supposed to spy on.
- Movie6.4
Marriage between Margit and artist Erik Lind is interrupted by her infatuation with squire *Arvid Sund. She gives up the relationship because of Erik's illness and death. Arvid's brother however, brings the two back together.
Movie6.5DramaAuguste is an aging prostitute who falls in love with Felix, a younger student. While Felix has strayed away from his parents, Auguste starts taking care of him and spends her life savings into a cake shop to move further away from prostitution, but trouble comes when another woman enters the picture.
Movie5.1DramaStella, a circus princess, has two suitors: young, handsome Count Waldberg and the greying, hidebound jeweller Hirsch. Stella’s love for Waldberg drives Hirsch mad with jealousy. He will stop at nothing to be near the woman of his dreams. When the count loses a staggering sum to the jeweller in a gambling duel, Stella embarks on a fateful mission to save her beloved’s honour. (Stumfilm.dk)
Movie8.0
Movie5.0DramaBella is married to engineer Burk who meets with an accident. To provide an income she starts as a performer, but happen to meet an infatuated, intriguing composer. On the brink of marital ruin, she kills the composer.
Der Totentanz
1912 · 1 votes
- Movie5.7Drama
Mine owner Helene has a crush on the manager. He is however, enamored with Helene's cousin Lina.
Movie7.5The general's daughter spies on her fiancé to achieve information.
S1
1913 · 1 votes
Movie7.0DramaMata Hari, a Dutch exotic dancer, is accused of spying for Germany during the First World War.
Mata Hari
1920 · 1 votes
Movie7.0Drama