Overview
The play from which the movie is based was released in 1926 but has many adaptations released in different years. It is a German silent movie produced for UFA by Erich Pommer. It is directed by F. Murnau W., written by Mayer Carl, and photographed by Freund Karl. It is based from the original play by Moliere. The film featured Emil Jannings who played the role of Tartuffe, Krauss Werner as Orgon, and Dagover Lil as Elmire.
Plot
Even though the film retained the basic plot of the play, Mayer and Murnau trimmed Moliere’s play by excluding most of the subordinate characters and putting more emphasis on the triangle of Tartuffe, Orgon and Elmire. Furthermore, they presented a framing device, where the anecdote of Tartuffe becomes a film within a film displayed by an actor as an instrument to caution his grandfather about the wicked, but hideous housekeeper.
In the original play, Orgon’s family members are livid because Orgon along with his mother have fallen victims to the lure of Tartuffe; a pious imposter. Tartuffe deceives the masses that he acts with divine guidance which convinces Orgon and his mother to consult him before taking any steps. Conversely, these antics utilized by Tartuffe do not entice any other family members or friends, they despise him in return. The influence that Tartuffe has on Orgon is realized when he (Orgon) declares that he would marry off his daughter Mariane to Tartuffe considering the fact that she is already married to Valere.
So as to get Orgon back to his right mind, family members device a plan to trick Tartuffe into acknowledging to Elmire his yearning for her. Being a pious man as well as a guest to the house, he is supposed to manifest such feeling for the lady of the house. The plan is successful in making Tartuffe seduce Elmire which makes him pass out for a short moment when Orgons son finds them. When the son tells his dad, Orgon does not believe him, and tells Tartuffe to punish him. He makes it worse by giving all his possessions to Tartuffe.
Ultimately, the King Louis XIV comes to the rescue of the entire community when he overhears the injustices occurring and orders the police to arrest Tartuffe.
Impression
The film brings out a theme that is present it today’s society, and enlightens the viewers on vices tat occur in the society under the disguise of righteousness. The movie can be cited as an informative film and one that summons the audience to ponder over issues rather than take them as they seem from the outside.