enda
Film

The Princess' Dilemma

Holger-Madsen, Denmark, 1913

45 min.DK/FeatureDrama, Historical drama, MelodramaSilent films

As King Cyril is away fighting at the front, Prime Minister Bouton holds the reins of power firmly in his stead. For a long time, Bouton has taken to Princess Elena who, on the other hand – and to Bouton’s great displeasure – falls in love with the prisoner of war, Captain Henri de Bersin. The love triangle drama reaches its climax when de Bersin asks the princess for help to escape and is then sentenced to death by Bouton. However, in the end, it’s not he who must lay down his life in this great game of emotions and power.

This film is a good example of how colouring was used in the early days of cinematography to distinguish between times and moods. Shades of yellow and red were used for indoor scenes, while the outdoor scenes are either grey (during the day) or blue (at night).
Basic information Credits Materials
Original title Prinsesse Elena
Danish title Prinsesse Elena
International titles Die Prinzessin Elena, Opfer einer hohen Frau, Princess Elena's prisoner, Princesa Eléna, Princesa Elena, Prinses Helena, Prinsessan Elena, La princesse Elena, La principessa Elena, Princess Elena's Prisoner
Director Holger-Madsen
Screenplay Johanne Skram-Knudsen
Director of Photography Marius Clausen
Appearance Betty Nansen, Svend Aggerholm, Nicolai Johannsen, Henny Lauritzen
Production country Denmark
Domestic distribution Fotorama
Technical info 1254 meter, 35 mm, Black/white, Silent
Danish theatrical release 20.11.1913
Cinemas Panoptikon
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Companies

Production company Nordisk Films Kompagni
Domestic distribution Fotorama

Direction

Direction Holger-Madsen

Script

Script Johanne Skram-Knudsen

Cinematography

Cinematography Marius Clausen

Appearance

Prinsesse Elena Betty Nansen
Bouton, premierminister Svend Aggerholm
Henry de Bersin Nicolai Johannsen
Prinsessens hofdame Henny Lauritzen
Appearance Franz Skondrup
Appearance Alma Hinding
Sygeplejerske Julie Henriksen
Tjenestepige på slottet Zanny Petersen
Appearance Christian Lange
Appearance Birger von Cotta-Schønberg
Appearance Oluf Billesborg
Appearance Ingeborg Bruhn Bertelsen
Appearance Ingeborg Jensen
Appearance Holger Syndergaard
Appearance Axel Mattsson

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Reviews and articles

On the library you can find these articles and revies and other material about the film.
Type Source Author Date
Program - stumfilm & mikro