Everyman (1915)
A landmark Danish silent film adapting Hugo von Hofmannsthal's symbolist morality play, exploring temptation, sin, and a soul's desperate search for redemption.
Everyman - Movie Information
- Original Title: Enhver
- Release Year: 1915
- Directed by: Vilhelm Glückstadt
- Type: Movie
- Runtime: 56m
- Original Language: Danish
- Release Date (Theatrical): September 9, 1915 (Denmark)
- Alternative Titles: Det gamle spil om enhver (DK), Anyone (UK), Everyman (US)
Everyman - Plot
In 1911 the German poet Hugo von Hofmansthal wrote a new version of the medieval morality play Everyman, and this was staged in Danish translation at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen in 1915. At the time, it was radical example of symbolist abstraction. Its success inspired a film version, Enhver [Everyman], directed by Vilhelm Glückstadt for Filmfabrikken Danmark. The film, however, was set in a modern-day environment. It depict the moral choice confronting its protagonist at struggle because two attendant spirits, one good and one bad. The protagonist is tempted by dark figure of evil and succumbs, rejecting God and leading a life of iniquity, but he is then haunted by guilty visions until he finally dies, asking God for forgiveness at the last moment.
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Everyman - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Vilhelm Glückstadt
Main Cast
- Peter S. Andersen
- Gudrun Houlberg
- Lilly Jansen
- Charles Løwaas
- Peter Malberg
- Valdemar Møller
- Jonna Neiiendam
- Rasmus Ottesen
- Else Schiwe
- Alfred Sjøholm
Writers
- Hugo von Hofmannsthal
Everyman - FAQs
What is Everyman (1915) based on?
Everyman is based on Hugo von Hofmannsthal's 1911 reworking of the medieval morality play of the same name. That stage version was performed in Danish translation at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen in 1915, and its success directly inspired this film adaptation by Vilhelm Glückstadt.
Who directed the 1915 film Everyman?
Vilhelm Glückstadt directed Everyman (1915) for Filmfabrikken Danmark. Rather than faithfully reproducing the theatrical staging, Glückstadt transplanted the story into a contemporary modern-day setting, giving the ancient morality tale a fresh and distinctly cinematic identity.
What is the plot of Everyman (1915)?
The film follows a protagonist torn between a good angel and an evil spirit. Seduced by darkness, he rejects God and plunges into a life of sin. Haunted by guilty visions, he spirals downward until his dying moments, when he finally turns back to God and begs for forgiveness.
Who are the main actors in Everyman (1915)?
Rasmus Ottesen plays the central figure Enhver, with Peter S. Andersen as The Evil Spirit and Lilly Jansen as The Good Angel. The cast also includes Peter Malberg, Gudrun Houlberg, Jonna Neiiendam, Valdemar Møller, Else Schiwe, Charles Løwaas, and Alfred Sjøholm.
When was Everyman released?
Everyman was released on September 9, 1915, in Denmark. It was produced by Filmfabrikken Danmark and arrived in cinemas shortly after the acclaimed stage production of Hofmannsthal's morality play had captivated Copenhagen audiences at the Royal Theatre.
How long is the 1915 film Everyman?
Everyman runs for approximately 56 minutes. For a silent film of its era, that runtime made it a substantial feature, giving director Vilhelm Glückstadt enough space to develop the moral and spiritual arc of the protagonist's fall and eventual deathbed repentance.
What language is Everyman (1915) in?
Everyman is a Danish silent film, so there is no spoken dialogue. The original production language is Danish, and any intertitles used to convey narrative or dialogue would have been written in Danish, reflecting its origins as a Filmfabrikken Danmark production.
What are some films similar to Everyman (1915)?
If Everyman appeals to you, consider A Fortunate Man (2018), The Golem: How He Came Into the World (1920), Stage Beauty (2004), or Hamnet (2025). These films share themes of moral struggle, literary adaptation, or early European cinema, making them natural companions to this 1915 Danish classic.
More About Everyman
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