Pavilionens hemmelighed

Uncomplete but interesting danish movie of 1916. The cut isn't "modern" yet: the scenes are long and the rhythm slow to the contemporary eyes.

Karl Mantzius, a distinguished figure (both as actor and director) in the Copenhagen theatre, made just three films (directing and starring) for Nordisk 1915-1916. This film lacks some footage but survives largely intact and is a fun thriller about an aristocratic master-criminal who tries to steal the Danish crown jewels from Rosenborg Castle. The Mantzius character is very Danish (no real resemblance either to Raffles or to Arsène Lupin) but equally has the sympathy of the audience (rather more than the shifty detective who seems to have difficulty deciding which side he is on and rather deservedly gets shot (in the shoulder) for his pains. How the plans of Count Kuno von Kral pan out, I shall let you find out for yourselves......

The film is based on a novel by Viggo Cavling but has a scenario, as did Manzius' earlier film Penge (Money), lost all but 50 seconds of footage, by Carl Theodor Dreyer.