Du Skal Ære Din Hustru (1925)

Directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer. Starring Johannes Meyer, Mathilde Nielsen, Karin Nellemose, Astrid Holm, Clara Schønfeld.

Meyer is a demanding tyrant to his browbeaten wife and children at home, so his old nanny (Nielsen) steps in to show him the errors of his ways, and he can finally generate compassion and gratitude toward his family. One of the Carl Theodor Dreyer’s most financially successful efforts is based on a stage play by Svend Rindom, but the director’s themes are heavy-handed here—the foreword and afterword sermonize, and the intertitles/dialogue are too didactic in spots; the spare, simple telling could have pushed the message just as firmly with more finesse. It’s good, though, with fine acting, eloquent shot selections, and a few unexpected laughs. Title translates in English as “Thou shalt honor thy wife”, but it was released in English-speaking markets as Master of the House.

70/100