Master of the House (1925) - full transcript
Victor Frandsen is a domestic tyrant. His wife Ida has to work as a slave for him and the rest of the family. She rises early to prepare everything for the day, she toils all day long, and she is often up also in the night, doing some sewing to earn extra money for the household. In daytime she is supported by an old woman called Mads, who was Victors' nanny when he was a child. Mads is filled with loathing for Victor's behavior towards his wife, and calls him a brute. She understands that Ida is on the verge of a serious breakdown, and persuades Ida's mother, Mrs. Kryer, to take Ida away. Mads will herself take care of the household and the children for a time. When Victor comes home and finds out that Ida is gone, he gets angry. He asks his daughter, Karen, where her mother is, but she refuses to tell him. She only says that her mother is very ill, and that it will be his fault if she dies. The accusation strikes Victor in his heart, and he sits down, feeling dejected. Karen consoles him, and tells him where her mother is. When Victor arrives at Mrs. Kryer's apartment, looking for his wife, the visiting doctor won't let him in. The doctor tells Victor that Ida has to take a complete rest in the countryside to get well. Victor returns home, broken-hearted, and is now willing to submit himself to Mads' new regime. Mads has become the master of the house, and Victor has to undergo her educational scheme. Step by step he learns to take an active part in the domestic work. Not until he is completely changed, will Mads and Mrs. Kryer let him meet Ida again.
MASTER OF THE HOUSE
CAST:
Victor Frandsen, Watchmaker:
Johannes Meyer
Ida, his wife: Astrid Holm
Karen, their daughter: Karin Nellemose
Alvilda Kryger, Ida's mother:
Clara Schonfeld
"Mads": Mathilde Nielsen
The Doctor: Johannes Nielsen
Mrs Hansen". Petrine Some
In the countless streets of the city,
houses lie next to each other,
and in those houses
people live in layers -
like wild birds carving their nests
into the rock...
Nest above nest...
Every morning, the tens of thousands
of homes in the city awaken,
and each home is a world unto itself-
with its own struggles,
its joys and sorrows,
its hopes... and its heroes!
Yes, hero is precisely the right word
for the patient wife of the house,
the valiant mother of the home -
the one who hides her tiredness,
her sorrows, and her concerns
behind her loving smile...
The heroine of our story is called Ida,
the "hero" is called Viktor.
Let me put it in the stove.
You mustn't ruin your hands, you know.
Where are my slippers?
Prepare the coffee tray for Father!
You must hurry, Mother!
Father is awake!
Mother, will you practise my tables
with me?
God knows how often I have said
that the coffee must be on the table
when I come in the morning!
We must see if we can afford
to get your other shoes back
from the cobbler's on Saturday!
Am I meant to stir it with my fingers?
Is that all the butter
you can let me have?
Oh, you put some away out there!
Of course, it's more important
that your birds get fed!
Have you brushed my coat?
There are two hamburgers
left over from yesterday,
which I thought
you could have for lunch.
Would you like them hot or cold?
Cold!
So, we are having you today!
Miss Madsen had been Viktor's nanny,
and as an old friend of the family,
she came and went freely
in his and Ida's home,
where the children
simply called her Mads.
This is a sock of Frederik's -
I certainly can't make anything out of it!
Look, I might even get a pair of mittens
out of them for Karen!
Now, what was 17 times 19?
There is Sister!
Wave nicely to Mads!
From morning to evening,
the little housewife did not
have a moment's peace...
the small feet were incessantly running
from the living room to the kitchen,
from the kitchen to the living room...
back and forth...
You have to make an effort,
otherwise it's no help!
Tell Frederik to go and buy
some good apples...
Father is so fond of roast apples.
It's too heavy for you.
Go and get me some potatoes instead.
Please think about your hands, Karen!
Whatever happened to Frederik?
Do you think I can afford shoes
for you at that price?
Oh, there is the howler monkey!
Go and put the porridge in the tureen,
so that Father does not
have to wait for his food!
Promise me, Mads...
control yourself... for my sake!
What a lout. He is not worth
the food he gets... what a rascal!
It's sad that you cannot even
look after the boy a bit...
What do you get up to all day long?
Get that child to stop howling!
I think I must have said
at least twenty times
that I do not want
a drying loft down here!
Can't I give Frederik
some dry socks to wear,
so that he won't freeze?
Freeze? He has to freeze!
Hands at your back!
I said good day, your honour.
Lumpy porridge... most ingenious!
Have you got cotton wool in your ears?
Do you have to run all the time?
Go and put on the kettle for coffee!
Cold hamburgers?
I guess you couldn't be bothered
to heat them.
Why not? It all helps
to get a bit of bread down!
Thank you, there will be
no discrimination in this house.
Now, eat your apples yourself!
I cannot bear to see you
mistreated in this way...
...I will go and get your mother!
Rascal!
I am so glad I met you, Mrs Kryger...
I was just on my way to your house.
If only money alone would do,
then I'd certainly be
more than happy to help...
but I do not want to pay my son-in-law
to treat my daughter decently...
...but let's see if we old ladies cannot
bring some order into this marriage.
After all, they do love each other.
Look where you are going!
I don't like that your mother
brings her own food.
If the food she gets here
is not good enough,
she can stay away!
Many years ago,
I gave you such a good spanking
that I could feel it
for a long time after...
...oh, how wonderful it was...
...I don't have the strength to give you
the spanking you deserve today,
but thank God I can still slap your face!
If your mother and that old hag are not
out of the house by the time I come home,
it's over between the two of us...
You make your choice!
You gave me a nosebleed...
...but you just wait, my friend.
I assure you, you will be put
in the naughty corner!
I have done my part of the job,
now it's your turn.
She has to be gone
by the time he gets back!
Take a soup plate!
You must understand
that it cannot go on this way.
Maybe I am not how I should be...
but that will change...
No, girl, the fault does not lie with you
...it lies with Viktor!
You have to get away from him,
or you will be completely destroyed!
You all say that Viktor is evil...
...but it's not true!
Since Viktor lost his business,
he has had to struggle
with adversity and poverty...
and that has left him
embittered and hardened...
...I shared the good years with Viktor...
and I would feel like a traitor
if I failed him now
when he needs me the most!
I'd better help you
with your homework.
From "The Fall of the Tyrant"
to the bookmark?
First of all, tell me:
WHAT IS A TYRANT?
A tyrant is a cruel man of violence
who mistreats and oppresses
those around him...
Now, little Ida, do you understand
that you are unwell...
much more unwell
than you will admit.
...you have to get away from here
...even if just for a while
...it would be the best
...also for him and the children.
Yes, but who will mind the house?
Will you do it, Mads?
But promise me
not to be hard on Viktor.
HARD! I will be hard,
but not cruel!
Run and hail a cab!
Here are a few pennies I have put aside
to buy Viktor a little extra
...but he must not know
that it came from me.
Goodbye, my boy,
don't forget to brush your teeth,
both in the evening and the morning!
He must freeze!
Bring in the big zinc tub.
You need a bath!
Good night, Mads!
Later.
Good evening, my friend!
Yes, that's my little tweety!
Where is Ida?
Gone!
That is to say, your wife is very ill
and has gone away
in order to get well again.
What an amusing story!
Now people will think
I mistreated my poor wife...
...and to punish me, I come home
to find an empty living room
and desperately rush
to my mother-in-law,
where the two of them
are sitting and laughing at me...
...but she will be the one
who will beg me to forgive her!
We have to make savings now.
How dare you speak like that!
You have to learn to speak decently,
at least to me!
Do you understand?
Take that kettle away!
- Shut up
- You fool!
It's worst for you, since you have to pay
to have it washed again.
Take your gear and get out of here!
Father!
Father!
Beast!
Where is Mother!
I don't know.
All I know is that she is ill and...
...and if Mother dies,
it will be your fault!
Father, there is something,
which Mother told me not to say to you
...but I still think you ought to know.
The last year Mother has stayed up
working almost every night
just so that you could get
a thick layer of butter
and cold meats on your bread...
Father, where are you going?
I'm going to your grandmother's
to get Mother!
Yes, my lamb,
it hurts to thrash a loved one,
but we must endure it
for your mother's sake
...until he squeals!
Months of suffering,
contempt and humiliation
had marked Ida,
our valiant little wife.
The thousand household duties
had kept her afloat,
but now that she was off the treadmill,
she broke down completely.
If your daughter is ever
to regain her humanity,
she must get out of the city...
into the countryside to peace and quiet...
...and of course, during that time
she must break off all connection
with her husband and home.
Promise me, Ida,
not to let Viktor know where you are...
If you want to listen to my advice,
then go home now and wait patiently
for your wife to recover
...that is the best way
you can atone for what has happened!
The misdeeds of tyrants always
turn against them, sooner or later
...even our "hero",
who recently wielded the whip,
learnt to bend his back.
Good night, Mads!
Do you know the feeling
of suddenly standing in front
of an old teacher of yours?
Without you noticing,
your fingers fiddle with your trouser seam,
you stammer and flush
all the way to the hair roots.
Something similar happened
in the case of Viktor.
A month had passed
since Mads took the reins,
and the memory of the childhood beatings
that she gave was so deep-rooted
that he willingly submitted
to Mads' strict discipline.
You're a little slow
getting out of bed!
Take the glasses for the birds with you!
What's taking you so long?
It's taking ages!
Take the kerosene bottle out with you
and put it in the cupboard!
There is a Mrs Hansen out there!
Yes, it's the washerwoman.
Let her in.
You didn't think I would stand toiling in
a rough and cold laundry room, did you?
Bring the bucket down there!
What does Tweety say?
...tweet!
Father, you don't have to be ashamed
of being fond of the birds.
Canaries are human too.
That's what Mother always said.
Karen... sit down with me.
Don't you miss Mother?
Don't you know when Mother
will come home?
Mads says it won't be before
you have been in the naughty corner!
Karen, take a teaspoon!
Do you know what I have been
looking to get you?
...a nice dolls' stove...
...you will get it for your birthday!
- Will you then tell me where Mother is?
The surprises your father needs,
I'll take care of them!
I was asked to ask you
to take that tub up with you!
Mads never let Viktor have
a moment's peace.
Through his own experience
he came to know
the exhausting life of a housewife.
I need 6 kroner
for the washerwoman!
Are your ears blocked?
She must have wet herself
...go and change her!
It pleased Mads to see
the humiliation of the fallen tyrant,
but her smile would also tremble
with compassion
when she saw him consumed
by his longing for Ida.
Here is some bread for the coffee!
I cannot stand this uncertainty...
...until Ida returns,
there is no joy for me...
I would gladly sacrifice everything
to see her sweet face
and to hear her voice.
Would you?
Wouldn't there be
a little bit of arrogance left
that you don't want to part with?
How stupid we men are!
We go around thinking
we're the ones carrying the load
because we're the ones
earning the money...
...and in reality it's HER
who carries everything...
...and by way of thanks
she gets rudeness from her husband!
I have only one wish and one longing:
to be allowed to be good to Ida!
You have to get on with Mads.
You know her conditions!
Use the opportunity you have.
...I'll go to the kitchen meanwhile.
Mads! There is something
I would like to speak about with you!
Listen, Mads
...you're dropping a hairpin!
Come here for a moment
...l want to tell you something!
Your necktie is not straight!
Now I know where Mother is...
but I will not tell!
Are you out of your mind?
Mind the stove!
But Eriksen is the one
who is closest to my heart.
He claims that I am the most
wonderful woman in the world,
and he says that he loves me,
which I really...
Aren't you going to close
the stove door?
Who is Eriksen?
It must be a man!
I have had enough,
I want to speak now!
Sit down!
You men are all the same
at the end of the day...
stupid...
stubborn...
vain...
pretentious...
You treat your wives
in a strange way.
In the beginning
everything is fine and dandy
...she is your "Princess"
and God knows what...
...later on, when she really
deserves your admiration,
you treat her like a housemaid...
...until one day another man appears
and you feel that your vanity
has been offended
- then she suddenly
becomes valuable to you again!
Do you admit that you deserve
a good thrashing?
...I will spare you if you go nicely
to the naughty corner.
And if you're a good boy,
I will let you know where Ida is!
Hands on your back!
Hey! Hey!
Frederik, hurry upstairs!
Mother has come!
Who is Eriksen?
I only know now what happiness is
...and trust me,
I shall take good care of it now.
But I have nice teeth!
It's a bit of
Foodstuff...
Now close that stove door, will you?
OPTICIANS' SHOP
For immediate sale
Beautiful premises
on the high road for sale
10,000 kroner in cash
PO box 4327.
Here is the money!
Tell me, what's going on?
Are we going to have cold coffee?
And once again the heart of the pendulum
beat and proclaimed the message:
THOU SHALT HONOUR THY WIFE!
For her strong hands are
what keeps the whole world together.
SHE is the heart of the home.
THE END
CAST:
Victor Frandsen, Watchmaker:
Johannes Meyer
Ida, his wife: Astrid Holm
Karen, their daughter: Karin Nellemose
Alvilda Kryger, Ida's mother:
Clara Schonfeld
"Mads": Mathilde Nielsen
The Doctor: Johannes Nielsen
Mrs Hansen". Petrine Some
In the countless streets of the city,
houses lie next to each other,
and in those houses
people live in layers -
like wild birds carving their nests
into the rock...
Nest above nest...
Every morning, the tens of thousands
of homes in the city awaken,
and each home is a world unto itself-
with its own struggles,
its joys and sorrows,
its hopes... and its heroes!
Yes, hero is precisely the right word
for the patient wife of the house,
the valiant mother of the home -
the one who hides her tiredness,
her sorrows, and her concerns
behind her loving smile...
The heroine of our story is called Ida,
the "hero" is called Viktor.
Let me put it in the stove.
You mustn't ruin your hands, you know.
Where are my slippers?
Prepare the coffee tray for Father!
You must hurry, Mother!
Father is awake!
Mother, will you practise my tables
with me?
God knows how often I have said
that the coffee must be on the table
when I come in the morning!
We must see if we can afford
to get your other shoes back
from the cobbler's on Saturday!
Am I meant to stir it with my fingers?
Is that all the butter
you can let me have?
Oh, you put some away out there!
Of course, it's more important
that your birds get fed!
Have you brushed my coat?
There are two hamburgers
left over from yesterday,
which I thought
you could have for lunch.
Would you like them hot or cold?
Cold!
So, we are having you today!
Miss Madsen had been Viktor's nanny,
and as an old friend of the family,
she came and went freely
in his and Ida's home,
where the children
simply called her Mads.
This is a sock of Frederik's -
I certainly can't make anything out of it!
Look, I might even get a pair of mittens
out of them for Karen!
Now, what was 17 times 19?
There is Sister!
Wave nicely to Mads!
From morning to evening,
the little housewife did not
have a moment's peace...
the small feet were incessantly running
from the living room to the kitchen,
from the kitchen to the living room...
back and forth...
You have to make an effort,
otherwise it's no help!
Tell Frederik to go and buy
some good apples...
Father is so fond of roast apples.
It's too heavy for you.
Go and get me some potatoes instead.
Please think about your hands, Karen!
Whatever happened to Frederik?
Do you think I can afford shoes
for you at that price?
Oh, there is the howler monkey!
Go and put the porridge in the tureen,
so that Father does not
have to wait for his food!
Promise me, Mads...
control yourself... for my sake!
What a lout. He is not worth
the food he gets... what a rascal!
It's sad that you cannot even
look after the boy a bit...
What do you get up to all day long?
Get that child to stop howling!
I think I must have said
at least twenty times
that I do not want
a drying loft down here!
Can't I give Frederik
some dry socks to wear,
so that he won't freeze?
Freeze? He has to freeze!
Hands at your back!
I said good day, your honour.
Lumpy porridge... most ingenious!
Have you got cotton wool in your ears?
Do you have to run all the time?
Go and put on the kettle for coffee!
Cold hamburgers?
I guess you couldn't be bothered
to heat them.
Why not? It all helps
to get a bit of bread down!
Thank you, there will be
no discrimination in this house.
Now, eat your apples yourself!
I cannot bear to see you
mistreated in this way...
...I will go and get your mother!
Rascal!
I am so glad I met you, Mrs Kryger...
I was just on my way to your house.
If only money alone would do,
then I'd certainly be
more than happy to help...
but I do not want to pay my son-in-law
to treat my daughter decently...
...but let's see if we old ladies cannot
bring some order into this marriage.
After all, they do love each other.
Look where you are going!
I don't like that your mother
brings her own food.
If the food she gets here
is not good enough,
she can stay away!
Many years ago,
I gave you such a good spanking
that I could feel it
for a long time after...
...oh, how wonderful it was...
...I don't have the strength to give you
the spanking you deserve today,
but thank God I can still slap your face!
If your mother and that old hag are not
out of the house by the time I come home,
it's over between the two of us...
You make your choice!
You gave me a nosebleed...
...but you just wait, my friend.
I assure you, you will be put
in the naughty corner!
I have done my part of the job,
now it's your turn.
She has to be gone
by the time he gets back!
Take a soup plate!
You must understand
that it cannot go on this way.
Maybe I am not how I should be...
but that will change...
No, girl, the fault does not lie with you
...it lies with Viktor!
You have to get away from him,
or you will be completely destroyed!
You all say that Viktor is evil...
...but it's not true!
Since Viktor lost his business,
he has had to struggle
with adversity and poverty...
and that has left him
embittered and hardened...
...I shared the good years with Viktor...
and I would feel like a traitor
if I failed him now
when he needs me the most!
I'd better help you
with your homework.
From "The Fall of the Tyrant"
to the bookmark?
First of all, tell me:
WHAT IS A TYRANT?
A tyrant is a cruel man of violence
who mistreats and oppresses
those around him...
Now, little Ida, do you understand
that you are unwell...
much more unwell
than you will admit.
...you have to get away from here
...even if just for a while
...it would be the best
...also for him and the children.
Yes, but who will mind the house?
Will you do it, Mads?
But promise me
not to be hard on Viktor.
HARD! I will be hard,
but not cruel!
Run and hail a cab!
Here are a few pennies I have put aside
to buy Viktor a little extra
...but he must not know
that it came from me.
Goodbye, my boy,
don't forget to brush your teeth,
both in the evening and the morning!
He must freeze!
Bring in the big zinc tub.
You need a bath!
Good night, Mads!
Later.
Good evening, my friend!
Yes, that's my little tweety!
Where is Ida?
Gone!
That is to say, your wife is very ill
and has gone away
in order to get well again.
What an amusing story!
Now people will think
I mistreated my poor wife...
...and to punish me, I come home
to find an empty living room
and desperately rush
to my mother-in-law,
where the two of them
are sitting and laughing at me...
...but she will be the one
who will beg me to forgive her!
We have to make savings now.
How dare you speak like that!
You have to learn to speak decently,
at least to me!
Do you understand?
Take that kettle away!
- Shut up
- You fool!
It's worst for you, since you have to pay
to have it washed again.
Take your gear and get out of here!
Father!
Father!
Beast!
Where is Mother!
I don't know.
All I know is that she is ill and...
...and if Mother dies,
it will be your fault!
Father, there is something,
which Mother told me not to say to you
...but I still think you ought to know.
The last year Mother has stayed up
working almost every night
just so that you could get
a thick layer of butter
and cold meats on your bread...
Father, where are you going?
I'm going to your grandmother's
to get Mother!
Yes, my lamb,
it hurts to thrash a loved one,
but we must endure it
for your mother's sake
...until he squeals!
Months of suffering,
contempt and humiliation
had marked Ida,
our valiant little wife.
The thousand household duties
had kept her afloat,
but now that she was off the treadmill,
she broke down completely.
If your daughter is ever
to regain her humanity,
she must get out of the city...
into the countryside to peace and quiet...
...and of course, during that time
she must break off all connection
with her husband and home.
Promise me, Ida,
not to let Viktor know where you are...
If you want to listen to my advice,
then go home now and wait patiently
for your wife to recover
...that is the best way
you can atone for what has happened!
The misdeeds of tyrants always
turn against them, sooner or later
...even our "hero",
who recently wielded the whip,
learnt to bend his back.
Good night, Mads!
Do you know the feeling
of suddenly standing in front
of an old teacher of yours?
Without you noticing,
your fingers fiddle with your trouser seam,
you stammer and flush
all the way to the hair roots.
Something similar happened
in the case of Viktor.
A month had passed
since Mads took the reins,
and the memory of the childhood beatings
that she gave was so deep-rooted
that he willingly submitted
to Mads' strict discipline.
You're a little slow
getting out of bed!
Take the glasses for the birds with you!
What's taking you so long?
It's taking ages!
Take the kerosene bottle out with you
and put it in the cupboard!
There is a Mrs Hansen out there!
Yes, it's the washerwoman.
Let her in.
You didn't think I would stand toiling in
a rough and cold laundry room, did you?
Bring the bucket down there!
What does Tweety say?
...tweet!
Father, you don't have to be ashamed
of being fond of the birds.
Canaries are human too.
That's what Mother always said.
Karen... sit down with me.
Don't you miss Mother?
Don't you know when Mother
will come home?
Mads says it won't be before
you have been in the naughty corner!
Karen, take a teaspoon!
Do you know what I have been
looking to get you?
...a nice dolls' stove...
...you will get it for your birthday!
- Will you then tell me where Mother is?
The surprises your father needs,
I'll take care of them!
I was asked to ask you
to take that tub up with you!
Mads never let Viktor have
a moment's peace.
Through his own experience
he came to know
the exhausting life of a housewife.
I need 6 kroner
for the washerwoman!
Are your ears blocked?
She must have wet herself
...go and change her!
It pleased Mads to see
the humiliation of the fallen tyrant,
but her smile would also tremble
with compassion
when she saw him consumed
by his longing for Ida.
Here is some bread for the coffee!
I cannot stand this uncertainty...
...until Ida returns,
there is no joy for me...
I would gladly sacrifice everything
to see her sweet face
and to hear her voice.
Would you?
Wouldn't there be
a little bit of arrogance left
that you don't want to part with?
How stupid we men are!
We go around thinking
we're the ones carrying the load
because we're the ones
earning the money...
...and in reality it's HER
who carries everything...
...and by way of thanks
she gets rudeness from her husband!
I have only one wish and one longing:
to be allowed to be good to Ida!
You have to get on with Mads.
You know her conditions!
Use the opportunity you have.
...I'll go to the kitchen meanwhile.
Mads! There is something
I would like to speak about with you!
Listen, Mads
...you're dropping a hairpin!
Come here for a moment
...l want to tell you something!
Your necktie is not straight!
Now I know where Mother is...
but I will not tell!
Are you out of your mind?
Mind the stove!
But Eriksen is the one
who is closest to my heart.
He claims that I am the most
wonderful woman in the world,
and he says that he loves me,
which I really...
Aren't you going to close
the stove door?
Who is Eriksen?
It must be a man!
I have had enough,
I want to speak now!
Sit down!
You men are all the same
at the end of the day...
stupid...
stubborn...
vain...
pretentious...
You treat your wives
in a strange way.
In the beginning
everything is fine and dandy
...she is your "Princess"
and God knows what...
...later on, when she really
deserves your admiration,
you treat her like a housemaid...
...until one day another man appears
and you feel that your vanity
has been offended
- then she suddenly
becomes valuable to you again!
Do you admit that you deserve
a good thrashing?
...I will spare you if you go nicely
to the naughty corner.
And if you're a good boy,
I will let you know where Ida is!
Hands on your back!
Hey! Hey!
Frederik, hurry upstairs!
Mother has come!
Who is Eriksen?
I only know now what happiness is
...and trust me,
I shall take good care of it now.
But I have nice teeth!
It's a bit of
Foodstuff...
Now close that stove door, will you?
OPTICIANS' SHOP
For immediate sale
Beautiful premises
on the high road for sale
10,000 kroner in cash
PO box 4327.
Here is the money!
Tell me, what's going on?
Are we going to have cold coffee?
And once again the heart of the pendulum
beat and proclaimed the message:
THOU SHALT HONOUR THY WIFE!
For her strong hands are
what keeps the whole world together.
SHE is the heart of the home.
THE END