Abdul the Damned

This interesting historical drama is helped quite a bit by good performances from Fritz Kortner, in a dual role, and Nils Asther. It uses the historical situation near the end of the reign of Turkish Sultan Abdul Hamid II ("Abdul The Damned") as a basis for intrigue and melodrama. The setting itself is an interesting choice, as the nation of Turkey has a distinctive and important history that is too often little appreciated outside of its own borders.

The story has Kortner, as Abdul and as the Sultan's hapless double, along with Asther, as the suave but villainous chief of police, plotting to crush the reform-minded Young Turks, while Abdul also becomes increasingly infatuated with a visiting Austrian singer. Kortner gives an insightful portrayal of the tyrant, showing how his brutality comes from fear and inadequacy, rather than from strength. Asther seems to relish his role, and he has a number of good moments.

Although the historical setting and characters are often adapted for the sake of cinematic effect, it still communicates the basics of the actual historical situation in an interesting way that is worth seeing. Beyond that, it also offers a good, complex dramatic situation with two good leads, especially Kortner, who gives one of the better leading portrayals that you can find in the historical movies of the era.