"Siegfried" is an amazing silent film to watch. There is a mystical quality about it--a luminous look that sets it apart from other films of the era. Artistically speaking, it might just be the most beautiful silent film I have ever seen--and I've seen a ton of silents. In addition, the sets are awesome, the costumes amazing (more on that later) and the film is just breathtaking. To make it even better, Criterion has included a brilliant score to accompany the film.

Unfortunately, there is a 'but' to all this. While the film is just gorgeous, the movie is far from perfect and has one major problem and one minor one. The biggest one is that film crams the entire story of Siefriend into one film--and there is just way too much material. As a result, the film looks VERY episodic. Siegfried goes from one major event to another to another and it looks more like a highlights film than a coherent sage. Imagine if Peter Jackson had put all of the "Lord of the Rings" films into just one film--that is the experience I had watching "Siegfried". Although Fritz Lang was brilliant here, the script just tried to do too much. A MINOR problem, and this comes from a retired history teacher, is that the costumes are not authentic. Viking horns and eagle-winged helmets, unfortunately, never really existed--it's all myth promoted by the likes of Wagner and various 19th century illustrators. Now the helmets STILL are majorly cool--so I can't fault this over-idealized look too much.

Overall, a mixed bag. It's worth seeing to say you've seen it but the film isn't perfect...but still packs a mighty punch.

"Die Nibelungen: Siegfried" from over 90 years ago is the first of 2 Nibelungen film directed by Fritz Lang and written by him as well with Thea von Harbou, a truly prolific and successful duo. I will not go a lot into detail about the story as it is so extremely famous. I myself have always preferred Siegfried's story about Krimhild's revenge, the second installment, in terms of Lang and also in terms of Reinl. Lang's work here is still a silent film as usual and black-and-white of course, although you could also make a case for black and gold.

Lead actor Paul Richter will certainly be recognized by fans of German silent movies. And most of the other actors have played in many other films as well. But back to this one: It was the second or third time I watched it and it is still worth seeing. My favorite scene is definitely Siegfried's encounter with the dragon very early on. The dragon just looks superb and the falling-leaf scene is just too memorable. Unfortunately, the film is not packed with these extraordinary scenes from start to finish. Occasionally it drags, although it's almost an impossible achievement for a movie of 150 minutes to be edge-of-seat stuff from start to finish. This one does not succeed. However, it brings fairly decent entertainment value and a couple more scenes who are almost as memorable as the one with the dragon that I just mentioned. It is certainly not a film for everybody, but silent film lovers will probably have a good time with this one. Thumbs up.

Canto 1: How Siegfried Slayed the Dragon: Siegfried (Paul Richter),the son of King Siegmund, forges a sharp sword and hears stories from the locals about Princess Kriemhild (Margarete Schön). He decides to go to Worms to win Kriemhild. Along his journey, he kills a dragon and baths in its blood to become invincible.

Canto 2: How Bolker, the Bard, Sang of Siegfried in Front of Kriemhild and How Siegfried Came in Worms: Siegfried fights and defeats the dwarf King of the Realm of the Nibelungen Alberich (Georg John) that was wearing his wonder cap that makes the user unseen or in whatever form he wishes. Alberich asks Siegfried to spare his life and in return he gives the Treasure of the Nibelungen and the Balmung sword. Siegfried makes twelve kings as his vassals, and when he asks the hand of Kriemhild to her weak brother King of Burgundy Gunther (Theodor Loos),he advises that he would accept is Siegfried helps him to win the strong Queen of Iceland Brunhild (Hanna Ralph).

Canto 3: How Siegfried Won Brunhild for Gunther: Siegfried wears the invisible helmet and helps Gunther to win Brunhild in the proofs of throwing stones and spear and jumping.

Canto 4: How Brunhild Enters Worms and How the King Celebrate Their Wedding: Brunhild tells Gunther that she is her captive but not his bride. Gunther asks Siegfried to help him again in his wedding night, and Siegfried takes his form and accidentally brings Brunhild's armlet with him.

Canto 5: How After Half a Year, Siegfried's Gift to His Bride, The Nibelungen Treasure, Arrives in Worms and How the Two Queens Quarrel With Each Other: When Kriemhild finds Brunhild's armlet, Siegfried tells her how her brother won the queen. While going to the mass, Kriemhild and Brunhild quarrel and the offended Kriemhild discloses the truth to her brother's wife.

Canto 6: How Gunther Betrayed Siegfried: Brunhild lies to Gunther and tells him that she lost her virginity with Siegfried. Gunther organizes boar hunting in the Odenwald Forest and asks Hagen Tronje (Hans Adalbert Schlettow) to slain Siegfried. Hagen lures Kriemhild and she tells the vulnerable part of Siegfried's body where the lime leaf has fallen. Brunhild fasts, Gunther betrays Siegfried, and Hagen impales him with a spear.

Canto 7: How Kriemhild Swears Revenge to Hagen Tronje: Brumhild tells Gunther that she lied and he killed his only loyal friend. Then she dies of starvation. Kriemhild swears revenge to Hagen.

The magnificent poetic saga of Siegfried is told through seven cantos, in one of the most beautiful fantasies ever. The story has drama, adventure, romance, betrayal and stunning special effects for a 1924 movie, when cinema was very incipient and technology primitive. However, the solid screenplay with a perfect development of the characters, the excellent performances of the cast and the awesome direction of Fritz Lang produced an epic ahead of time. It is inevitable the comparison of this masterpiece with "The Lord of the Rings", both unforgettable fantasies. My vote is ten.

Title (Brazil): "Os Nibelungos – Parte 1: A Morte de Siegfried" ("The Nibelungen: The Death of Siegfried")