Igenlode Wordsmith

I've just been to see Part I of Lang's Die Nibelungen, which was rather better than I confess I was expecting: "Dr Mabuse" left me cold, and "Metropolis" I found to be great art but a poor film. But despite its two-hour-plus running length, "Siegfried" was never boring. The young actor who plays the hero did a pretty good job of making him interesting despite his immaculate goodness, although his consort Kriemhild never quite convinced me as the beautiful, twice-duped princess: I can see the actress doing very well as the vindictive widow in Part II, but I'm not sure sweet and lovely is her forte. Brunhilde, on the other hand, was excellent as the Hippolyta-like Maiden King who is tricked into a forced marriage and is first bitter and then, when she learns the truth, vengeful. I couldn't help but feel for her.

The special effects in the film are very notable for their era, and the dragon scene is rightly famous. I particularly liked the little touch where it 'whoofs' breath out of its nostrils to stir the surface of the water immediately before drinking, and when Siegfried stabbed it in the eye a gasp of pity and revulsion went round the cinema.

Overall, however, I'm not sure the film entranced me enough to go and see Part II; the main reason would have been to find out what happened to Brunhilde, and she is conveniently disposed of in the final scene of this film. (I'm not quite sure why she acts as she does -- regret, presumably?)