Masterpiece Selection Resonating with the Themes of S.O.S. Die Inse...

Dir: Lothar Mendes

A society gigolo goes after a rich mother and her daughter, but tries to find true happiness with his girlfriend, who is neither rich nor in "society."

Dir: Lothar Mendes

A husband and wife have several children from their previous marriages and now they want to get divorced. The kids don't want to be separated and the oldest daughter and her boyfriend try to keep them together.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Marriage Playground perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Lothar Mendes

While in Italy, the Duke of Chatsfield secretly marries a peasant girl, and they have a child, Francis. The boy's parents die after having separated, and he is reared in a monastery. When he is 20, Francis takes his final vows, while his uncle, a duke, learns that Francis is the true heir to the dukedom; a dispensation is granted by the Pope, and the boy assumes the title. In London, Mario, a penniless novice, masquerading as Baron Giordano, hopes to marry Monica, Francis' beautiful cousin; and to eliminate his rival he engages Dolores, his ex-mistress, to ensnare Francis. He succumbs to her wiles but on a visit to his relatives falls in love with Monica, and they become engaged; Monica, however, breaks off the betrothal after finding that Dolores loves him. Francis returns, embittered, to London and embarks on a series of flirtations; but learning of Monica's acceptance of Mario's offer, he returns to the monastery. Dolores tells Monica of the Baron's scheming, kills herself, and the lovers are reconciled.

Dir: Lothar Mendes

The story of life in the 18th century Jewish ghetto of Wurtemburg. Suess tries to better himself with the help of an evil Duke.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Prince of Tempters perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Lothar Mendes

An ordinary man suddenly finds that anything he says comes true. Or at least, almost anything.

Dir: Lothar Mendes

A vaudeville magician and his lady assistant break up their team, when he becomes infatuated with a socialite, only to get back together when she is almost killed in her new act gone wrong.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Power perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Lothar Mendes

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Lothar Mendes

Reported killed in action, Philip lives under an assumed name in London. Deborah, a former lover, discovers him. She still loves Philip and is jealous of his wife Faith, who has since married Sir John. So Deborah tries to blackmail Faith.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Man Who Could Work Miracles perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Lothar Mendes

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Lothar Mendes

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.