Different from the Others (partially lost silent German film; 1919): Difference between revisions

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{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEMeNthlvRQ|320x240|right|Full surviving fragment of the film.|frame}}
{{InfoboxLost
'''''Different From The Others '''''is a partially missing German silent film from 1919. It is the earliest-known sympathetic portrayal of homosexuals in cinema. It was planned and partially funded by an organization whose purpose was to create "sexual freedom" for people of all orientations and non-harmful fetishes. It was made to protest a German law that made homosexual behavior a criminal offense.
|title=<center>Different from the Others</center>
|image=Differentfromtheothers poster.jpg
|imagecaption=Kino Films DVD cover.
|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Partially Lost'''</span>
}}


The plot revolved around a closeted homosexual violinist whose job doubled as a teacher. After falling in love with one of his students, he decides to come open with him. The two hit it off romantically and all seems well, until someone creates a scandal out of it. The scandal goes public, and the violinist's career completely shatters. He commits suicide and many mourn his death and discrimination .
'''''Different From The Others''''' is a partially-missing German silent film from 1919.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Different_from_the_Others Wikipedia article.] Retrieved 17 Mar '16.</ref> It is the earliest-known sympathetic portrayal of homosexuality in cinema. The film was made to protest a German law that made homosexual behavior a criminal offense. It was planned and partially funded by an organization whose purpose was to create "sexual freedom" for people of all sexual identities.


The film received controversial status from the general public but was praised by the homosexual community in Germany at the time. Many gays felt that it offered an effective commentary on society's stance on the subject, as many homosexual Germans were committing suicide. Many who saw the film claimed that it moved them to tears.
The plot revolved around a closeted homosexual violinist and teacher. After falling in love with one of his students, he decides to come open with him. The two hit it off romantically, and all goes well until someone creates a scandal out of it. Their partnership goes public, and the violinist's career is ruined. He commits suicide and many mourn his death and discrimination.


Being a pre-WWII-era German film portraying homosexuals in a positive light, it probably isn't a difficult guess as to what happened to this film. The Nazis got a hold of it and destroyed every single copy they could find. The film was thought completely lost until, amazingly, a copy was found in the mid-1970s. This copy, however, was only a 50 minute fragment. It is not known what the actual running time of the film was, but a majority of the plot remains intact. The entire film has yet to surface since the destruction of many copies in the 1930s. A few reconstruction efforts were made for some DVD releases. Many are happy with it having survived at all.
The film was considered controversial by general public, but it was praised by the homosexual community in Germany at the time.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/17/movies/different-from-the-others-a-1919-film-on-homosexuality.html?_r=0 New York Times article about the film.] Retrieved 17 Mar '16.</ref> Many homosexuals felt that it offered an effective commentary on society's stance on the subject, reflecting how many homosexual Germans were committing suicide around this time. Many who saw the film claimed that it moved them to tears.
 
It is likely that the Nazis destroyed every copy they could find in WWII-era Germany. The film was thought completely lost until, amazingly, a 50-minute fragment of the film was found in the mid-1970s.<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/Different-Others-Conrad-Veidt/dp/B0006GAOOA Amazon link the Kino DVD release.] Retrieved 17 Mar '16.</ref> A majority of the plot remains intact despite the fact that the film's original runtime is unknown. A few reconstruction efforts were made for some DVD releases. Many are happy with it having survived at all.
 
==Gallery==
{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEMeNthlvRQ|640x480|center|Full surviving fragment of the film.|frame}}
 
==References==
<references />


[[Category:Lost films]]
[[Category:Lost films]]
[[Category:Partially lost media]]
[[Category:Partially lost media]]

Revision as of 23:47, 17 March 2016

Kino Films DVD cover.

Status: Partially Lost


Different From The Others is a partially-missing German silent film from 1919.[1] It is the earliest-known sympathetic portrayal of homosexuality in cinema. The film was made to protest a German law that made homosexual behavior a criminal offense. It was planned and partially funded by an organization whose purpose was to create "sexual freedom" for people of all sexual identities.

The plot revolved around a closeted homosexual violinist and teacher. After falling in love with one of his students, he decides to come open with him. The two hit it off romantically, and all goes well until someone creates a scandal out of it. Their partnership goes public, and the violinist's career is ruined. He commits suicide and many mourn his death and discrimination.

The film was considered controversial by general public, but it was praised by the homosexual community in Germany at the time.[2] Many homosexuals felt that it offered an effective commentary on society's stance on the subject, reflecting how many homosexual Germans were committing suicide around this time. Many who saw the film claimed that it moved them to tears.

It is likely that the Nazis destroyed every copy they could find in WWII-era Germany. The film was thought completely lost until, amazingly, a 50-minute fragment of the film was found in the mid-1970s.[3] A majority of the plot remains intact despite the fact that the film's original runtime is unknown. A few reconstruction efforts were made for some DVD releases. Many are happy with it having survived at all.

Gallery

Full surviving fragment of the film.

References

  1. Wikipedia article. Retrieved 17 Mar '16.
  2. New York Times article about the film. Retrieved 17 Mar '16.
  3. Amazon link the Kino DVD release. Retrieved 17 Mar '16.