''Leaves from Satan's Book'', also known as ''Leaves Out of the Book of Satan'' (), is a 1920 Danish

fantasy film Fantasy films are films that belong to the fantasy genre with fantastic themes, usually Magic (paranormal), magic, supernatural events, mythology, folklore, or exotic fantasy worlds. The Film genre, genre is considered a form of speculative fic ...

directed by

Carl Theodor Dreyer Carl Theodor Dreyer (; 3 February 1889 – 20 March 1968), commonly known as Carl Th. Dreyer, was a Danish film director and screenwriter. Widely considered one of the greatest filmmakers in history, his movies are noted for emotional austerity ...

and starring

Helge Nissen Helge Nissen (5 September 1871 – 5 October 1926) was a Danish operatic bass-baritone, conductor, voice teacher, and film actor who was associated with the Royal Danish Theatre from 1897 until his death in 1926. He notably created roles in the wo ...

as Satan. This was only the third film directed by Dreyer, who later went on to create such classics as ''

Vampyr ''Vampyr'' () is a 1932 Gothic horror film directed by Danish director Carl Theodor Dreyer. It was written by Dreyer and Christen Jul based on elements from Sheridan Le Fanu's 1872 collection of supernatural stories '' In a Glass Darkly''. The ...

'' (1932) and ''

The Passion of Joan of Arc ''The Passion of Joan of Arc'' () is a 1928 French silent historical film based on the actual record of the trial of Joan of Arc. The film was directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer and stars Renée Jeanne Falconetti as Joan. It is widely regarde ...

'' (1928). The film is structured much like D.W. Griffith's ''

Intolerance Intolerance may refer to: * Hypersensitivity or intolerance, undesirable reactions produced by the immune system * ''Intolerance'' (film), a 1916 film by D. W. Griffith * ''Intolerance'' (album), the first solo album from Grant Hart, formerly ...

'' (1916) with its episodic nature while evoking F. W. Murnau's ''

Satan Satan, also known as the Devil, is a devilish entity in Abrahamic religions who seduces humans into sin (or falsehood). In Judaism, Satan is seen as an agent subservient to God, typically regarded as a metaphor for the '' yetzer hara'', or ' ...

'' (1920). The film ran 157 minutes, but sources list the DVD's running time at 121 minutes. Troy Howarth states "If not for the presence of Satan, (this film) wouldn't warrant inclusion in a study of the horror genre; in truth it's more of a quaint pageant play than a horror film....The cast emotes to a degree too theatrical for even silent cinema."Workman, Christopher; Howarth, Troy (2016). "Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era". Midnight Marquee Press. p. 239. 978-1936168-68-2.

Plot

Satan has been cast out of Hell and banished to Earth under decree of Heaven. He can return only after overseeing a series of temptations. However, for every soul who gives in to his tempting, one hundred years are added to his sentence. For every soul who resists, one thousand years are subtracted from his sentence. The film follows Satan throughout much of recorded history, focusing mainly on four short episodes. First he tempts Judas to betray Jesus, then he goes on to influence the Spanish Inquisition, spark the French Revolution and finally he causes the Finnish Civil War of 1918 to occur.

Cast

as Satan / The Grand Inquisitor / Erneste / Ivan * Halvard Hoff as Jesus (first sequence) * Jacob Texiere as Judas (first sequence) (as Jacob Texière) * Erling Hanson as John (first sequence) * Hallander Helleman as Don Gomez de Castro (second sequence) * Ebon Strandin as Isabel, Castro's daughter (second sequence) * Johannes Meyer as Don Fernandez (second sequence) * Nalle Halden as The Majordomo (second sequence) (as Nalle Haldén) * Tenna Kraft as Marie Antoinette (third sequence) (as Tenna Frederiksen Kraft) * Viggo Wiehe as Count de Chambord (third sequence) * Emma Wiehe as The Countess of Chambord (third sequence) * Jeanne Tramcourt as Lady Genevive de Chambord (third sequence) * Hugo Bruun as Count Manuel (third sequence) *

Elith Pio Viggo Elith William Pio (3July 188710February 1983) was a Danish actor of stage, screen, radio and television. He is most noted for starring roles in films such as Carl Theodor Dreyer's '' Leaves from Satan's Book'', Johan Jacobsen's '' Jenny an ...

as Joseph (third sequence) * Emil Helsengreen as The People's Commissar (third sequence) *

Viggo Lindstrøm Viggo Lindstrøm (12 January 1858 – 17 June 1926) was a Danish actor and theatre director, founder of Det Ny Teater in Copenhagen. He was married to the actress Vera Lindstrøm. Biography Lindstrøm was born on 12 January 1858 in Copenh ...

as Old Pitou (third sequence) *

Clara Pontoppidan Clara Pontoppidan (23 April 1883 – 22 January 1975), also known as Clara Wieth, was a Danish actress. She worked mainly in Swedish and Danish silent films, including ''A Victim of the Mormons'' (Denmark, 1911). Personal life Clara Pontop ...

as Siri (fourth sequence) *

Carlo Wieth Carlo Rossini Wieth (born Carl Andersen; 11 December 1885 – 30 June 1943) was a Danish stage and film actor whose career began at the turn of the 20th century and lasted until his death in 1943. Early life and stage career Wieth was born ...

as Paavo (fourth sequence)

References

External links

*
''Leaves Out of the Book of Satan''
on Edition Filmmuseum {{DEFAULTSORT:Leaves From Satan's Book 1920 films 1920 drama films Danish black-and-white films 1920s Danish-language films Films based on works by Marie Corelli Films directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer Portrayals of Jesus in film The Devil in film Silent Danish drama films