opulent set and sumptuous costume well photograph by theodor sparkuhl and and a good ( not great ) performance by jannings a henry can not overcome poor writing and static camera work . henny porten chew the scenery a anne . it all very beautiful while but it all surface and no depth . the melodramatic tale of a woman wrong make it a hit in america where the expressionistic the cabinet of dr. caligari flop in the same year ( 1920 ) and prove that what be popular be not what endure . lubitsch would be remember for his lively comedy and not sterile spectacle like this .