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Presented by the Urania National Film Theater in partnership with the National Film Institute Slave Bird, a recently restored silent film, banned in its day, will be streamed live on December 15, at 1PM. This dramatic and fast-paced crime and love story from the late silent era features Hungarian-German actors. Censorship of the time tried to have the film banned in Hungary and only relented when screenings abroad proved to be a hit. The only surviving copy was passed to the Austrian Film Archive by a Dutch private collector, and from there the National Film Institute Hungary – Film Archive received it for restoration.
Movie synposis
Slave Bird, 1929, drama, 46 minutes
Anna ends up in prison because of her lover, who had persuaded her to steal. The girl longs to visit her lover for the last time so she convinces the good-hearted prison doctor to let her out for a single night. Jenő, the man she adores, is a cynical and womanizing head waiter in a hotel who has long forgotten about his one-time girlfriend. His latest plan is to break into the hotel safe with the help of one of the guests, a beautiful dancer, and then escape. However, Anna takes control of the situation…
- Directors: Pál Sugár, Lajos Lázár
- Screenwriters: Lajos Lázár, Walter Reisch
- Cinematographers: József Bécsi and Adolf Otto Weitzenberg
- Set designer: István Szironthai Lhotka
- Production studio: Märy Film
- Producer: Géza Steinhardt
Starring: Lissy Arna (Anna, prisoner), Hans Adalbert Schlettow (Jenő, hotel waiter), Charlotte Susa (doctor), El Dura (Malaysian dancer), Ida Turay (Madárka), Mariska H. Balla (manageress), Olga Kerékgyártó (new maid), Szidi Rákosi (prison guard).
Screening with live music accompaniment, original German intertitles, Hungarian and English subtitles
Composers: Milán Hodován - live electronics, keyboard, Patrik Oláh – violin, Péter Friderikusz - cello
To watch the live broadcast, click on the Youtube link below on December 15 from 1PM (EST) or 7PM (CET).