"Despite having more or less always been in circulation," "DIE NIBELUNGEN has never been presented in any complete German version, whether by way of any extant release print, or anything struck from an original camera negative." "This photochemical restoration is based on incomplete camera negatives." "Missing sections were supplemented by various extant prints of the period along with archival copies." "Colouration follows the conventional method of then-contemporary prints, and is based upon original tinting technique:" "the production of a BW print, with subsequent staining performed in a dye-bath." "The German intertitles were taken from extant prints and flash-titles restored digitally from the negatives." "Missing titles that have been reconstructed are designated by the Murnau-Stiftung logo." "For this HD mastering, the image has been corrected in places, and heavy damage to the film has been retouched." "THE NIBELUNGEN" "Director:" "Fritz Lang" "Scenario:" "Thea von Harbou" "Cinematography:" "Carl Hoffmann and Günther Rittau" "Set Design and Construction:" "Otto Hunte" "Set Collaborators:" "Erich Kettelhut and Karl Vollbrecht" "Dragon Design:" "Karl Vollbrecht" "Costume Design:" "Paul Gerd Guderian" "Make-Up:" "Otto Genath" "Music:" "Gottfried Huppertz" "Cast:" "Queen Ute:" "Gertrud Arnold" "Kriemhild:" "Margarete Schön" "Brunhild:" "Hanna Ralph" "Siegfried:" "Paul Richter" "King Gunther:" "Theodor Loos" "Gerenot:" "Hans Carl Müller" "Giselher:" "Erwin Biswanger" "Volker von Alzey:" "Bernard Goetzke" "Hagen Tronje:" "Hans Adalbert Schlettow" "Dankwart:" "Hardy von François" "Mime, the Blacksmith:" "Georg John" "Alberich, the Nibelung:" "Georg John" "The Rune-Maiden:" "Frida Richard" "The Priest:" "Georg Jurowski" "The Noble Boy:" "Iris Roberts" "THE NIBELUNGEN" "Dedicated to the German People" "The First Canto:" "How Siegfried Slew the Dragon." "Thus spake Mime, the artful blacksmith:" "Ride home to Xanten," "Siegfried, King Siegmund's son!" "Even I cannot teach you any more!" "Have you never before heard of the king's castle at Worms on the Rhine, nor the kings of Burgundy who reign there?" "I shall set out for that place, so that I may win Kriemhild!" "Show me the way to Worms, or you shall lose your life!" "Fare thee well, Siegfried, King Siegmund's son!" "You shall never reach Worms!" "Thus did young Siegfried apprehend the birds' song:" "If the dragon-slayer should bathe in dragon-blood," "He'd then become invincible" "And invulnerable to chop or stab!" "Thus ends the First Canto." "The Second Canto:" "How Volker Sang" "Before Kriemhild of Siegfried, and How Siegfried Came to Worms." "The violin sounded and Volker sang:" "The dragon slayer, the son of Siegmund entered the realm of the Nibelungen." "He won the fight against the dragon." "There is no-one on earth like him." "Thus spake Alberich, the Nibelung:" "Spare my life in exchange for the Tarnhelm, O hero!" "It turns its wearer invisible;" "allows him to take on any form!" "Spare my life and I will make you the richest king on earth!" "The crown of the Lord of the Northland, the Ice-Giant King, is being wrought here by the Nibelungen." "No sword in the world compares with Balmung." "The Nibelungen forged it in the fire of blood!" "Cursed be the heir's inheritance!" "Be enstoned, all ye whom from stone I wrought!" "And so Volker sang." "The violin sounded:" "Thus did Siegfried, the dragon-slayer," "Take refuge among the lords of the Nibelungen." "Twelve kingdoms did the mighty topple." "Twelve kings became his vassals." "Thus spake Kriemhild, Ute's daughter:" "Take this cloak, Volker, which I embroidered myself, as reward for your song!" "Siegfried, King Siegmund's son, stands outside the castle door with twelve of his warriors, and requests an audience with King Gunther!" "Thus spake Hagen Tronje:" "Let the dragon-slayer go where he will, King Gunther!" "Refuse him welcome!" "No longer shall anyone speak of Worms saying he is not aware how kings there greet one another!" "Siegfried, King Siegmund's son, shall have my welcome!" "Last night I dreamt an awful dream..." "And at this moment does this dream yet again invade my thoughts!" "I come, King Gunther, to ask you for your sister Kriemhild's hand in marriage!" "King Gunther, too, has designs on marriage, and has set his heart on a mighty, and bold, maiden." "Brunhild is her name, and she sports the crown of Isenland." "Flames blazing around its perimeter, her castle loftily projects itself, invincible, amid the Northland Lights." "Why must you speak of Brunhild, when you know that thrice must the most powerful suitor best her in feats of strength?" "Siegfried, the worthy hero, has come to Worms at an opportune moment!" "He might help us win Brunhild for you!" "Twelve kings are my vassals." "Never was I any king's vassal, nor shall I ever be!" "Prepare for your bridal quest," "King Gunther - for it is Siegfried, the mighty hero, who shall win you Brunhild!" "Thus ends the Second Canto." "The Third Canto:" "How Siegfried Won Brunhild for Gunther." "The dragon ship is carrying strange heroes to your shores!" "The foreigners draw ever closer to the flaming lake." "If the mightiest approaches, the flames will be extinguished." "Prepare me, my maidens!" "This will be a fight unlike any I've encountered!" "Welcome, hero, to the fight for life and death!" "I desire neither life nor death from your hand, Brunhild!" "It is King Gunther who courts you!" "Before evening falls, King Gunther, your shattered weapons shall adorn my hall!" "Give me leave, King Gunther, to notify the ships:" "Before evening falls you shall board prepared to head homeward with Brunhild, your royal bride!" "Let the trifold battle begin, King Gunther!" "Thrice must you defeat me, O King:" "in the stone hurl, in the distance jump, in the spear throw!" "Stay strong, O King!" "I shall sling the stone for you!" "I shall carry you in the jump!" "Thus ends the Third Canto." "The Fourth Canto:" "How Brunhild Entered Worms and How the Royals Were Wed." "Begin the preparations for the wedding!" "The royal vessel approaches!" "We have reached our destination, my queen!" "Are you truly the man who defeated me thrice?" "I am your captive!" "But I shall never be your wife!" "Keep your word, King Gunther, as I have kept mine!" "If Kriemhild gives her consent, O hero, today we shall celebrate a double wedding." "Since when is it customary among kings that the king's daughter should be given over to a vassal?" "Siegfried, King Siegmund's son, is not my vassal." "Today he and I drink together as blood brothers!" "Red blood mingles with red blood." "Inseparably fuse the drops." "He shall perish at the wayside, dishonourably," "Who forsakes his loyalty to his blood brother!" "Brunhild may be defeated, but she is not cowed!" "Shall the King of Burgundy be scorned by an obstinate woman?" "Damned be the deed half done!" "Will you forsake your friend who gave you his own sister?" "The Tarnhelm shall transform you into whatever you wish." "Break Brunhild's will whilst taking the form of Gunther!" "Thus ends the Fourth Canto." "The Fifth Canto:" "How, After Six Moons," "Siegfried's Dowry, the Nibelungen Treasure," "Arrived in Worms, and How the Queens Quarrelled with One Another." "Burgundy's glory is waning, O king!" "It is crucial that we obtain the Nibelungen treasure!" "It would be folly to reject what Siegfried offers you as a brother." "And Kriemhild is worth more than all the gold in the world." "Look what I found!" "Take off the armlet, Kriemheld;" "the mistress of the Nibelungen treasure has no need for that which guards an ugly secret." "Listen, Kriemhild, how I won the armlet - and remain silent!" "The Nibelungen treasure has arrived in the courtyard!" "How long, King Gunther, do you think" "Siegfried and Kriemhild will tarry in Worms?" "They remain here for the sake of my mother." "Are you, Brunhild, willing to take up the role of Ute's daughter?" "Your brother's honour depends upon this armlet." "It should never be seen again by the eyes of men!" "It strikes me as high time, King Gunther, that you send Siegfried homeward on furlough to Xanten!" "Never!" "He shall go on his own accord!" "I shall attend mass, my daughter." "Follow me shortly!" "I shall go to the cathedral in the regalia of the Queen of Burgundy!" "The wife of a vassal may not precede the Queen of Burgundy!" "What did you dare call my husband Siegfried?" "Siegfried introduced himself to me as Gunther's vassal and servant!" "He carried out the duties of a servant to my husband!" "You - whom he spurned, you, - whom he gave up, you dare to belittle Siegfried?" "Give way to the Queen of Burgundy, vassal's wife!" "Do you recognise this armlet, thou Queen of Burgundy?" "How did that armlet come into your hands?" "He who donned the Tarnhelm in the guise of Gunther thrice defeated you," " Siegfried, my husband, bestowed it upon me!" "O king!" "Does she speak the truth?" "Kill Siegfried!" "Kill Siegfried!" "Your babbling, O hero, was worse than murder!" "Kill Siegfried!" "Siegfried is safe from your vengeance!" "Invincible be he who is dragon-slayer!" "Where the linden leaf clung, there is he as vulnerable as any other!" "Allow me, King Gunther, to handle the dragon-slayer!" "We drank together as blood brothers!" "Shall I kill him, when he was so faithful to me?" "He who took the armlet from me, made me his wife!" "He took my maidenhood from me!" "Notify the people of Burgundy, Tronje, that I invite them to a hunt!" "To put down a mad dog - a ravenous wolf!" "Thus ends the Fifth Canto." "The Sixth Canto:" "How Gunther Broke His Vow to Siegfried." "Can you keep a secret, Kriemhild?" "I once broke an oath to keep a secret, - I shall never do so again!" "The upcoming stag hunt might easily become a manhunt." "A secret message warns me of war against Burgundy!" "Good for you, Kriemhild, that you have as your husband the dragon-slayer, the invincible!" "Who warrants me that in the heat of battle must no blade by chance pierce him in that spot to which the linden leaf clung?" "If truly you want me to protect him," "I must know the precise spot where the invincible one is vulnerable!" "Thou truest of the true give me no ill advice!" "I'll mark for you myself the very spot, with a tiny cross." "I come to take leave, Brunhild." "We are gathering for the hunt in the Odenwald." "Bear my vow in mind, King Gunther:" "I shall not eat nor drink until my disgrace has been vindicated!" "O my dear lord, don't leave me!" "Last night I dreamt a furious boar tore you to pieces!" "O my dear lord, don't leave me!" "I dreamt still more:" "Two mountains collapsed on top of you!" "Today shall Gunther and I reconcile, - and what other enemies have I?" "Mother, I feel as if the blood is draining from my heart!" "The hunt in the Obenwald lasted from morning until the sun set." "A handful of red gold for a draught of white wine!" "A wheel broke on the wagon bringing the wine." "But I know of a cool brook, O hero!" "I always heard you praised as the most agile of heroes." "If this be so, then let's place a wager." "You and I, for which of us takes the first draught!" "Brother, let us be friends once more!" "When you return from the brook, O hero!" "Thus spake grim Hagen:" "The Hunt is over!" "Thus ends the Sixth Canto." "The Seventh Canto:" "How Kriemhild Swore Revenge upon Hagen Tronje." "You may end your vow, Brunhild." "Siegfried is dead." "Hail thee, King Gunther!" "For the sake of a woman's lie have you slain your most loyal friend!" "I call to you for justice, King Gunther!" "Hagen Tronje slew my husband!" "Loyalty for loyalty, Kriemhild!" "His deed is our own!" "His fate is our own!" "Our breast is his shield!" "Whether you hide behind my clan, or God's altars, or the end of the world," " You shall not escape my vengeance," "Hagen Tronje!" "Alert King Gunther, my brother - the Queen of Burgundy is dead!" "Thus ends the myth of Siegfried." "Restoration:" "With the collaboration of:" "The following partners also contributed to the restoration:" "Film restoration laboratory:" "Consultation on image quality and tinting:" "Original score:" "Reconstruction and synchronisation:" "Music in ZDF/Arte Edition:" "Recorded with:" "Musical director:" "Sound mixers:" "Synch editing:" "Sound engineer:" "Musical production of:" "Editorial:" "Director of production:" "A co-production of:"