In this notorious Nazi propaganda historical costume melodrama, a conniving, ambitious Jewish businessman, Suess Oppenheimer, snares a post as treasurer to the Duke of Wurttemburg by showering the corrupt duke with treasure and promises of even greater riches. As the Jew's schemes grow more elaborate and his actions more brazen, the dukedom nearly erupts into civil war. Persuaded by the Jew, the Duke all but scuttles the constitution and alienates the assembly by lifting the local ban on Jews in Stuttgart. In a final outrage, the Jew rapes a wholesome German girl and tortures her father and fiancee. When the Duke succumbs to a sudden heart attack, the assembly of Elders try the Jew and sentence him to death for having "carnal knowledge of a Christian woman." Summary written by Kevin Rayburn
首先,我觉得如果从纯电影的角度来说,片子的可看性还是很高的。演员,布景,服装,道具等等,制作都还算精良。虽然由于胶片拷贝的质量问题,画面清晰度较低,但是还是可以看出从制作,拍摄到剪辑,都是精致而考究的专业手笔。
第二,片子很急于切入主题,反复描绘犹太人是多么的奸诈可憎,反而会让观众感到反感。换句话说,就是,真把观众都当弱智么。。。这样过分刻意地强调一个本来就十分偏执的主题,很容易达到相反的效果,使得观众对影片和影片的初衷表示严重的怀疑和摒弃。
第三,片子目的明确,所以叙事手法也很直接,中心贯穿始终,逻辑上还是颇为连贯的。基本上就是从不同方面,利用各种表现形式和刺激观众神经的情节来显示犹太人的凶狠,比如贪财,剥削,混淆视听,以及强奸。最后在处死Jud Süß的时候,干脆就直截了当地宣读了关于应该永久地反对犹太种族的公告。感觉在各方面的编排上都显然都与生硬了。
话说回来,宣传影片本来也不是在追求艺术造诣的,片子说出了想说的话,也算达成了拍摄的初衷。只不过,在现在看来,片子想说的那些话,早就丧失了其预期的说服力了。在我看来,这部片子在现在所具有的最大的价值,恐怕就是对于那个年代的德国电影表现形式和拍摄手法的研究了。