Welcome to Public Domain Theater, your home for the wonderful world of films that have (in the United States, at least) fallen into the public domain, and are free for everyone to see!

We have a very special presentation for you this month, as we bring you the legendary fantasy saga, Die Nibelungen, based on the epic poem, the Nibelungenlied (itself based on Norse mythology), and better remembered these days as the basis for Wagner’s Ring Cycle operas (better remembered these days as the basis for “Kill da wabbit! Kill da wabbit!”)

Directed by Fritz Lang, Die Nibelungen was released in 1924, adapting a tale so epic it had to be split into two movies to fit everything in (turns out that wasn’t an invention of 21st Century Hollywood). The first part, titled Siegfried, tells of the rise and fall of the titular warrior: attaining a magic sword, slaying dragons, overcoming spells and curses, winning the hand of a beautiful Valkyrie … and being an absolute ass along the way. Yeah, this is one adaptation that doesn’t shy away from the unsavory aspects of the source material, and depicts its “heroes” and villains in all their messiness.

That messiness leads to tragedy, and that tragedy leads to part two, Kriemhild’s Revenge, where Siegfried’s bride Kriemhild … gets revenge. The second part strips away all the fantastical, fairy tale aspects of the first film, becoming a gritty tale of war, politics, and bloodshed against a historical backdrop. It may not have dragons or dwarves anymore, but it now has Attila the Hun as a main character – that’s gotta count for something.

Together, these films form a grand story full of stunning visuals and high melodrama, delivered by one of the masters of early cinema. If you have a love for the epics of old (and have about five hours to spare for their combined runtime), then I urge you to make a stop at Public Domain Theater to experience the beauty and majesty of Die Nibelungen.

Part 1 – Siegfried

Part 2 – Kriemhild’s Revenge