The reconstruction was carried out in 2002
by Luciano Berriatúa and Camille Blot-Wellens
on behalf of the Friedrich-Wilhelm- Murnau-Stiftung in Wiesbaden.
The basis was the camera negative from the Bundesarchiv-Filmarchiv, Berlin,
and a nitrate print from the Cinemateca Brasileira in São Paulo.
Most of the intertitles were obtained from the flash titles on the original negative.
The missing intertitles were restored by referring to the shooting script
and a preserved title list from the production company Decla-Bioscop.
The newly appended titles are recognisable
by way of the Friedrich-Wilhelm- Murnau-Stiftung (FWMS) logo.
Laboratory work: L'Immagine Ritrovata, Bologna
The master negative of this reconstruction was used in 2013 for the 2K digital version.
CASTLE VOGELÖD:
THE REVELATION OF A SECRET
5 Acts
based on the story of the same name
in the Berliner Illustrirte Zeitung
by Rudolf Stratz.
adapted by Carl Mayer.
Second Uco-Film of Decla-Bioscop A.G.
Direction: F. W. Murnau.
Set Design: Hermann Warm.
Artistic Consultant: Count F. Montgelas.
Photography: Fritz A. Wagner
and László Schäffer.
The gentlemen's wardrobes, bespoke, are credited to Hause S. Adam.
Personages:
von Vogelschrey, Lord of the Castle of Vogelöd:
Arnold Korff
Centa v. Vogelschrey, his wife:
L. Kyser-Korff
Count Johann Oetsch: Lotar Mehnert
Count Peter Paul Oetsch: Paul Hartmann
Baron Safferstätt: Paul Bildt
Baroness Safferstätt: Olga Tschechowa
Father Faramund: Victor Blütner
Provincial Judge (Ret.):
Hermann Vallentin
The anxious gentleman:
Julius Falkenstein
The butler: Robert Leffler
A servant: Walter Kurt-Kuhle
Guests, servants.
1st Act.
For days now, a rained-out October Hunt at Castle Vogelöd.
The Lord of the Castle.
The guests.
Count Oetsch!
...You!... Count Oetsch?!
You forgot to invite me?!
The retired provincial judge.
He's reputed to have shot his brother dead
three years ago!
He thereby became sole heir...
The anxious gentleman.
Every single person who was able
to follow the proceedings at the time
is convinced he's the murderer!
Once more I stress
I'm still expecting your brother's widow as a guest this evening...!
The murder victim's widow?
She got married again one year ago to Baron Safferstätt!
I should like to spare us all the experience
of the Baroness encountering you here, Count!
So you're staying!
Then let it be on your head.
Awaiting the Baroness.
Any moment now she'll be showing up and inside is Count Oetsch...!
So you claim to have learnt the art of prophecy in India?
Would you care to reveal then,
in light of this rain-drenched hunt,
whether any of us
will be able to get off a shot?
One shot will be fired...!
...perhaps even... two?!...
...Oetsch is inside!...
You'll understand that...
under these circumstances...
we cannot stay... at your side...!
No! You can't just leave!
Do you know who's coming here to see you?
Father Faramund from Rome!
Father... Faramund... from Rome...?!
Yes! In all the excitement
I had almost forgotten!
I have to go and get his letter for you
this instant.
Father... Faramund...?!
Surely you don't mean to throw me out of your house?
She's staying! She wants to wait for Father Faramund!
...that the wife
of my so tragically deceased relative
will be your guest
fills me with great joy.
I bless the circumstance
that leads me north again
after my decades-long sojourn in Rome.
In the days ahead
I will come to Vogelöd
to finally see all of you,
my dear friends,
face to face...
End of the First Act.
2nd Act.
The next day - a surprise: sunshine!
...well, finally!
Weather forecast: Sunny today. No precipitation.
Aren't you coming along on the hunt?
I only hunt in rain and gale.
Say, why is it your husband's always so quiet?
But, of course, after about a quarter of an hour...
Daytime.
His Reverence, Father Faramund
has just reported he'll be arriving this evening.
That bizarre Oetsch is really going hunting in such beastly weather!
Of course he would know to stay out of the way of his kin, the Father!
...I will... have much... to discuss... with the Father... this evening...!
Evening.
If the Baroness wishes, I will be happy to see her this evening.
Now our house is blessed.
No matter what happens, think... kindly of me!
The Baroness bids His Reverence enter.
Speak... dear child... speak...!
How strange.. Reverend... this encounter.
...because all these years... I've wrestled with my thoughts...!
...with you, Reverend..
as the only person,
friend and kin to my deceased husband,
that I can talk to...!
...It's now been 4 years...
End of the Second Act.
3rd Act.
Our marriage was... at first... like one continuous day of bliss.
And so we spent months in inebriated bliss.
One day he went off...
Weeks later he came back...
he was a different person.
Buried himself in writings...
holy books...
Believe me, dear child,
true happiness lies only in the renunciation of all worldly things.
He turned into a saint... he only wanted to see a saint in me...
And for months it was like that... I grew cold...
the more pure he became, the more terrible I found my earthly bonds...!
I thirsted... to see evil... to desire evil...
Then I came to know Baron Safferstätt...
My husband wanted to give away his possessions,
to divide up his fortune amongst the poor...
terrible arguments erupted between him and his brother...
one evening - there was an all-out row!
In the night that followed... something horrible happened -
my husband... was... shot.
I can't go on any further... Not right now... Tomorrow...
If you'll excuse me for the rest of the day,
I'll call upon the master of the manor tomorrow.
Tall tales of the hunt.
So you don't believe I got a lion once?
Night-time.
Ask the Reverend to see me.
Quarter of an hour later.
No! No-one left through here!
We've looked around the entire castle...!
It's getting downright eerie in here!
One hour later. No trace of the Father can be found.
A crime?!... Maybe it was... Count Oetsch?!
Dreams.
That does it! Tomorrow I'm getting out of here!
But meanwhile, the kitchen boy is also dreaming
of the events of the last few hours...
End of the Third Act.
4th Act.
The morning of the third day.
Surely you understand!! Out of nowhere important business to attend to!
Is there anyone left who isn't frightened by my house.
I've notified the authorities!
Regarding my suspicion of this Count Oetsch...!
One happy man.
She's so strange... says nothing.. nothing at all..
about the Father going missing...?!
Midday.
You once committed a murder?!
What... are you... trying to... say by that...?
Gentlemen! Why don't you just let me finish?!
That is what I dreamt this past night!
Count Oetsch!
It seems to me that the mood in my house at this moment
is not suited to such jokes...!
Believe you me, my eye for spotting criminals is adept...!
...and I'm saying
Count Oetsch is definitely connected
to the disappearance of the Father.
He's putting on airs
in order to conceal his latest crime.
He needs to apologise to you in front of all the guests
for his inappropriate jokes!
You absolutely need to speak with him.
So you know something, Count!!
Perhaps you have some idea of who people here suspect
in the disappearance of the Father?
Me!
But I know even more, Herr Retired Provincial Judge.
I can also glean secrets.
For example, I'd now like to reveal to our Baron one of his secrets.
Count Oetsch. If you know other peoples' secrets,
you should not reveal them in front of everybody!
I shall honour your opinion!
I'd like to whisper only a very few words to Baron Safferstätt!
...No.. I.. am.. no... murderer...
Just what are these accusations?
Is it perhaps that you wish to accuse the Baron in the murder of your brother?
Perhaps?
I will consult Baron Safferstätt.
Today I'll reveal it!
He is the murderer of my husband...!
...In an argument, he shot his brother!
End of the Fourth Act.
5th Act.
Half an hour later.
What do you know about that time... dear... speak!...
The Count certainly made haste...!
And I tell you, he's also got the Father on his conscience!
Father Faramund... has returned!
Yesterday I wanted solace.
You didn't come!...
Today... I shall confess to you!
...Because you, as a priest, are obliged to remain silent!
We can do nothing right now!
The events of recent days probably will now become clear.
A few days before the murder of my husband...
...Oh, I dread so much holiness!...
I would like to see something evil... something completely, utterly evil...!
...A... murder!...
Baron Safferstätt, consumed by passion for me,
had misunderstood me in a gruesome way!...
He shot my husband...
Two days later he confessed to me.
Then I recognised my guilt as well!
The Count was arrested. Had he been convicted...
...we would have poisoned ourselves... in order to prove his innocence...
But!! He was not convicted!!
We carried on! Fearing life! Fearing death.
Each of us cursed!! Bound through our guilt!
We got married! That was our marriage!
...So we were two comrades!!! And today I have redeemed him!!
I have accused Count Oetsch of fratricide!
...That is how far fate has driven me!
Now you know everything! And you must remain silent!
..I... understand... you!...
Act like a man!!
...I... was... not... happy...
A... shot?!
Evening calm.
...he... is... dead!...
I, the innocent outcast, always knew...
So every circumstance had to be aligned just so,
in order for me to be finally set free from this degrading suspicion!
For that reason I forestalled the arrival of Father Faramund at the castle!
We have much to apologise to you for!
Evening.
I am Father Faramund from Rome.
The End.
The story Schloss Vogelöd by Rudolf Stratz is published by Ullsteinbuch.