Le roman de Werther

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe came to both regret and resent the phenomenal success of his loosely based biographical, epistolatory novel of 1774 and the 'Werther Fever' that resulted. Even in his old age admirers who made the pilgrimage to visit him seemed only to want to talk about 'The Sorrows of Werther'. The unbearable heartache of this ill-fated romance has been captured brilliantly by Max Ophuls and his leading players Pierre Richard-Willm, Annie Vernay and Jean Galland. The cinematography is shared by the Frenchman Portier, the Russian Bourgasoff and not least the German Schufftan. One is able to appreciate their work despite an indifferent print. The music of various composers is used to great effect without being overpowering. Tragically the enchanting Mlle Vernay who was a mere fifteen when she played Charlotte, was to die of typhus four years later whilst on her way to America. Although this film lacks the polish and technical viruosity of Ophuls' later masterworks it remains an essential part of his oeuvre and should not be overlooked.