Anna Boleyn

 "Anna Boleyn" 1920 Ernst Lubitsch, written by Norbert Falk, Hanns Kraly

Henny Porten, Emil Jannings, Paul Hartmann, Ludwig Hartau, Aud Egede-Nissen, Hedwig Pauly-Winterstein, Hilde Muller, Maria Reisenhoffer, Ferdinand von Alten, Adolf Klein, Paul Bienfeldt, Wilhelm Diegelmann

Epic film also known as "Deception", with spectacular sets, costumes, and grand scenes tinted beautifully. While Emil Jannings is fine as Henry VIII and Aud Egede-Bissen makes a beautiful Jane Seymour and Hedwig Pauly-Winterstein is a good Catherine of Aragon, Henny Porten looks put upon, worried, nervous and miserable throughout the film. She makes sweeping, broad gestures and her acting is the stereotypical sort people make fun of when parodying silent film acting.

Ernst Lubitsch telling this story and, later, "Madame DuBarry" and "Sumurun", are very different films from his more contemporary depictions such as "Lady Windermere's Fan", "The Marriage Circle", "So This is Paris", and "The Student Prince of Old Heidelberg". While his work with Pola Negri was fine, the problem here lies with the overwrought Henny Porten who is in almost every scene.

Photo: Henny Porten and Emil Jannings