by Hal Erickson
synopsis
Der Unbekannte (The Unknown) was adapted by director Frank Wysbar from his own novel (co-written by R. C. Muschler). Sybille Schmitz, who was previously so memorable as the attractive blood-sucker in Dreyer's Vampyr, heads the cast as woman-of-mystery Madeleine. The story begins at the ending, as Madeleine's dead body is pulled from the river. With no identification on her person, Madeleine remains unidentified -- to everyone but the viewer, who is apprised of the girl's melancholy history via flashback. As it turns out, Madeleine was the sort of woman to whom breaking hearts and ruining lives was second nature -- until she met her match in the form of handsome young Thomas Bentick (Jean Galland).
