One wonders how director Hans Steinhoff, dismissed by Billy Wilder as 'a talentless idiot' could have turned out so many marvellous films! This is a stunning biopic of Rembrandt van Rijn whose uncompromising pursuit of his artistic vision makes him in the humble opinion of this reviewer, the greatest painter of them all.
As one would expect from UFA studios the production values are exceptional courtesy of Richard Angst as cinematographer and Walter Roehrig as art director. There is a marvellous score by Alois Melichar which is used sparingly and to great effect.
The performances are out of the top drawer. Hertha Feiler as Saskia, Gisela Uhlen as Hendrickje Stoffels and the fascinating Elisabeth Flickenschildt as Geertje Dierks. Rembrandt himself is portayed by the brilliant Ewald Balser who captures beautifully the artist's single-mindedness and humanity. The scene where he paints the seated Hendrickje(now in the National Gallery) whilst debtors strip his house bare, is unforgettable. The harsh realisation that Genius is seldom recognised in its own lifetime and that giants are very often dragged down by pygmies makes the final scene where he gazes upon his cruelly neglected masterpiece 'The Night Watch' even more telling.
I would strongly recommend watching Ewald Balser as Beethoven in 'Eroica' of 1949. Another knockout performance.
Review of Rembrandt
