The Serpent's Egg (film)
Encyclopedia
The Serpent's Egg is a 1977 United States / West German
co-produced film (with English and German dialogue) directed
by Ingmar Bergman
and starring David Carradine
as Abel Rosenberg, which is set in 1920s Berlin. This was Bergman's one and only Hollywood film. The title is taken from a line spoken by Brutus
in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar
:
And therefore think him as a serpent's egg
Which hatch'd, would, as his kind grow mischievous;
And kill him in the shell.
performer. The film takes place in the week following his brother's death. Abel takes a job offered by an acquaintance, Professor Hans Vergerus.
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
co-produced film (with English and German dialogue) directed
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
by Ingmar Bergman
Ingmar Bergman
Ernst Ingmar Bergman was a Swedish director, writer and producer for film, stage and television. Described by Woody Allen as "probably the greatest film artist, all things considered, since the invention of the motion picture camera", he is recognized as one of the most accomplished and...
and starring David Carradine
David Carradine
David Carradine was an American actor and martial artist, best known for his role as a warrior monk, Kwai Chang Caine, in the 1970s television series, Kung Fu, which later had a 1990s sequel series, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues...
as Abel Rosenberg, which is set in 1920s Berlin. This was Bergman's one and only Hollywood film. The title is taken from a line spoken by Brutus
Marcus Junius Brutus
Marcus Junius Brutus , often referred to as Brutus, was a politician of the late Roman Republic. After being adopted by his uncle he used the name Quintus Servilius Caepio Brutus, but eventually returned to using his original name...
in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar (play)
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, also known simply as Julius Caesar, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1599. It portrays the 44 BC conspiracy against...
:
And therefore think him as a serpent's egg
Which hatch'd, would, as his kind grow mischievous;
And kill him in the shell.
Plot
Abel Rosenberg is an American Jew in Berlin post-world war I. Poverty and inflation have destroyed the German economy. He lives with his sister-in-law Manuela, a prostitute and cabaretCabaret
Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
performer. The film takes place in the week following his brother's death. Abel takes a job offered by an acquaintance, Professor Hans Vergerus.
Full credits
- Original title: Ormens ägg/Das Schlangenei/The Serpent's Egg.
- Production: Rialto FilmRialto FilmRialto Film is a Danish/German film company originally founded by Constantin Philpsen in 1897 . His son Constantin Preben Philipsen took over the company in 1950...
(Berlin), Dino De LaurentiisDino De LaurentiisAgostino "Dino" De Laurentiis was an Italian film producer.-Early life:He was born at Torre Annunziata in the province of Naples, and grew up selling spaghetti produced by his father...
Corp. (Los Angeles). - Distribution: Fox-Stockholm.
- Director: Ingmar BergmanIngmar BergmanErnst Ingmar Bergman was a Swedish director, writer and producer for film, stage and television. Described by Woody Allen as "probably the greatest film artist, all things considered, since the invention of the motion picture camera", he is recognized as one of the most accomplished and...
. - Producer: Dino De Laurentiis.
- Set construction: Rolf Wilhelm.
- Editor: Petra von Oelffen.
- Sound: Karsten Ulrich.
- Artistic direction: Erner Achmann.
- Costumes: Charlotte Flemming.
- Make-up and hairdressing: Raimund Stangl and others.
- World premiere: 28 October 1977.
- Duration: 119 minutes.
- Cast: Liv UllmannLiv UllmannLiv Johanne Ullmann is a Norwegian actress and film director, as well as one of the "muses" of the Swedish director Ingmar Bergman...
(Manuela Rosenberg), David CarradineDavid CarradineDavid Carradine was an American actor and martial artist, best known for his role as a warrior monk, Kwai Chang Caine, in the 1970s television series, Kung Fu, which later had a 1990s sequel series, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues...
(Abel Rosenberg), Gert FröbeGert FröbeKarl Gerhart Fröbe, better known as Gert Fröbe was a German actor who starred in many films, including the James Bond film Goldfinger as Auric Goldfinger, The Threepenny Opera as Peachum, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as Baron Bomburst, and in Der Räuber Hotzenplotz as Hotzenplotz.-Life:Born in...
(Inspector Bauer), Heinz BennentHeinz BennentHeinz Bennent was a German actor.Bennent was born in Stolberg, Rhineland, and served in the Luftwaffe during World War II. His career began after the end of World War II in Göttingen. He moved to Switzerland in the 1970s, where he lived until his death at age 90...
(Hans Vergérus), James WhitmoreJames WhitmoreJames Allen Whitmore, Jr. was an American film and stage actor.-Early life:Born in White Plains, New York, to Florence Belle and James Allen Whitmore, Sr., a park commission official, Whitmore attended Amherst Central High School in Snyder, New York, before graduating from The Choate School in...
(Priest), Glynn TurmanGlynn TurmanGlynn Russell Turman is an American stage, television, and film actor as well as a writer, director, and producer. He is perhaps best known for his roles as high school student Leroy "Preach" Jackson in the 1975 coming-of-age film Cooley High, math professor and retired Army colonel Bradford...
(Monroe), Georg HartmannGeorg HartmannGeorg Hartmann was a German engineer, instrument maker, author, printer, humanist, churchman, and astronomer....
(Hollinger), Edith Heerdegen (Mrs Holle), Kyra Mldeck (Miss Dorst), Fritz Straßner (Doctor Soltermann), Hans QuestHans Quest-Selected filmography:Director* Charley's Aunt * The Big Chance Actor* Mein Leben für Irland * Bismarck's Dismissal * The Life of Surgeon Sauerbruch...
(Doctor Silbermann), Wolfgang Weiser (Official), Paula BraendPaula Braend-Selected filmography:* Die Alm an der Grenze * The Czar and the Carpenter * Love Now, Pay Later * The Serpent's Egg...
(Mrs. Hemse), Walter SchmidingerWalter SchmidingerWalter Schmidinger is an Austrian actor.-Selected filmography:* The Pedestrian * Ice Age * Derrick - Season 3, Episode 10 "Das Bordfest" * The Serpent's Egg...
(Solomon), Lisi Mangold (Mikaela), Grischa Huber (Stella), Paul Bürks, Toni Berger (Mr. Rosenberg), Erna Brunell (Mrs. Rosenberg), Isolde Barth, Rosemarie Heinikel, Andrea L'Arronge, Beverly McNeely, Hans Eichler (Max), Kai FischerKai FischerKai Fischer is a German film actress. She has appeared in 54 films between 1955 and 1999.-Selected filmography:* Derrick - Season 5, Episode 10: "Der Spitzel" * The Serpent's Egg * Escape from East Berlin...
, Harry Kalenberg, Gaby DohmGaby Dohm-Selected filmography:* When Mother Went on Strike * The Serpent's Egg * Doktor Faustus * Rosenstrasse -External links:...
, Christian BerkelChristian BerkelChristian Berkel is a German actor.Berkel was born in Berlin, Germany. His father was a military doctor.From the age of 14 he lived in Paris where he took drama lessons with Jean-Louis Barrault and Pierre Berlin...
(Student), Paul Burian, Charles RegnierCharles RégnierCharles Régnier was a German film actor. He appeared in over 135 films between 1949 and 2000.He was born in Freiburg, Germany and died in Bad Wiessee, Germany.-Selected filmography:* The Last Illusion...
, Günter MeisnerGünter MeisnerGünter Meisner was a German actor. He is best remembered for his several cinematic portrayals of Adolf Hitler....
, Heide Picha, Günter Malzacher, Hubert Mittendorf, Hertha von WaltherHertha von WaltherHertha von Walther was a German film actress. She appeared in 80 films between 1921 and 1983.-Selected filmography:* Joyless Street * Ways to Strength and Beauty * Secrets of a Soul...
, Ellen Umlauf, Renate Grosser, Hildegard Busse, Richard Bohne, Emil Feist, Heino Hallhuber, Irene Steinbeisser.