Majoor Frans
Encyclopedia
Majoor Frans is a 1916
Dutch
silent
drama film
directed by Maurits Binger
.
) lives an unusual life, having been raised as a boy by John and sgt. Rolf (Willem Hunsche). Her nanny's (Paula de Waart
) attempts to teach her how to be a girl have been unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, the Colonel receives a visit from his son Rudolf (Willem van der Veer
), who has been living a joyful but expensive student life in Leiden). Rudolf promises to better his life, but is quickly lured back in Leiden's nightlife. All of this happens during Frans' birthday. With her grandfather absent due to a business travel, her wish is to invite aunt Roselaar (Maria Bouwmeester-Clermont), who has not been on speaking terms with John for years, due to a huge debt. She has now been paying the money back by supporting Frans' education, and is thus shocked to find out that Fras is a girl. Because a girl requires less education money, Roselaar feels betrayed and leaves angrily.
As a consequence, Frans (now Annie Bos
) is sent to a boarding school, where she spends her years showing rebellious behavior against her superiors. She is expelled when she one day rides a horse spontaneously, but shows no remorse and returns to De Werve. After a warm welcome, she finds out that her grandfather is no longer able to afford the castle, so she proposes to raise money by organizing a fox hunt. When this proves unsuccessful, she turns to her uncle Rudolf for help, though he responds by leaving to join the army. A terrible soldat, Rudolf deserts the army, but is caught and jailed. A De Werve member has been condemned a scandal, so Frans makes it her goal to help him escape, on condition that he passes the boarder and never returns to the Netherlands again.
Following, Rolf has inherited a fortune and uses the money to co-support De Werve by moving in. Simultaneously, Frans meets Roselaar's cousin Leopold van Zonshoven (Frederick Vogeding). Leo - who was granted the fortune meant for Frans - has been sent to De Werve by Roselaar to court Frans. Frans has never experienced love, though she feels immediately attracted to Leo. However, his attempts to financially support the family does not please her, for as her pride does not allow her to accept money from outsiders. In the heat of anger, she fights Leo and accidentally slashes him.
Frans feels guilty and makes up with him, and accepts when Leo proposes to her. However, when she misinterprets that Leo will inherit all of Roselaar's money while the Von Zwenkens remain ignored, she becomes furious, until finding out that her grandfather has died of old age. Despite the financial situation, she buries him with military honor. Assuming that she will lose De Werve, Frans abandons the castle and explores the world, still filled with grief. She eventually finds work at a circus, where she runs into Rudolf as her colleague. When Rolf hears about this, he feels ashamed and begs Leo to do something about it. Leo, who has bought De Werve, will be traveling for a few years and offers Frans to live in the castle during his absence. There, she finds out that the Von Zwenkens are indeed included in Roselaar's fortune, and she sets out to find Leo and apologize to him. They eventually kiss and start a life together.
1916 in film
The year 1916 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* October 17 - release of A Daughter of the Gods, the first US production with a million dollar budget, with the first nude scene by a major star....
Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
silent
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
drama film
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
directed by Maurits Binger
Maurits Binger
Maurits Binger was a Dutch film director, producer and screenwriter of the silent era. He directed 39 films between 1913 and 1922 and is considered one of the pioneers of fictional films in the Netherlands...
.
Plot
Wealthy John von Zwenken (Louis H. Chrispijn) lives with his daughter and son-in-law in a castle named De Werve. One day, he returns from hunting and is informed that a new child has been welcomed in the family. Disappointed and ashamed that the child is a girl, John introduces her to his friends and staff as a boy. Shortly after the delivery, the mother dies and the baby is left in John's hands. Twelve years later, young Frans (Lily BouwmeesterLily Bouwmeester
Lily Geertruida Maria Henriëtte Bouwmeester was a Dutch theater and film actress, who was crowned with a Golden Calf for being "the best actress in Pre-War Dutch cinema".-Biography:...
) lives an unusual life, having been raised as a boy by John and sgt. Rolf (Willem Hunsche). Her nanny's (Paula de Waart
Paula de Waart
Paula de Waart was a Dutch film actress of the silent era. She appeared in 24 films between 1915 and 1935.-Filmography:* Het Mysterie van de Mondscheinsonate * De man op den achtergrond...
) attempts to teach her how to be a girl have been unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, the Colonel receives a visit from his son Rudolf (Willem van der Veer
Willem van der Veer
Willem van der Veer was a Dutch film actor of the silent era. He appeared in 32 films between 1913 and 1937.-Filmography:* De man zonder hart * Op hoop van zegen...
), who has been living a joyful but expensive student life in Leiden). Rudolf promises to better his life, but is quickly lured back in Leiden's nightlife. All of this happens during Frans' birthday. With her grandfather absent due to a business travel, her wish is to invite aunt Roselaar (Maria Bouwmeester-Clermont), who has not been on speaking terms with John for years, due to a huge debt. She has now been paying the money back by supporting Frans' education, and is thus shocked to find out that Fras is a girl. Because a girl requires less education money, Roselaar feels betrayed and leaves angrily.
As a consequence, Frans (now Annie Bos
Annie Bos
Johanna "Annie" Bos was a Dutch theater and silent film actress, known as Holland's first movie star and diva....
) is sent to a boarding school, where she spends her years showing rebellious behavior against her superiors. She is expelled when she one day rides a horse spontaneously, but shows no remorse and returns to De Werve. After a warm welcome, she finds out that her grandfather is no longer able to afford the castle, so she proposes to raise money by organizing a fox hunt. When this proves unsuccessful, she turns to her uncle Rudolf for help, though he responds by leaving to join the army. A terrible soldat, Rudolf deserts the army, but is caught and jailed. A De Werve member has been condemned a scandal, so Frans makes it her goal to help him escape, on condition that he passes the boarder and never returns to the Netherlands again.
Following, Rolf has inherited a fortune and uses the money to co-support De Werve by moving in. Simultaneously, Frans meets Roselaar's cousin Leopold van Zonshoven (Frederick Vogeding). Leo - who was granted the fortune meant for Frans - has been sent to De Werve by Roselaar to court Frans. Frans has never experienced love, though she feels immediately attracted to Leo. However, his attempts to financially support the family does not please her, for as her pride does not allow her to accept money from outsiders. In the heat of anger, she fights Leo and accidentally slashes him.
Frans feels guilty and makes up with him, and accepts when Leo proposes to her. However, when she misinterprets that Leo will inherit all of Roselaar's money while the Von Zwenkens remain ignored, she becomes furious, until finding out that her grandfather has died of old age. Despite the financial situation, she buries him with military honor. Assuming that she will lose De Werve, Frans abandons the castle and explores the world, still filled with grief. She eventually finds work at a circus, where she runs into Rudolf as her colleague. When Rolf hears about this, he feels ashamed and begs Leo to do something about it. Leo, who has bought De Werve, will be traveling for a few years and offers Frans to live in the castle during his absence. There, she finds out that the Von Zwenkens are indeed included in Roselaar's fortune, and she sets out to find Leo and apologize to him. They eventually kiss and start a life together.
Cast
- Annie BosAnnie BosJohanna "Annie" Bos was a Dutch theater and silent film actress, known as Holland's first movie star and diva....
as Francis Mordaunt alias Majoor Frans - Frederick Vogeding as Leopold 'Leo' van Zonshoven
- Lily BouwmeesterLily BouwmeesterLily Geertruida Maria Henriëtte Bouwmeester was a Dutch theater and film actress, who was crowned with a Golden Calf for being "the best actress in Pre-War Dutch cinema".-Biography:...
as Young Francis Mordaunt - Willem van der VeerWillem van der VeerWillem van der Veer was a Dutch film actor of the silent era. He appeared in 32 films between 1913 and 1937.-Filmography:* De man zonder hart * Op hoop van zegen...
as Rudolf von Zwenken - Louis H. Chrispijn as John von Zwenken
- Willem Hunsche as Rolf
- Paula de WaartPaula de WaartPaula de Waart was a Dutch film actress of the silent era. She appeared in 24 films between 1915 and 1935.-Filmography:* Het Mysterie van de Mondscheinsonate * De man op den achtergrond...
as Nanny - Christine van MeeterenChristine van MeeterenChristine van Meeteren was a Dutch film actress of the silent era. She appeared in 17 films between 1913 and 1936.-Filmography:* Komedie om geld * Majoor Frans...
as Coachman's widow - Maria Bouwmeester-Clermont as Aunt Roselaar
- Minny Erfmann
- Nola Hatterman
- Jan van DommelenJan van DommelenJan van Dommelen was a Dutch film actor of the silent era. He appeared in 44 films between 1911 and 1939.-Filmography:* Boefje * De Big van het regiment * De Familie van mijn Vrouw...
as Colonel - Alex BennoAlex BennoAlex Benno was a Dutch film actor, screenwriter and director of the silent era. He appeared in 15 films between 1913 and 1920.-Filmography:* John Heriot's Wife * Schakels * Brotherhood of Steel...
- Lola CorneroLola CorneroLola Cornero was a Dutch film actress of the silent era. She appeared in 17 films between 1916 and 1920.-Filmography:* John Heriot's Wife * As God Made Her * Het verborgen leven...
- Ernst WinarErnst WinarErnst Winar was a Dutch actor and film director. He appeared in 34 films between 1916 and 1955...