AllMovie

This overblown, German-made historical epic was based on the play by Maurice Maeterlinck. It takes place during the times of the Italian Renaissance, when the cities of Pisa and Florence were at war. Guido Gurlino, head of the Pisan armies (Paul Wegener) lusts after Monna Vanna, a peasant girl (blonde German star Lee Parry). He takes her and weds her. Vitellozo Vitelli, the Florentine army leader (Olaf Fjord) is wounded in a duel with Gurlino and Monna nurses him back to health. He doesn't realize it, but she falls in love with him. After he regains his health, Vitelli lays siege to the city, and when the inhabitants beg for food, he promises to feed them if they give him Gurlino's bride. When she is delivered and he sees it is Monna, he is ashamed. Together they escape to Pisa, and the jealous Gurlino has Vitelli tried and sentenced to death. Vitelli manages to escape and he leads the Pisan army to victory. Gurlino is killed in battle, so Vitelli and Monna are able to marry.