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Dödshoppet från Circus-Kupolen
Also known as The Last Performance in the USA : [Dödsritten under cirkuskupolen]
(1912) Sweden
B&W : Two reels
Directed by Georg af Klercker
Cast: Carl Barcklind [Hans von Harden], Selma Wiklund af Klercker [Rose Mailand], Georg af Klercker [Carl von Harden], John Ekman [the circus manager], Paul Hagman [the doctor], Gustaf Bengtsson, Erik Lindholm
Svenska Biografteatern Aktiebolaget production; distributed by [?] Svenska Biografteaterns Filmbyrå? / Scenario by Charles Magnusson. Cinematography by Henrik Jaenzon. / Released 12 August 1912. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The film was released in the USA as The Last Performance by The General Film Company, Incorporated, on 20 December 1912.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Rose Mailand, the celebrated equestrienne of the famous Barnon Circus, awakens the love of Count Hans von Harten, and they are ideally happy until the Count’s father angrily forbids the marriage, which compels the Count to adopt the circus for a livelihood. His spectacular thriller, “The Platform of Death,” wins him the title of the “Greatest Horseman in the World,” and because of the public admiration his wife becomes jealous and plans revenge. She drugs his horse, and as he mounts the Platform of Death the horse becomes frightened at the first explosion of fireworks and plunges forward, bringing with him the Count to death in the ring below.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 4 January 1913, page ?] A very carefully prepared picture; it shows the skill of its producer in its cumulative interest, which reaches breathless suspense at the climax and also in the simplicity and naturalness of its scenes. Much of its charm comes from the personal grace and good acting of its leading lady equestrienne in a big circus. The story won’t bear a too close inspection; but its shortcomings have been covered and it seems plausible. A count falls in love with the circus girl, his father won’t consent to a marriage, so the young man joins the circus as a horseman. As such, he becomes the rival of the girl. She is jealous of his success and also of another girl and drugs his horse so that he is killed. We dare predict that it will be a big success everywhere; it was liked by the audience with which we saw it.
Survival status: Print exists.
Current rights holder: (unknown) [Sweden]; Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 7 November 2022.
References: McIlroy-Sweden p. 19 : Website-IMDb.
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