4 star remastered epic German silent film.
The Indian Tomb is a silent German adventure thriller written by Thea von Harbou and Fritz Lang (Metropolis, Dr. Mabuse: the Gambler) and directed by Joe May (Asphalt, The Invisible Man Returns).
Originally released in 1921, it is now available to own on Blu-ray in the UK for the first time in celebration of it’s 100th anniversary.
It has enjoyed a 2K restoration and is presented as part of the Eureka! Masters of Cinema Series #261.
The Indian Tomb is a film in two parts, coming in at a whopping 4 hours and 3 minutes long. This release comprises two Blu-rays: Part 1. The Mission of the Yoghi and Part 2. The Tiger of Eschnapur.
“You brought me back to life, Prince. The holy laws inescapably force me to obey your deepest wishes. Command!”
It tells us the story of Ayan (Conrad Veidt – The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Waxworks, The Man Who Laughs), the Prince of Eschnapur. Distraught at losing the love of his life, he awakens the Yoghi Ramigani (Bernhard Goetzke – Michel Strogoff, Salamander) from his sacred rest to make a request.
Ramigani is dispatched to England to garner the services of architect Herbert Rowland (Olaf Fønss – Homunculus) to build for him a beautiful tomb. He lures away Herbert’s fiancée Irene (Mia May – Hilde Warren und der Tod) and informs him that he must cut all ties with Europe and go with him immediately. Herbert has always secretly wanted to build a tomb and so he goes, followed doggedly by Irene, despite the Yoghi’s best attempts to thwart her.
Once in India, he makes a shocking discovery, Saviti (Erna Morena – Lulu, Colomba) the woman for whom he is to build the tomb is not dead, she has cheated on Ayan and is to be killed when the tomb is complete. Her lover Mac Allan (Paul Richter – The Ringer, Forest Fever), a fellow Englishman, is also a wanted man, pursued by Ayan’s Tiger Hunters. This trip to Indian is not at all going to plan.
“Does a speck of dust have a name? I am but a peck of dust on the sole of he that sends me to you.”
The Indian Tomb is really a very good film if you’re prepared to put in the time. Conrad Veidt gives a remarkable performance as the Prince, carrying off an array of startling outfits (including a peacock feather hat) with great aplomb. He also brings a softer side to the character, despite the fact that he’s trying to kill everyone, he’s doing it because of a broken heart.
Filmed entirely in Germany, it nevertheless does have a feel of India about it. Only visually though, the score while quite dramatic is certainly not full of “Eastern promise”.
It’s an interesting look at Western attitudes towards India, with plenty of liberally applied gravy browning and some pretty disturbing scenes (lepers and being eaten by tigers anyone?). For the number of elephants and tigers featured in the film, you can’t help but feel that the local circuses must have struggled to put on a show for a while.
A great example of German cinema at it’s most grandiose, this is probably not for the uninitiated, but it’s a most own for devotees of German cinema. Well worth adding to your collection.
“Up here, nearer to heaven than Earth, I shall raise up the mighty building. Up here, the love and death of that woman shall be eternalized.”
The Indian Tomb is available to buy now on Blu-ray.
| Director | Joe May |
| Author | Thea von Harbou, Fritz Lang |
| Genre | Adventure, drama, mystery |
| Starring | Olaf Fønss, Conrad Veidt, Bernhard Goetzke, Mia May |
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