Das goldene Kalb

Ferenc Herczeg and Peter Paul Felner's “Das goldene Kalb” plunges viewers into the fervent, morally ambiguous world of post-war ambition, tracing the meteoric, yet ultimately tragic, ascent of Franz (Johannes Riemann), a young man captivated by the intoxicating promise of wealth. Initially driven by a desire for a better life for himself and his devoted fiancée, Maria (Henny Porten), Franz soon finds himself ensnared by the machinations of the ruthless financier, Herr von Hagen (Albert Steinrück). As Franz navigates the glittering, treacherous corridors of high finance, his once-unwavering moral compass begins to falter, seduced by the opulent allure of society figures like the enigmatic Countess Vera (Olga Engl). The narrative meticulously dissects his gradual abandonment of integrity and genuine love for the fleeting worship of material gain, setting the stage for an inevitable reckoning with the true cost of his golden calf.