If you're familiar with Fritz Lang, particularly his silent epics like "Dr. Mabuse, The Gambler," "Metropolis" and "The Nibelungen," and you admire the intricate plotting, attention to detail and fully flesh out worlds, his two-part Indian Epic (of which "The Tiger of Eschnapur" is the first part) will probably turn out to be a splendid surprise. This massive production has a lot going for it, not the least of which are the remarkable locations, cinematography, Langian screen compositions and stunning costumes. This is eye candy to the max with one amazing image after another, but its modern day Adam and Eve storyline and supernatural microcosm are also noteworthy.
The first time I watched it, I think I found it rather slow and uneventful, but something about it brought me back about a year later. The second viewing was a very different experience. I saw things I completely missed the first time around. The clever irony, the emphasis on the spiritual world, the correlation of animals to the main characters and the Gods, the existence of a subversive underworld, and the interplay of opposing forces all came into focus in the most poetic fashion. I think it takes a second viewing to see how it all works. As someone else mentioned, the films are structured in a cliff hanger serial style, not unlike the Indiana Jones films. Unlike Spielberg, however, Lang's Indian Epic isn't afraid to take its characters seriously. There is humor, but the romance of character, locale, theme and story take a front seat. There is more going on here than just a fantastic adventure.
I must also mention Debra Paget, who plays Seetha, a half-Indian, half-Irish dancer. She basically runs away with the whole show. I hadn't ever fully appreciated her until I saw her in this. She never radiated more beautifully than she does here and her two dances (one in each part of the film) are without a doubt among the most erotic ever photographed. Yet, they equally expand the full drama of the story. Lang's compositions speak volumes about the characters and an entire essay could be written about them. Suffice to say, even if the meaning of the shots don't hit you, you'll still be blown away by the exquisite colors, production design, and costumes. The use of white is astounding.
Let me also mention the music by Michel Michelet. It's quite a stylish score, rich with exotic instrumentation, Indian marches and fanciful dances. Like the exquisite images, the score adds considerably to the alluring atmosphere.
If you're a Fritz Lang fan, and you don't mind silent film pacing, you're probably of an age and mind-set to appreciate this epic. It made me wonder what Lang would have done with "Metropolis" had he shot it in 3-strip Technicolor, like this epic. There are some negatives I must mention, however. Some of the visual effects are less than satisfactory and a few of the sets look like it. Also, some of the Indian characters (Chandra, for example) are not Indians but white actors in makeup. Such were the times, but even as recently as 1982's "Ghandi," white actors (Ben Kingsley) were playing non- whites. Nevertheless, the broad strokes performances work well in this kind of adventure.
The Fantomas DVD of Lang's Indian Epic has both German and English language available. Even though the dubbing is regrettable, the English version is preferable (unless you speak German), since the subtitles avert your eyes from the spectacular imagery. If you approach this with an open mind, Lang's Indian Epic will sweep you away to a wondrous world.
The first time I watched it, I think I found it rather slow and uneventful, but something about it brought me back about a year later. The second viewing was a very different experience. I saw things I completely missed the first time around. The clever irony, the emphasis on the spiritual world, the correlation of animals to the main characters and the Gods, the existence of a subversive underworld, and the interplay of opposing forces all came into focus in the most poetic fashion. I think it takes a second viewing to see how it all works. As someone else mentioned, the films are structured in a cliff hanger serial style, not unlike the Indiana Jones films. Unlike Spielberg, however, Lang's Indian Epic isn't afraid to take its characters seriously. There is humor, but the romance of character, locale, theme and story take a front seat. There is more going on here than just a fantastic adventure.
I must also mention Debra Paget, who plays Seetha, a half-Indian, half-Irish dancer. She basically runs away with the whole show. I hadn't ever fully appreciated her until I saw her in this. She never radiated more beautifully than she does here and her two dances (one in each part of the film) are without a doubt among the most erotic ever photographed. Yet, they equally expand the full drama of the story. Lang's compositions speak volumes about the characters and an entire essay could be written about them. Suffice to say, even if the meaning of the shots don't hit you, you'll still be blown away by the exquisite colors, production design, and costumes. The use of white is astounding.
Let me also mention the music by Michel Michelet. It's quite a stylish score, rich with exotic instrumentation, Indian marches and fanciful dances. Like the exquisite images, the score adds considerably to the alluring atmosphere.
If you're a Fritz Lang fan, and you don't mind silent film pacing, you're probably of an age and mind-set to appreciate this epic. It made me wonder what Lang would have done with "Metropolis" had he shot it in 3-strip Technicolor, like this epic. There are some negatives I must mention, however. Some of the visual effects are less than satisfactory and a few of the sets look like it. Also, some of the Indian characters (Chandra, for example) are not Indians but white actors in makeup. Such were the times, but even as recently as 1982's "Ghandi," white actors (Ben Kingsley) were playing non- whites. Nevertheless, the broad strokes performances work well in this kind of adventure.
The Fantomas DVD of Lang's Indian Epic has both German and English language available. Even though the dubbing is regrettable, the English version is preferable (unless you speak German), since the subtitles avert your eyes from the spectacular imagery. If you approach this with an open mind, Lang's Indian Epic will sweep you away to a wondrous world.