Alice Terry has the head of the enormous sculpture she is working on come loose and fall on her -- despite her husband and director, Rex Ingram, having studied sculpture at Yale, she has apparently never heard of an armature. Her spine is broken, but American surgeon Ivan Petrovich performs a miraculous surgery that makes her good as new. This attracts to attention of evil Paul Wegener (the character is modeled on Aleister Crowley), who wants her for his task of creating life. He hypnotizes her, steals her away from Petrovich, and uses her to win money in Monte Carlo, before taking her to his remote mountain laboratory.
Although the sexual symbolism in toned way down, Ingram created many of the images that became standard for horror movies in this late silent film. The froglike Wegener is excellent in the sort of role he created. You can spot Michael Powell -- he also served as assistant director -- in a couple of scenes at the fair, where he carries a balloon. He's already losing his hair.
Ingram was regarded as a genius at MGM; the success of FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE and SCARAMOUCHE had kept the studio from collapsing before Loew could get his hands on it. He repaid the esteem by fleeing to France with Miss Terry, whom he married, and having his movies labeled as being presented by "Metro-Goldwyn" to annoy Louis B. Mayer. He directed his last movie in 1932, although he always claimed to have some project in the works. He died in 1950, aged 58.
Although the sexual symbolism in toned way down, Ingram created many of the images that became standard for horror movies in this late silent film. The froglike Wegener is excellent in the sort of role he created. You can spot Michael Powell -- he also served as assistant director -- in a couple of scenes at the fair, where he carries a balloon. He's already losing his hair.
Ingram was regarded as a genius at MGM; the success of FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE and SCARAMOUCHE had kept the studio from collapsing before Loew could get his hands on it. He repaid the esteem by fleeing to France with Miss Terry, whom he married, and having his movies labeled as being presented by "Metro-Goldwyn" to annoy Louis B. Mayer. He directed his last movie in 1932, although he always claimed to have some project in the works. He died in 1950, aged 58.