Michael (Chained: The Story of the Third Sex) (1924)
-
86% of critics liked it
(7 reviews) -
70% of users liked it
(551 ratings)
Filmed in 1924 by the brilliant Danish director Carl Theodore Dreyer, the German drama Michael (Mikael) was released in the U.S. three years later under the more lurid title Chained. It was subsequently reissued as The Story of the Third Sex, an unsubtle allusion to the plotline's homosexual… More Filmed in 1924 by the brilliant Danish director Carl Theodore Dreyer, the German drama Michael (Mikael) was released in the U.S. three years later under the more lurid title Chained. It was subsequently reissued as The Story of the Third Sex, an unsubtle allusion to the plotline's homosexual subtext. Fellow director Benjamin Christensen stars as "The Master," a world-renowned painter. Celebrated for his portrait of a "beautiful" young male art student named Mikael (played by a slim, 22-year-old Walter Slezak), the Master graciously accepts the plaudits of his acolytes. Inwardly, however, he is tormented by his strong, passionate feelings for Mikael. Ironically, both men have a falling out over the affections of a woman (Nora Gregor) -- and when The Master dies, Mikael is accused of his murder. It turns out that the old artist actually died of natural causes, but Mikael is condemned in the court of public opinion for turning his back on The Master during his last days on Earth. Astonishingly, Chained was dismissed as "junk" by the reviewer for the trade magazine Variety, who felt that the film would have been better if Michael had murdered The Master in actuality rather than symbolically. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Carl Theodor Dreyer
- Written By
- Carl Theodor Dreyer, Herman Bang
- Genres
- Art House & International, Drama
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1924 Limited
Critic Reviews
-
Mordaunt Hall, New York Times
A dull piece of work, redeemed only by some artistic scenes and Benjamin Christensen's able portrayal of Claude Zoret, an artist.
-
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
Illuminated by extraordinary reserves of feeling
-
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
As drama, the characters remain too distant to offer the warmth needed for Dreyer to convey that love in its purity conquers all in the end.
-
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
A truly fascinating film with just the tiniest hint of the greatness yet to come.
-
Mark Robison, Reno Gazette-Journal
Minor Dreyer film but the ending makes it worthwhile.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Featured Audience Ratings
Currently unavailable on Flixster
Also available on
Other Retailers
Subscription Services
Cast
-
Benjamin Christensen
as Claude Zoret
-
Walter Slezak
as Mikaël, Mikaël, Mika?
-
Nora Gregor
as Princess Zamikoff
-
Rob Garrison
as Switt
-
Grete Mosheim
as Alice Adelsskjold
-
Didier Aslan
as Duc de Monthieu
-
Alexander Mursky
as Mr. Adelskjold
-
Karl W. Freund
as Leblanc arl dealer
- Dider Aslan
- Max Auzinger
- Alexander Murski
- Robert Garrison
- Wilhelmine Sandrock