Cancellation is something that is to be expected by fans of many of today’s television series. A century ago same thing could happen to its big screen equivalents, including some that played important role in history of cinema. An example can be found in The Spiders, German silent film serial directed by Fritz Lang, known as the first feature-length work in that director’s filmography which haven’t been lost.
The Spiders was originally devised as four-part adventure series, but its producer Erich Pommer ultimately decided to produce only two parts. First part under title The Golden Lake was released in 1919, while the second part under title The Diamond Ship was released in 1920. The plot begins in San Francisco where famous yachtsman, playboy and adventurer Kay Hoog (played by Carl de Vogt) informs members of his club that he found message in a bottle sent by Harvard professor who had been missing for years. The message tells of lost Incan city that hold immense treasure and Kay Hoog goes on expedition to find it. The treasure also happens to be target of The Spiders, international criminal gang led by dangerous woman named Lio Sha (played by Ressel Orla). Kay Hoog reaches destination before The Spiders and the expedition, during which he had saved Lio Sha’s life, ends with him bringing to San Francisco Naela (played by Lil Dagover), beautiful high priestess with whom he has fallen in love. But Lio Sha is jealous and the first part ends with Spiders murdering Naela and Kay Hoog swearing that the will get revenge. In second part opportunity for that comes when The Spiders begin to search for precious Buddha-shaped diamond which, according to legend, could help Asia end Western imperialist oppression. Hoog, who has battled Spiders in San Francisco’s Chinatown, travels to England where John Terry (played by Rudolf Lettinger), descendant of famous pirate, is rumoured to have diamond in his family’s possession.
Fritz Lang was originally slated to direct The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, but was at the last minute replaced by Robert Wiene. We can just imagine how would famous expressionist horror look if directed by Lang, but this gave him opportunity to make The Spiders, which belonged to completely different genre. Lang was clearly inspired by Les Vampires and other film serials by Louis Feuillade and his film, like Feuillaude’s, features lone dashing protagonist who manages to thwart evil scheme of insidious and powerful criminal organisation. Lang also added a lot of “pulp” material in the script, which includes not only lost civilisations, human sacrifice, underground cities, opium dens, hypnotists, Indian mystics, pirates (shown in flashbacks), hidden treasures and secret caves. Lang, who was still early in his career, haven’t mastered the craft in its entirety, so The Spiders at times look rough around the edges. On the other hand, Lang should be commended for very good care about detail and successfully setting film in San Francisco, South America, Falkland Islands and London without leaving Germany during production. Film also features reasonably good performance by Carl de Vogt who could pass as silent era’s version of Indiana Jones and some brief but impressive stunt work involving balloons. On the other hand, all good work is compromised in couple of scenes where protagonist miraculously escapes death traps; some critics and scholars were speculating that it is due to scenes that gave the explanation being lost. The Spiders, despite being half of its projected length, proved to be a commercial success, thus allowing Lang to continue his career, hone his craft and create some of the most memorable films of Weimar Germany. The Spiders was by some critics seen as distant inspiration for Spielberg and his Indiana Jones films. This might be matter of debate, but this film definitely inspired Lang who, near the end of the career, made another two-part film cycle (The Tiger of Eschnapur and Indian Tomb) which, this time in colour and with sound, tried to provide audience with prime escapist adventure like the one in his early silent work.
RATING: 5/10 (++)
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