To be honest, the only other Josef von Sternberg film I've seen before this was "The Last Command" also starring Emil Jannings (as a matter of fact, he won the first best actor oscar for it).
The parallels between the two films are striking (and I won't ruin it for those of you who haven't seen it yet). It seems evident that Von Sternberg is fascinated with the theme of a return to a period of stability and happiness enjoyed earlier in one's life. And why shouldn't he be? He pulls it off brilliantly in both films. His direction is dead-on. The way he subtlely draws significance to the clock a few times throughout the film, and slowly tracks backwards revealing the empty classroom prepares the viewer for the brilliant ending he has in store.
Also, I need to add a few words about Emil Jannings, who is easily one of the greatest screen actors of all time. I loved his performances in Murnau's "The Last Laugh" and "Faust", but this was the first "talkie" I've seen of his, and he was just as brilliant, you'll never forget the expression on his face as he stares in the mirror with clown makeup on.
The parallels between the two films are striking (and I won't ruin it for those of you who haven't seen it yet). It seems evident that Von Sternberg is fascinated with the theme of a return to a period of stability and happiness enjoyed earlier in one's life. And why shouldn't he be? He pulls it off brilliantly in both films. His direction is dead-on. The way he subtlely draws significance to the clock a few times throughout the film, and slowly tracks backwards revealing the empty classroom prepares the viewer for the brilliant ending he has in store.
Also, I need to add a few words about Emil Jannings, who is easily one of the greatest screen actors of all time. I loved his performances in Murnau's "The Last Laugh" and "Faust", but this was the first "talkie" I've seen of his, and he was just as brilliant, you'll never forget the expression on his face as he stares in the mirror with clown makeup on.