On the Brink of Paradise

Produced by^[1]StarringCinematographyJosif RonaDistributed byFilmhaus Bruckmann and Co.^[2]90 minutesCountryGermanyLanguageSilent

On the Brink of Paradise (German: Auf den Trümmern des Paradieses/ transl: On the Ruins of Paradise^[3]) is a 1920 German 90-minute film directed by Josef Stein and featuring Carl de Vogt in the title role of Kara Ben Nemsi.^[4] Béla Lugosi was thought to have appeared in a supporting uncredited role, but this is disputed.^{[5] [6]}

The film was an adaptation of part of the 1892 Karl May novel Von Bagdad nach Stambul^[4] and is now considered to be lost. This film was followed by a sequel Caravan of Death (1920), which went on to adapt the latter part of the same Karl May novel (Bela Lugosi did co-star in the sequel, playing a shiek).^[7]

Plot

Kara ben Nemsi and his servant Halef Omar come across a group of Persians headed to Baghdad, led by Prince Hassan Ardžir-Mírza. The Persians are attacked by their enemies, the Kurds. Prince Hassan discovers there is a traitor among his people. Kara ben Nemsi offers to help guard the caravan on its journey to Baghdad.

Cast

• Carl de Vogt as Kara Ben Nemsi / Abdul Malik
• Meinhart Maur as Hadschi Halef Omar / Saduk
• Gustav Kirchberg as Prince Hassan Ardzir-Mirza / Hussein Mohammed
• Dora Gerson as Dzana Ardschir Mirza
• Cläre Lotto as Benda Ardschir Mirza
• Tronier Funder as Selim Aga
• Erwin Baron as Omram / Jesid Abu Sufian
• Beate Herwigh as Hafsa
• Fred Berger as Obeidullah
• Anna von Palen as Marah Durimeh
• Curt Bry as Piano
• Helga Hall
• Béla Lugosi? (his appearance in the film is unconfirmed/disputed)^[8]

See also

• Karl May film adaptations
• Béla Lugosi filmography

References

External links

• On the Brink of Paradise at IMDb