The Holy Flames (1931)

Name: The Holy Flames
Released: 1931-05-02
Duration: 86 min
Rating: 8
Cast: Gustav Fröhlich, Dita Parlo, Hans Heinrich von Twardowski, Salka Viertel, Vladimir Sokoloff

The Holy Flames (1931), directed by Berthold Viertel, starring Gustav Fröhlich and Dita Parlo.

05/02/1931 BR 1h 26m

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Synopsis

Former soldier Maurice Tabret returns home unhurt to marry his wife, Stella. Shortly after, he is paralyzed from the waist down in a tragic airplane crash. As the years pass, Stella becomes emotionally and romantically involved with Maurice's healthy brother. Maurice is suddenly discovered dead. While initially appearing to be a tragic or natural death, it is eventually revealed to be an intentional act of mercy. The investigation into his death forces a sweeping confrontation that reveals hidden truths, passionate devotion, and profound sacrifice within the family. German-language version of 1929's "The Sacred Flame", from the W. Somerset Maugham play, shot by Warner Bros. in Hollywood with a German-speaking cast.

Berthold ViertelDirector, Writer
William DieterleDirector
Henry BlankeProducer
Heinrich FraenkelWriter

About the film

The Sacred Flame (German: Die heilige Flamme) is a lost 1931 American drama film directed by William Dieterle and Berthold Viertel and starring Gustav Fröhlich, Dita Parlo and Hans Heinrich von Twardowski. It was made by Warner Brothers as a German-language remake of the studio's 1929 film The Sacred Flame. It is based upon the 1928 play of the same name by W. Somerset Maugham.

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Synopsis

After newly married Stella's husband is badly injured in a plane crash, causing him to lose the use of his legs, she becomes emotionally involved with his brother.

Reception

Rudolf Arnheim said "It is incomprehensible how such a film can be launched in a large cinema, rather than being chastely hidden away from the eyes of any kind of criticism."

Cast

Gustav Fröhlich as Walter Taylor

Dita Parlo as Stella

Hans Heinrich von Twardowski as Robert Taylor

Salka Viertel as Frau Taylor

Charlotte Hagenbruch as Schwester Weyland

Vladimir Sokoloff as Doctor Harvester

Anton Pointner as Major Liconda

Hubert von Meyerinck as Pfarrer

References

External links

The Sacred Flame at IMDb

Text from The Sacred Flame (1931 film) on Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sacred_Flame_(1931_film)

Trivia

It premiered on May 2, 1931, a Saturday.
It runs 1h26 — a typical feature length.
Its original title is "Die heilige Flamme".
This film's quiz has 9 questions — enough to play more than once without repeats.

Production

StudiosWarner Bros. Pictures
CountriesUnited States
LanguagesGerman
StatusReleased

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London

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Crew

Berthold Viertel Director
William Dieterle Director
Henry Blanke Producer
Berthold Viertel Writer
Heinrich Fraenkel Writer

Questions about this film

What is The Holy Flames about?

The Holy Flames: Former soldier Maurice Tabret returns home unhurt to marry his wife, Stella. Shortly after, he is paralyzed from the waist down in a tragic airplane crash. As the years pass, Stella becomes emotionally and romantically involved with Maurice's healthy brother. Maurice is suddenly discovered dead. While initially appear…

Who directed The Holy Flames?

The Holy Flames was directed by Berthold Viertel and William Dieterle in 1931.

Who stars in The Holy Flames?

The cast of The Holy Flames includes Gustav Fröhlich, Dita Parlo, Hans Heinrich von Twardowski, Salka Viertel and Vladimir Sokoloff.

How long is The Holy Flames?

The Holy Flames runs for 86 minutes, or 1h26.

Page updated on 09/14/2026.

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