Spies (1928) - full transcript

Fritz Lang's SPIONE was

restored between 2003 and 2004

by the

Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau-Stiftung.

As no original negative exists,

various nitrate copies were used.

Due to its length and excellent condition,

a copy from the N?rodni Filmovy Archiv,

Prague, formed the restoration's basis.

Problematic scenes were

replaced using materials

supplied by Filmarchiv

Austria and Screensound

Moscow's Gosfilmofond's

dupe negative contained

a complete set of intertitles

displayed as flashtitles.

These matched the original intertitles found

in part within the Austrian nitrate copy.

The original German opening

credits sequence has not survived.

Cast and crew details were culled

from the censor card and rendered

in the same graphics as the intertitles.

Other contributors include:

SPIES

Distributed by UFA

Script: Thea von Harbou

Direction: Fritz Lang

Sets: Otto Hunte, Karle Volbrecht

Camera: Fritz Arno Wagner

Haghi... Rudolf Klein-Rogge

Sonja... Gerda Maurus

Kitty... Lien Deyers

Morrier... Louis Ralph

Police Chief Jason... Craighall Sherry

No. 326... Willy Fritsch

Franz, the chauffeur... Paul Hoerbiger

Lady Leslane... Hertha von Walther

Dr. Matsumoto... Lupu Pick

Colonel Jellusic... Fritz Rasp

The novel "Spione" by Thea von Harbou

was published by Scherl-Verlag, Berlin

Throughout the world...

strange events transpire.

Sensational theft of documents...

... French Embassy... Shanghai

Telephone

EXTRA! Assassination attempt

on the Minister of Trade.

The Minister dies from his wounds.

Important documents have vanished.

No trace of the perpetrator!

Are the officials in charge of

state security so asleep on the job

that our most important documents and

secret files can vanish without a trace?

"I know... who... "

"Almighty God...

what power is at play here?"

I.

Police Summons:

Hans Pockzerwinski

Police Station

From: Minister of the Interior To: M.B.

Jason, Head of Secret Service By messenger

Dear Mr. Jason! Enclosed please

find several new caricatures

and opinions expressed by the

public concerning your department...

Isn't it time to bring this

ridicule of the helplessness

of the Secret Service to an end?

The Minister of the Interior.

"What's the use of all your

precautions in bringing me here

when I am secretly photographed by one

of your staff in your own office...?"

"Who's paying you... you scoundrel

- to inform on me...?!"

"I'd sooner die like a dog

than become a traitor!"

"Your fate is in your hands, Vincent...

Who are you working for?"

"Find out for yourself! And may God

have mercy on you if you find him!"

"Who is he

talking about -?!"

"If I knew, No. 326,

I wouldn't need you!

And the public wouldn't be

making a laughing stock of us!"

"It's easy for you to laugh because,

fortunately for you, you prevented

your picture falling into the

hands of this... damned spy...!"

"... and no one knows

what this man looks like -?!"

"A few...

people have known... but... "

"I would be sorry, No. 326, if I had to

put a cross after your name as well... "

The Enemy...

"Copy photos 4 and 6... Distribute to

all members of the surveillance squad!"

His headquarters...

Morrier kidnapped from the gallows.

Sensational act prior to execution.

Masked perpetrators escape.

"This time, Morrier, I have saved you

from the noose, because I can make good use

of scoundrels like you... But if

ever I sign your death sentence... "

"I am a scoundrel, sir -

but a grateful one... "

is on her way...

...to the Haghi Bank.

"Miss Barranikowa shall

report to me immediately

when she returns from Colonel Jellusic. "

Colonel Jellusic,

a man of interest to many people...

"Are there letters under this box

number waiting for me?"

"What box number did this

man just pick up letters from?"

"Pardon, Lady Leslane, General

Director Haghi would like to see you...

it will only take two

minutes... a formality...

as milady just happens to be here... "

"I would like to make a proposal,

Lady Leslane!"

"I would like to find out from

you, as the wife of Roger Leslane,

when and where the Japanese Secret Treaty

will be signed... and who will be present!"

"If I hear nothing within 48

hours, in the 49th hour your husband

will find out just where his wife spends

her Tuesday and Friday evenings... "

"Your efforts are futile, Lady Leslane,

- I have the negative... "

"I'm richer than Ford, Lady Leslane, even

if I pay significantly less in taxes. "

"The day after tomorrow, you will

deliver the data in writing to the owner

of the opium den you know so well, and

in exchange you will get the negative... "

"How far have you

gotten with Jellusic?!"

"I've got him eating out of my hand!

And for a kiss he'd sell me all his

fortresses and the entire

army of his country!"

"You know what you have to do.

I expect a report tonight!"

"Save me -

I shot him -!"

"... he invited me to come see

him... about a tour... he...

he tried to force me... I didn't know

what to do - so I shot him!"

"If you really want to help me...

just let me leave!"

It will be better for you and for me...

if we never see each other again!

"Choose whomever you

wish for this project

- but keep me out of it! I don't

want to work against this man... "

"He reminds me...

of my brother Sascha... "

"All the more reason for you to fight

our enemies in the form of this man,

enemies who also were the enemies of

your father, of your brother, or... "

"Have you forgotten -?!"

...sentenced to death

"They died innocent, two victims of

the Ochrana of your Russian Czar -"

"... because they weren't smart enough

to keep their thoughts to themselves!"

"My friend... "

My friend!

I owe you an explanation -

"... - I must see

you again... - "

"Don't tell me you've fallen

in love with this fellow -?"

My friend! I owe you an

explanation and must see you again!

Come tomorrow at 4.00 to have...

a glass of real Russian tea -

with the woman you saved - S.B.

Parkstrasse 24

The Diary as Lifesaver

so that you will cry no more.

"I am so happy -

so happy -!"

"I, too... "

"My friend... "

"In memory of my

father and my brother...

they died as victims of

the Czarist Ochrana... "

"But, is there nothing

at all that you want -?!"

Eight O'Clock Evening Edition

"Final Edition -!"

"Make me a gift

of this evening!"

"I'll pick you up at 9 o'clock -

we'll go to Danielli - all right?"

"Wear it forever -

it shall bring you luck!"

"At 12 o'clock sharp

everyone is at his post... "

"... - Danielli... - "

Go immediately to J. H.

Pay Jellusic the price

demanded in exchange

for all the mobilization plans in

his possession. Under the condition...

...that he cross the border tonight.

You will not return home, but

will report to me immediately. H.

"The condition is that you have to

cross the border tonight... "

"But the night is still young, my lovely

Sonja... and you had promised... "

"The documents... "

A farewell kiss,

beautiful Sonja...!"

A cavalier does not

betray his lady!"

"Drive home!"

"Are you satisfied now -?"

"So you love the

young man?"

"Your house has been cleared out

- you will live

at headquarters and not leave your

room without my permission-"

"If the Barranikowa woman had not

once again been warned in time,

I would have raided her house tonight!"

"You are hardly the first to have fallen

into the trap of this master spy. "

Nothing is to deter a man from the

path of duty... not even a woman... "

"Why don't you

go home, my child?"

"Please, let me stay here!

Don't send me away again!

I won't take up any more

space than a little dog...!"

"Have I offended you?

Must I leave again?"

"When I went looking for the

fellow early this morning,

he had already decamped...

without a trace!"

"I'll show you pictures

of all the people suspected

of being spies that were

taken over the last month... "

"Colonel Jellusic left this morning at

2.40 on the Orient Express!"

Opera Ball 13

General Delivery, Main Post Office

"I'll have this man watched by one of

our agents as soon as he arrives. "

"A plane leaves in 45 minutes

that will arrive down there

two hours after the Orient Express. "

The Secret Service

reserves two seats

on the Aero Orient Express.

"People like Jellusic

can be had for money...!

If I offer him enough he'll

betray those who are paying him!"

"Jellusic has to be

put out of commission.

Denounce him as a spy to his Commander

in Chief at General Headquarters!"

"Good evening,

Herr Jellusic... "

"So you don't deny...?"

"You are granted one last request,

Herr Jellusic... "

"I beg - in all -

humility... "

Surveillance Report Re: Signing

of the Japanese Secret Agreement.

Location: Small conference room of

the Japanese Embassy. Time: 5:30 a. m.

Present: The two treaty parties, and

Chief of Secret Service Dr. Matsumoto.

The Embassy will be subject to the

most stringent security measures.

"I'll have this treaty

in my hands tonight!"

"Gentlemen! One of these envelopes

contains the most important treaty

Japan has concluded in a century... "

"You'll take three different routes

to Tokyo... Whoever does not deliver

his letter with its seal unbroken is

not worthy of being called a Japanese!"

"Whose blood am I to wear around

my neck, Haghi?"

"I have called you in order to clear

things between you and me, Sonja. "

"Where is - he -?!"

"He's trying to trace you

through Jellusic. "

SUDDEN DEATH OF

COLONEL M.O. JELLUSIC

As we learned after

press time, Jellusic,

colonel extraordinaire

at General Headquarters,

has died of a heart attack shortly

after returning from a holiday trip.

"20,000 pounds... in new bank notes -

with consecutive serial numbers...!"

"A blank telegram, please!"

Find out immediately

to whom the State Bank

has issued notes in denominations

of one thousand with...

...consecutive numbers 0319726 to

0319745 stop Return with next flight.

"A special operator call...!"

"What -?!

The bank note numbers?!"

"You have to make up your mind, Sonja.

Are you on my side - against him?"

"You still don't seem to

know what I am capable of!"

"I have other irons

in the fire... "

"I will come back, my child

- the house shall be yours... you will

live there as a little princess... "

"I have to leave, Kitty...!"

"But not so fast

- ! Not so fast -!

Just a few more hours -!

A few meagre hours... -!"

"Don't you see that I will die -

if you leave me -?"

"As surely as I shall win this

battle, Sonja, I will defeat him...

Do you nevertheless

stick to your decision?!"

"And how long are you planning to

keep me prisoner?"

"Until one of us is the victor,

Sonja - he or I!"

"No. 326, who is coming

back tonight, has sent us

a radiogram that falls into

your field of expertise... "

"Read it for yourself! This matter has to

be taken care of before No. 326 returns!"

Find out immediately

to whom the State Bank

has issued notes in

denominations of one thousand...

"So I'll come tonight with No. 326 to

your dressing room!"

"I'll take care of the postal censorship

- You see to it that all borders are closed!

If the treaty falls into the wrong hands,

the war in the East is all but declared!"

"It's the last car

- and it will happen in the tunnel...

if No. 326 falls into the trap"

"I have told you, Sonja, you will be

free when one of us two men triumphs... "

"It is I who have been conquered...

because I need you!"

"No one but you is

skilful enough to bring

the photos of the treaty

across the closed border...

Do me this one last service - and the road

to the man you love will be open!"

"And you swear that he will be safe

from you in the future if I say yes -?"

"I believe they'll use a foreigner to

take the stolen treaty across the border

- and the sudden departure

of the Russian courier is,

at the very least, suspicious... "

"... the more so now

that 719 has determined

that the bank notes for Jellusic

also came from Russian hands... "

"Unfortunately, I cannot leave

here without destroying my cover

and jeopardizing my work as No. 719

- but in any event I have reserved

the sleeping compartment next to

that of the Russian courier... "

"Around 6 a. m. You will cross the

border - that is the decisive moment!"

"I almost forgot what I

found the other day... "

"The last car of the express train... -

crashed in the tunnel... - "

"You wretch

- ! Did Haghi send you to make sure

that his damned plan was successful

"You don't intend to betray us, do

you... you scoundrel...?"

"Attention - Central -

Central - Central...!"

"Attention - Central -

Central - Central...!"

"Attention - Central

- Central - Central...!

No. 326 is alive -!

Sonja has betrayed us -!"

"We wish to talk

to Director Haghi. "

"Gentlemen, what could the

police be looking for here -?"

"A criminal -

and the proof of his crime!"

"I order you to hand over to me the

keys to all of the bank safes!"

If the bank is not vacated

within 15 minutes of receiving

this note, and the police have

not withdrawn completely...

...the woman you love, whom I hold in

my power, will die.

"You have fourteen minutes to live, Sonja!

- if he chooses not to obey me!"

"People's lives - in danger -! The

bank must be searched within 13 minutes,

and Haghi's secret room found

- do you understand?... - "

"Burn all papers...

dynamite the safes...

In ten minutes the bank

will be filled with gas!"

"Soon, Sonja, you will know

all about the secrets of death

- take with you a

secret from my life!"

"The bank has been searched

down to the foundations

- there is no trace of a secret exit. "

"Gas -!"

"Where is Haghi -?"

10,000 MARKS REWARD! Who

has seen the man pictured

above, Bank Director

Haghi, since midday?

"Not even a mouse would

be able to leave the city

he has to be here somewhere... "

"There's a small error...

I want to report... "

"It's just that... the numbers

on the thousand pound notes...

which I have to deliver a receipt for...

the telegram contains different numbers...!"

"No. 719... has switched the

telegrams...! The Clown Nemo is Haghi!"

"A little music please -

Mr. Conductor -!"

"Curtain -!"

The End

Music Composed and

Performed by Donald Sosin

www. silent-film-music. com

Translation by Ingrid Scheib-Rothbart

and Edna McCown c. 1927

Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau-Stiftung

Renewed by Notice of intent to enforce a

Copyright 1996 under the Uruguay

Round Agreement Act by the

Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau-Stiftung successor

of UFA MoC Anglicization by Jonathan Lomax

Digital Retouching, Restoration,

Remastering and Subtitling by

IML Digital Media, Melbourne.

c. IML Digital Media 2005