"Amphitryon (Out of the clouds comes happiness)" "Nothing to worry, ladies, keep on moving." "We don't think of it!" "We stay where we are!" "Young lady, calm yourself." "Why get into a temper at once?" " Don't touch me!" " Mother, he's ticklish." "Keep your mouth shut, silly boy." "Why don't we hear anything about the war, captain?" "We want to know if we'll win." "When will we get our husbands back." " We want to know whether they're alive." "We are entitled to an answer." " What are you mumbling into your beard?" "I've no idea." "Why ask me?" "Always the same phrases." "This eternal keeping silent is a crime." "Girls, don't brag about it!" "So much noise about nothing but that little bit of a husband." "What did you say?" " I seem to have misunderstood?" "That little bit of a husband?" " Miss, you seem to be out of your depth." "On the contrary, I'm quite normal." "Are you sure you're normal too?" "I can bear the separation easily." " But not every woman can say that about herself!" "You're just the right one to shout about so." "You ought to keep your mouth shut." "You!" "Don't you dare start a quarrel with me!" " She's just a Miss..." "Doesn't even have a husband!" "But maybe even you'll marry one day." "There are so many silly men around on earth." "That seat is already occupied!" "Occupied by yourself!" "I can't complain about my husband!" "I know, Sosias isn't very modest, but you get used to it with the time." "Who knows, maybe he pleases me just by his stupidity." "Stupid here, stupid over there there are lots of stupid men around." "I am smart enough for the both of us!" "Your husbands aren't first rate specimen either." "They're just as ordinary rubbish!" "Insolence!" " You're mean!" "Stop it!" " Stop!" "There he is!" " Who?" "The minister of war!" "Herr Minister!" " Herr Minister!" "Herr Minister!" "Herr Minister!" "What's the matter with our husbands?" "What's the matter with our husbands?" "Ladies, you must be patient!" "We are without news." "That's your fault!" "The battle is still raging." "(shouts of protest)" "Women of Thebes!" "Will you keep silent?" "Good gracious, her ladyship!" "One ought to be ashamed to live in Thebes." "It's revolting and disturbing the peace!" "You've no right to riot!" "You're to behave decently!" "We want to know why we are living!" " Yes!" "They shall give us back our husbands!" " Yes!" "They shall give us back our husbands!" "Do you want to go completely mad?" "What would posterity write about us?" "(chorus)" "Pst!" "What would the Gods think about us?" "Will no one look at our tears..." "I too have a husband in battle." "And I would die, if he fell." "A thousand times have I thought of him." "A thousand times have I stayed awake for him." "I don't want to complain a thousand times!" "Because one day..." "He'll return to me." "I love him as much as fire burns." "No surprise for those who know Amphitryon." "But I would willingly sacrifice him," "I owe that to the fatherland." "Be brave in hard times." "Our men are fighting a bloody battle." "And he who dies out there in battle, he dies for for fatherland as a hero." "Be brave, stop complaining, we must be worthy of our husbands." "They fight for us, for wife and child," "Don't forget, we are Theban women!" "My lady, you've spoken wonderfully." "Especially at the end," "The part about the Theban women, that was phenomenal!" "A heroine!" "Your ladyship is a heroine, a brave heroine!" " Nonsense." "I'm not, Andria." "I'm no heroine." "I am afraid." "Terribly afraid for Amphitryon." " But my lady." "I don't have to pretend with you." "Your husband is in the war too." "Yes, but he doesn't participate in it." "Alas, my lady, I know him well." "He's a real slacker." "Since he's become the captain's, that is our master's orderly," "...he does nothing but eat and drink." "And he's a scrooge too." "But he is!" "Before he went to war, I had begged of him to buy me a new hat." "You know, the chic model over there at madame Philippides' shop window." "Do you think he did me the favor?" "He didn't!" "I won't forgive him that." "Andria!" "Who thinks about hats now!" " But I have to think of something!" "I just always think about a new hat." "Mighty Jupiter." "You know my worries!" "Because you are all-knowing." "Nothing remains hidden for you." "I beg of you, supreme ruler in the Olympian corps," "...lend me your divine ear for five minutes." "Hallo?" "Your Majesty is urgently demanded from Thebes." "Who wants to speak to me?" " A human." "Man or woman?" "Woman." "Pretty... or ugly?" "Your Majesty, I think all humans are disgusting." "Young.. or old?" "Hard to say." "her face is painted." "I want to see her!" "Where on earth are my slippers?" "There they are." "When women plead for mercy," "Jupiter must be at their service." "Where is she?" "I can't see her." "Your Majesty, you're looking for her in America." "That won't be discovered till 4.000 years later." " Hm?" "To the right. more to the right." "still more to the right!" "Yes, that's where the voice came from." " Dear Jupiter." "Answer my prayers!" "I solemnly promise," "Daily, with my own hands..." "To offer you one liter of fiery Samos wine." "Samos!" "The only vintage I don't drink." "You must excuse me that I dare..." "To appear before you in my negligé." "I forgive you that sin, my child." "I haven't even been at the hairdresser!" "The dressmaker hasn't brought me my robe yet." "And I wanted to be especially beautiful for you." "My wife should take her as example." "I don't have to be ashamed of such subjects." "That woman has race, culture." "A perfect human creature." "Here you are, look at her!" "It doesn't seem well-bred to ask your Majesty for an audience in her nightshirt." "I am above such trivial matters." "If it were up to me she could wear nothing at all." "Hallo, Majesty!" "Nothing at all?" "Oh yes." "Jupiter, no Theban woman..." "Is so devoted to you..." "As I am." "To earn your favor and good grace," "I would bring any sacrifice!" "To you!" "Lord of peace and war," "Grant victory to Thebes!" "Answer my prayers." "I beg of you!" "Jupiter?" "No Theban woman..." "Is as devoted to you..." "As I am!" "Mercury." " Your Majesty?" "Which war is she talking about?" " That unimportant business." "Boeotia against Thebes." "I thought the matter had been settled." " No, tomorrow is the last hearing." "So." " Yes." "And how did I decide that dispute?" "Boeotia wins at the court of first instance." " Must be changed." "Thebes wins!" "Your Majesty!" "Consider that the Boeotians offer far more valuable sacrifices please!" "That's why they'll win at the court of appeal." "My wife!" "Pardon, your Majesty." "Composure!" "Smile, like I do." "Yes!" "Jupi!" "Look here." "do you like my new dress?" "Isn't it divine?" " Terrible." "What was that?" " Ehm... terribly expensive." "Old scrooge!" "But my little dove!" "My darling, my little chicken." "Just now I said to Mercury," "How sweet and nice it is of you, that you always turn yourself out for me so..." "Particularly beautiful." "Isn't it so?" " Yes, your Majesty." "(unintelligible sounds of military commands)" "Thank you." "By the way, I'll wear that dress," "When we are going to the Plutos tomorrow night." " We are?" "I..." "I'm not going." " Why not?" "I have to go away on urgent business." " Where?" "To Thebes." "So sudden?" " Yes." "I am suddenly pulled down there." "For..." "I mean..." "My lumbago pulls me down, from here down to my feet." "But one doesn't go to Thebes when one has lumbago!" "One takes the waters in Sparta!" " Schnucki!" "Why Schnucki?" " Then not Schnucki, little firefly." "Sparta is completely out of date." "Now Thebes is the fashion." "My little bunny," "The baths in Thebes will do me a world of good!" "Won't they, Mercury?" " No, your Majestät." "Oh..." " The boy is right." "At your age one doesn't run after the fashion." "You must get well again." "And you'll never get well in Thebes!" "It's final!" "You'll go to Sparta!" "End of the discussion!" "Mercury?" " Jawohl?" "You'll accompany my husband!" " No!" "Oh..." "Yes, I..." "Couldn't I be spared that honored task?" "Why?" "Do you too object to Sparta?" " No..." "So what!" " I dislike the whole earth." "The life, the buzzing, the climate..." "And the humans!" "I shall never get used to that atmosphere." "You'll have to get used to it!" "Jupi?" " Mausi?" " I'll make all travel arrangements at once." "So you'll get as quick as possible to Sparta!" "And we will go to Thebes all the same!" "I want to have another adventure!" "I feel so young and gay today!" "What can there be more beautiful" "Than a little affair?" "I am fed up with Thebes already." "The whole earth looks grey to me." "I want to have another adventure" "With a sweet little woman." "Does your Majesty wish to land visibly or invisibly?" "As invisibly as possible!" " Very well." "Does your Majesty wish to remain in the fog?" " Away with the fog!" "Sun and Alkmene!" "Such beautiful women there are in Thebes." "I am glad I didn't go to Sparta." "I feel so light." "All the heavy things I left behind in Olympos." " Except for what I have to carry." "Who is that?" " Your Majesty himself." "How so, I?" "Oh." "Not a bad likeness." "Lots of hair, don't you think?" " I refrain from any comment." "But aside from that a very gook likeness." "What cannot be said about you." "Where am I on display?" " Over there." "What bad manners these humans have!" " Why?" "I think they flatter us Gods." " I think they're exposing us!" "Mercury!" " What's the matter, your majesty?" " There she is!" "Alkmene!" "That's what I call a happy coincidence." "You know, I'll risk it." "Of course." "I'll risk it!" "Sir, would you move aside for a moment?" "I beg your pardon?" "Were you talking to me?" " I was." " You're welcome." "You've come from far away I'm sure." "About 1.000 kilometers or more." " Even a child would notice..." "That you're not from Thebes." "Even your dress hasn't been made in Thebes." "But your clothes are very becoming to you." " Thank you, thank you." "Would you hold my basket for a moment?" " I would." "I bring flowers to my favorite God." "Isn't he beautiful?" "Such a noble face!" "If you think so." "I don't like him." " Now really!" "How charming the whole statue is." "How gorgeous the beautiful figure." "You think that kind of thing beautiful?" "I can't understand it." "But sir!" "That's Mercury!" " Yes, Mercury." "I've had a crush on him for years." "Whenever I look at him I'm getting hot all over." "A pity that he's made of marble, otherwise I would have kissed him long ago." "That chest, those muscles, no one else but Mercury has them!" "Where on earth can you find such a powerful man?" " Is that so?" "Just touch my biceps!" "Go way." " Help yourself." "Higher up." "Don't be shy." "Oh!" "Are you lightweight or heavyweight?" "As they demand it... middleweight." "Thank you so much." " You're welcome." "You are indeed an athlete, what cannot be seen on a first glance." "You see, I am dressed, but he is naked." "I find it rather bad taste." " I don't think so." "Does one have to show everything at once?" "Hallo, don't get me wrong." "I beg your pardon." "Madam, may I dare..." "To offer you my umbrella?" "It's not raining yet, but it will." "I've never been wrong about the weather." "Madam, it's known in the whole world:" "The most beautiful women of Greece live in Thebes, but by my life," "You are the most charming." " Say, what is it you want from me?" "What I want?" "How shall I put it?" "One doesn't say at once what one means." "But would you have the kindness to have a glass of wine with me..." "How dare you?" "What do you take me for?" "I'm not interested in your invitation." " I beg your pardon." "It is not customary with us in Thebes, to address with such a request" "Women on the street." "And even in front of Jupiter's eyes!" "I'm on very good terms with Jupiter." "He won't do me any harm." "That's bad enough, but I warn you about my husband." "Amphitryon tears lions apart in the air!" "With him you couldn't try such tricks." "You... mister." "Andria, let's go." "Presently, my lady." "The hat is a poem," "It's most beautiful." "You can see it at Madame Phillipides." "On display in the shop window, in the bottom corner, on the left." "And they are having their bargain prices today." "Good bye." "Mercury?" " Your Majesty?" "Who is this Amphitryon?" "A roughneck." " Yes I know, he tears lions apart in the air." "Does he have any other occupation?" " Active captain in the Theban Army." "He commands the 3rd legion of the guards." "Just yesterday, in the decisive encounter in the matter of Thebes vs. Boeotia..." "He again put his bravery into action." "And who is he?" " A certain Sosias." "An unsympathetic character." "Captain Amphitryon's orderly." "Thebes has won the litigation, just as his Majesty had ordered." "The messenger of victory." "Victory!" "Victory!" "The war is over!" "Victory is ours!" "Jupiter be thanked!" "Jupiter be thanked!" " That's what I call popularity." "Andria, Andria, our husbands will come home!" "Jupiter has heard my prayers!" "We must offer him Samos wine." "Every day we must offer one liter of Samos!" "Jupiter!" "No woman in Thebes is as devoted to you as I am." "Does your front still hurt, captain?" "It's nothing." "I would like to tear off the rag." "But captain, then you'll have an inflation." " Infection, not inflation." "Well I always call it inflection." "But that's all because the captain..." "Always fights in the front row." " And you in the back row." "Yes sir!" " Well, now thank Jupiter, the war is over." "Yes, your war, but not mine." " What do you mean?" "My wife and I... in that war I'm in the front row all the time!" "Come on!" "Andria is a great wife!" "If you only knew, captain." "Not one tender word of farewell." "Not even a kiss!" "All she wanted was a hat." "A new hat!" " And why didn't you buy her one?" "Because you drank your pay!" " Yes sir." "Then you shouldn't be surprised if she doesn't kiss you." " How does the wise Sokrates put it:" "If you don't like your own wife, don't hang yourself, drink alcohol." "Sosias, I know another saying:" "I you don't want your wife's love to grow cold," "Always keep her in good humour." "But that's not by Socrates." "That's not so good, captain." " I warn you!" "I wrote that." "Great." "The captain should have been a poet." "I leave that to your Socrates." " He's better at it anyway." "Alkmene." " Alkmene!" "Does one finally get a look of you too?" " We haven't seen you for ages." " Where are you hiding?" " Where are you staying?" " What are you doing?" " What are you up to?" "I only think of Amphitryon." "And what does that get you?" " Yes, what does that get you?" "Shadows under your eyes and lines of worry in your face," "Instead you ought to keep yourself fresh and pretty for him." "Now you'll stay alone no longer." " No." "You'll go out with us." " Oh please!" " Oh, no!" "You'd better come and visit me." " With pleasure." "When will it suit you?" "Perhaps tonight at eight?" " Agreed." "At eight sharp." " Fine, looking forward to it." "But just a snack, very frugal." " No opulent meal." "That wouldn't be suitable." " In short: don't go into any trouble." "Perhaps a little fish ragout." " A joint of rabbit." " And stewed fruit to go with it." "And I would like pastry of pheasant." " In short: everything that doesn't take any trouble." "So it's agreed?" " Tonight at eight." "I'll show myself to Alkmene as I really am." " What?" "Your Majesty," "Then it'll be all over!" " How do you mean?" "You see, the humans imagine you all different, your majesty." "With a little more..." "If Alkmene sees all of a sudden..." "these desolate and empty..." "I mean..." "Your bald pate..." "I beg your pardon!" "... this elongated front..." "I have my doubts, your Majesty." "It would be best to pack..." "And leave for Sparta." " We are staying!" "I want to conquer Alkmene and I will!" "You're not the lady's kind of man, your majesty." "I am a man in his best years." " Even if you were as young as Apollo..." "And as beautiful as... as I am:" "Even the Gods would fight in vain for that woman." "She only loves her husband and will never yield to another." "Not even to me?" "The great Jupiter?" "The little captain, she'll take him into her arms with pleasure." "She'll take him into her arms with pleasure..." "Yes, only him." "And nobody else!" "And when will she take him into her arms?" " As soon as he's back from the war." "Tomorrow." "So just one night left." " Yes." "Mercury, my mixtures!" "Ointments, lotions!" "Greases, oils!" " What will your Majesty do?" "Don't ask so much." "Every minute is valuable!" "Alkmene scorns the great Jupiter." "She only belongs to the little captain." "Now I know what I must do." "In the captain's shape your majesty wants to conquer  to conquer Alkmene tonight!" " Your Majesty!" "But..." "But your Majesty, that's..." "unfair practices!" "I won't tolerate any criticism, you imp!" "Run along and get me a smart captain's uniform!" "And be quick about it!" "Mercury, Mercury." "Your Majesty?" " That captain..." "What's his name?" "Amphitryon." " Difficult Name." "That Amphitryon has next to him such a..." "An unsympathetic character." " Yes, a certain Sosias." "A horrible person." "Ugly, always drunk." "The terror of the legion." "You'll impersonate him." " I?" "Your Majesty, I won't do it." " No back-talking!" "I'll be Amphitryon and you Sosias." " I, a human?" "You majesty, I'll die of it!" "Silly, you're immortal." "Now run along and get us two uniforms." "A splendid one for me, and a poor one for yourself." "Gesundheit." " Thank you, your Majesty." "Oh!" "I wish I had never been born ("come to the world")." "Great!" "I say, your Majesty," "The mask is really astonishing." "May I?" "Your hair?" "No!" "Careful!" " Aha, porcelain." "Pardon." "No!" "So..." " Well?" "am I now the lady's kind of man?" "Amazing!" "Your majesty, that's..." "Your majesty, please look at me?" "Now at my finger." "Into both eyes a bit more fire." "Nice and slow." "Now the other one." "That's enough, your majesty." "So, now you are perfect." "Beautiful." " Really beautiful." "My dear Mercury, I've prepared everything, hurry up, turn yourself into Sosias!" "Does your Majesty insist that I impersonate that figure of fun..." "Full of dirt, filled with alcohol?" " Yes." "What a disgrace!" "Horrible, awful!" "Your Majesty is making me very unhappy." "Does it really have to be?" "This... this..." "What was the captain's name again?" "Amphitryon!" " He seems to be horribly thin." "And this is what women are crazy about." "I don't understand it." "No your Majesty, I can't do it, and I won't do it!" "No back-talking!" "Proceed." " Your majesty...." "As you wish." "Go on, Mercury?" "Get dressed." "We've no time to lose." "Ugly bird." " I haven't heard that!" "Such a night passes quickly." " I wish it had passed already." "Pastry of pheasant!" "Fish ragout!" "Everything that doesn't take any trouble!" "My lady, how beautiful!" "With that dress the hat would go very well..." "Still lying down there in the shop window," "That would be quite an ensemble, my lady." " But you were going to get the hat for yourself!" "I've given up that dream long ago." "You'll see, my husband will come back from the war," "Without bringing me the hat!" "Well he's not from the cavalry." "The coast is clear, your Majesty." "You mustn't call me "Majesty"!" "I'm the captain." "Yes your majesty... captain... sir." "What's my name?" " Jupiter." "No, what's the captain's name?" "Amphitryon." " I see, thanks." "You're welcome, your majesty." "Awful!" "With the fish?" "Yes,my lady, we've enough of it in the kitchen." "Here she comes!" "Beloved!" "The captain!" "My lady!" " But that's the cook, your Majesty." "How embarrassing." " Indeed." "My lady!" "the captain!" "What's the matter with him?" " He's here!" " No!" "He is!" "My husband?" " Yes!" "Amphitryon?" " Yes!" "Amphitryon!" "Amphitryon!" "Amphitryon!" "Beloved!" "At last!" "At last I have you back!" "How I longed for you!" "I've thought of you a thousand times." "A thousand times I've stayed awake for you." "You are my whole being and thinking." "I will devote my whole life to you." "A thousand times you've been in my dream." "A thousand times you've given me the paradise." "I want to ask you a thousand times:" "Just say to me once:" ""I love you."" "I love you." "Did you bring my hat?" "You haven't brought it!" "A thousand times, day and night," "A thousand times have I thought of this hat." "It was all my thinking!" "It's a shame to hurt me so!" "A thousand times I have looked forward to it." "And you arrive with empty hands tonight." "Darling, I like that!" "Don't you dare tell me again that you love me!" "Oh!" "How nice of you to have come tonight." " Isn't it?" "One of my best ideas for a long time." "Tomorrow it would have been too late." "Why?" " Because... tomorrow everybody comes back." "I just wanted our first reunion to be quiet..." "And without any interruption." "That's how I recognize my Amphitryon." "I can hardly believe that I hold you in my arms today." "Healthy!" "no wounds!" "My hero!" " Ouch." "You're hurting me." " Why, are you wounded?" "But I'm invulnerable." " No, you are wrong." "Formerly, you never cried "ouch" When I took you in my arms." " Really?" "Let me look at you!" "Of course." "You're all pale." "I am pale?" " And how thin you've become..." "Aren't I?" "Terribly thin." "Still:" "For a thousand years I haven't felt..." "So young and strong as I feel today." "I'm only a bit tired from the long journey." "A little rest would do me good." "You..." "Come. let's go to bed." "Such clumsiness." "You're of no use whatsoever." "An utter fool." "Sosias!" "Don't you hear. the captain calls you!" " Sosias!" "Are you going or shall I give you a kick?" " Sosias!" "How unrefined!" "Mercury!" "didn't you hear me call?" " I'm flying." "Get me out of this cumbersome uniform." " I'm coming." "Quick, hurry, every minute counts." "I can't get out of that thing." "Not so loud!" "Your majesty, I suffer terribly in this house!" " Don't give yourself such airs." "I'll relieve you tomorrow morning." " How horrible!" "a whole night..." "With that awful woman." "Quick!" "So... 8 sharp, one couldn't be more punctual." "8 sharp, how Alkmene will be pleased." " 8 sharp, on the minute." "There is no other woman as punctual as we are." " I know how much Alkmene appreciates that." "I've had to rush so." "The dressmaker was late in bringing my robe." "My god, you know how things are with us." "But what kind of a reception is that tonight?" " I am astonished!" "Alkmene usually greets guests of rank at the door." "This seems very strange to me." "She never let us stand in the courtyard before." " Let's go upstairs." "I can't stand it any longer, I'm starved." "Alkmene is so correct usually," "Who knows where she is." "A mystery." " I think so too." "That's unusual for this house." "She isn't here either." " The whole house desolate." "That's impossible." " We're punctual and she goes out." "Alkmene has forgotten the invitation." " But no," "The supper is prepared." "A fish ragout." "Stewed fruits." " Fruits and pastry of pheasant." "And we asked not to go into any trouble" "Be silent." "I love your beautiful eyes." "I love your tender skin." "I love your red mouth." "What's going on there?" " A man's voice." "Be silent." "My beloved." "But that's Alkmene's voice." "That's too much!" "Unheard of!" "I am surprised and outraged." "What's the matter?" " Alkmene," "The beautiful, chaste Alkmene is with a strange man." "Is with a strange man?" "Alkmene, can one find the words, is with a strange man." "Is with a strange man." " While the great hero Amphitryon," "...kills enemies in battle, she is with a strange man." "She is with a strange man!" "A scandal!" "But interesting!" "So that's why she doesn't like to go out," "That's why she likes to stay at home, because she is with a strange man." "Because she is with a strange man." "The beautiful, chaste Alkmene" "Is with a strange man!" "That whispering, murmuring." "Are the servants listening?" "Which makes me think of..." " That interruption spoils my mood." "I've invited four friends for supper." "Come, we'll go to them." " But I mustn't be seen here!" "How so?" "You're my husband!" "How?" "I see." "But actually I'm here incognito." "I left the camp in secret." "Without permission from the colonel." "In a word:" "Send those silly geese away." "We are staying!" "Ah, it's you." "You've invited us." " Now we are here." "But we've come, so it seems, - ... untimely." "Why?" "How so?" "How do you mean?" "It's just..." " It's just?" "I have such a migraine tonight." "Poor Alkmene," "She has migraine." "You must excuse me." " Of course, we'll leave you alone." "Alone in your little bed." "And do me the honour another time." "Another time." "Of course." "Agreed." "Yes, such a headache..." "Often disappears overnight." "Poor Alkmene," "She has migraine." "You must excuse me." " Of course," "We'll leave you alone." "Alone in your little bed." "And do me the honour another time." "Another time, of course" "Agreed." "Such a headache..." "Often disappears overnight." "Are you glad?" "They haven't noticed anything." "They believed my story about my migraine." " But they made me very nervous." "Always these interruptions." "So." "My lady, supper is served." " We won't eat it now." "But it'll go cold." " Then you can heat it later." "But the phaesant pastry, the fish ragout, and the joint of mutton?" "Everything spoilt!" "Darling, let her have her way, otherwise she'll sulk the whole week." "Come, we'll have a quick bite." "But we'll be quick." "And just a bite." "Why didn't you prevent the annoyance?" "Your health, beloved." "Your health, beloved." "What's that?" " Samos." "Samos?" "So that's Samos!" "I am crazy about Samos!" "Great." "Pour me another cup." "Majes... my strict captain, that's Samos!" " I know." "Very well" "Take the jug upstairs." "The captain is thirsty." "That's the forth." " Do have any objections?" "Envious, eh?" "Want to drink it yourself!" "Not a single drop for you, do you hear!" "I'll take care of that." "You didn't even bring a hat to your own wife!" "You, don't drink so much." "The wine will go to your head." "Alkmene..." "Alkmene!" "What do you want?" " I just wanted to point out to you that..." "Hallo, the fourth jug." "Here you are." "Out of my sight, disgusting tramp." " Amphitryon!" "But it's true." "He is a disgusting tramp." " You mustn't say that." "Darling, don't be angry." "Do you want the sun?" "The moon?" "The stars?" "one word from you," "And I'll lay them at your feet." "You braggard!" " I'll prove it to you." "Come" "Captain..." " Dismissed!" "I want to take down the stars from heaven, and that disgusting tramp gets into my way!" "Here you are." "Which one do you want?" "This one?" "That one?" "That one." "Shining the brightest!" "The biggest one of course." "I should have known." "While I'm at it..." " We'll see about it at once." "Amphitryon!" " Still any doubts?" "I'm all frightened." "Such an accident." " Accident?" "Shall I fetch the moon for you too?" " He'll give away the whole of heaven." "Stop that nonsense!" "One mustn't tempt the Gods." " Whatever you wish," "You shall ha... ha..." "Drop dead." " So, now I've caught a cold." "Darling, you are ill." "You must go to bed at once." " Yes, at once." "But before you must take a hot bath." "Sosias, prepare a hot bath for my husband." "I didn't go to Thebes to have a bath." "A hot bath will do you good." " A cold shower would be better still." "Now I'll make you a camomile tee, and then straight to bed." " Straight away" "Darling, give me..." " ... a hot-water bottle for your bed." "If you please, your majesty?" " What is it?" "The bath." "Ice cold." " Get out of my sight!" "Slave!" "A cold rub would do you good now, your Majesty." "Get out!" " Your Majesty..." "Get out!" " Your Majesty are drunk." "You're even sneezing." "Enough, your Majesty, enough!" "There's only one remedy for influenza: alcohol." "What a taste?" "Thank you, your Majesty, I detest that human vice." "Because..." "You're a boor!" " Ouch!" "a boor." "Samos!" "One of my best creations!" "So." "And now I'll have a bath." "Great Jupiter!" "What have the humans done to you?" "Why aren't you with the captain?" "Shirking from your duty again, are you?" "Lazybones, you!" "I won't tolerate that insolent manner of speech!" "Silly goose!" "What?" "What did you just call me?" " A silly goose." "You dare call me, your own wife, a silly goose?" "You'll pay for this!" "You dared raise your hand against me?" "On your knees, miserable woman!" "I'll squeeze you like a worm!" "Are completely our of your mind ("abandoned by Jupiter")" " I am!" "Let go of me !" "Not unless you swear to be in the future a docile, tender" "Obedient and good wife." "Swear it!" " I swear." "In Jupiter's name." "Not in Jupiter's name!" "In my name!" "I mean... in Mercury's name!" " In Mercury's name." "Thank you." "So!" "And now you'll give me a cold rub." "Come!" "The way you've changed..." "Sosias." "Amphitryon?" "Amphitryon." "Doesn't the captain want to go to bed?" "I can't sleep." "My thoughts are with my wife and hers with me,..." "I can feel it." "This is the last night when we are separate." "You don't know how my heart burns with longing." "Alkmene," "A thousand times you've been in my dream," "A thousand times you've given me paradise" "You are my whole life" "And only you can give true love" "A thousand times have I thought of you" "A thousand times have I lain awake for you" "I'll ask you a thousand times:" "Tell me again:" ""I love you."" "Captain, I ask for your permission to go to bed" "You can't even stand upright." " Yes sir!" "Good night." " A pleasant watch, sir." "Tell me again:" ""I love you."" "1, 2!" "1, 2!" "1, 2!" "1, 2!" "Up down!" "Up down!" "Stop!" "That's enough." " Here's your towel." "How a man can change!" "The robe!" "Hurry!" "the robe!" "Take the wine away., pour me some water." "But you always used to..." " Pst!" "no back-talking, woman." "What's that stuff?" "Tell me, what's that?" "That's jello ("gods' food")" " That's only fit for toothless old men." "It trembles even when you speak about it." "Don't be afraid, I won't eat you." "Come here!" "You offer such rubbish to the Gods?" "Take that funny pap away." "I can't stand it any longer." "Is this the way to treat me?" "I have been worried about you day and night!" "I have been true to you, I have nothing to confess." "I haven't looked at anybody else." "So!" "What about the stranger, with the handsome figure, near that tasteless Mercury statue?" "I haven't been out all day." " This is too much!" "Think hard. go on." "Don't you remember?" "The hat, the hat" "The hat, hm?" "The hat is a poem," "It is so beautiful." "Tadi-tadam." "You can see it on display at madame Phillipides, ...in the shop window, at the bottom, to the left." "And today they have bargain prices, goodbye, goodbye." "Do you remember now?" "Yes or no?" "It'll never happen again, you must forgive me." "Never again. if you please." "So." "And now I'll go to bed." "How does he know all that, by Mercury?" "What is the donkey doing in my bed?" "What's keeping you?" " Coming." "Here I am." "They're coming." "I can't see my wife." " I can't see mine either." "Why isn't she here?" " Maybe she overslept." "Or maybe something has happened." "Maybe she's ill." "Sosias!" "Run ahead and bring me the news at once!" "What's keeping you?" " I don't dare come home alone." "This is an order!" "Off you go!" " Yes sir!" "But it's your responsibility, captain!" "Darling, will you promise me never to drink alcohol again?" " Never again." "Say?" "Will you buy me the beautiful new hat?" " I will." "Oh you!" "Beloved." "Come home soon." "I long for you so much!" "I too long...see..." "Sosias, what about my wife?" " What?" "It wasn't me!" " You're drunk." "No, I haven't drunk and I won't drink." " You've been home?" "Yes, the both of us." " The both of you?" "I and I." " Be clear, I don't understand you!" "I don't understand either!" "But when I got home, I was already there!" "And as I had been there, I also arrived." "And now I don't know:" "Am I there, ...and the other one is here, or, is the other one here, and I'm there?" "Or are we both gone?" " You are utterly drunk!" "No, I am double." "You see double!" " I am double!" " You ought to be ashamed!" "To get drunk on your first day home!" "I'll have you arrested." " Yes." "Take him away!" " But still I am double!" "He was here and I was here!" "Both of us!" "So we must be double." "Do you have to go so soon?" " Yes yes, it's high time." "Farewell." " Just one kiss!" "The last one." "Not bad." "Farewell" "Your Majesty, we have to leave, quick!" "Where am I?" " Strangely enough in the bathroom." "How did I get here?" " The Samos!" "You should have prevented it!" "You know Samos doesn't agree with me!" "You Majesty couldn't be controlled!" " What a disgrace!" "You can say that again." "Not that way!" "The back entrance." "My head!" " You still have your head." "Andria, where is my husband?" " There he comes!" "About right!" "Soldiers!" "Thebes welcomes you heartily." "Against an overwhelming enemy force" "You have fought splendidly." "Thebes owes its victory to your courage." "The Theban women have waited without any complaints." "But is wasn't only that which influenced the great Jupiter." "He knew why he granted us victory" "He knew..." "That we were fighting for a just cause." "Jupiter be thanked!" "Music!" "(Waltz:" "Out of the clouds comes happiness)" "So those are the magical baths of Thebes!" "Oh, my head, my head!" " I wouldn't want to be in your place." "The best would be to leave for Sparta at once." "You ignorant baby." "That would be the stupidest thing we could do." "What disastrous consequences that might have..." "You don't realize." "If my disciples would learn," "How I disgraced myself here in Thebes, my popularity would be finished!" " Really?" "Then I wouldn't be chief in Olympos any longer and could look for another job!" "Not only I, but you too!" " Why me too?" "I didn't disgrace myself in Thebes!" "The hat is like a poem..." "I know exactly what I must do!" " Yes!" "leave!" "Stay here!" " But that Amphitryon is back now." "Don't tire your silly brain, leave it to me." " As you wish." "I am not the great Jupiter for nothing?" "I want to conquer Alkmene, I will and I must!" "That's what you promised to me yesterday too." "Alkmene!" "Alkmene!" "Hi, Andria!" " Where's my husband?" " I've locked him up." "He was totally drunk again." "Alkmene!" "And he promised me not to touch another drop." "I'll show him when he comes home!" "My darling." " Ouch!" "What's the matter?" "That hurt." " I can't take that into consideration now." "I am so happy to be home again!" " What's that thing around your head?" "That's nothing." "A slight headache." "That's the result if you overdo it." " Overdo?" "Darling, and if it had been 20 more, I would have finished them off too!" "Samos!" "My favorite drink." "To your health, Alkmene." "That's good." "I'll have another" "I've waited for you for months!" "Longed for you!" "Finally you arrive." "And what are you doing?" "You drink and drink and don't stop" " But Alkmene." "Leave me." "You have your Samos, enjoy yourself with him." "I am busy anyway." " Alkmene!" "Captain" "Was my husband very drunk?" " Senseless." "He didn't even know himself." " Oh!" "When he comes home, it is I who won't know him." "Amphitryon." " Long live the hero." "Be greeted." " Back from the front?" "Happy to be home again?" " Yes, very happy." "You're looking great." "Full of power and juice" "You've returned from the front." "Alkmene is to be envied." "You are one husband in a million." "A wife cannot be unfaithful to such a husband." "Why are you telling me that?" " Unfortunately some Theban women" "Are unfaithful, but yours is true." "Yes, yours is true, Amphitryon." " You're telling me this with such a suggestive tone." "You're keeping something from me!" " But no, but no!" "Why be so suspicious all of a sudden?" " Alkmene is true," "And if she now and then knows another man..." " Another man?" "That's no big deal" "Alkmene is true!" " Alkmene is true!" "Halt!" "Who was with her?" "you've got to tell me!" "You can ask her yourself." " What do we know?" "Are we your wife's keeper?" "We don't interfere in family affairs." "You!" "with whom have you cheated on me?" " Are you out of your mind?" "Don't deny it, I know everything!" "I risk my life in battle," "And you have gentleman callers!" "Who was with you?" " Nobody." "You lie!" " Jupiter is my witness!" "Leave Jupiter out of this!" "With whom did you cheat on me?" " I forbid you to insult me!" "Who was the guy?" " Let go of me!" "Not unless you confess." "Andria!" "Andria, help!" " With whom did you cheat on me?" "Andria!" "He's lost his mind." "Captain, calm yourself!" " I'll tear him apart, and then I'll kill him!" "Let go of her hand!" " Ouch!" "he's broken my wrist." "You drunkard!" " Shall I call the emergency?" "Go on!" "cheat on me, insult me!" "A fine affair!" "Calm yourself, my lady." "God, what shall I do?" "I'll fetch a doctor!" "Whose armour is that?" " But yours, captain." "Since when do I have armour from Blech  Plassus?" "A fine affair." "one like the other!" "By Jupiter, I won't be a cuckold!" "I'll go to a lawyer." "CHIKANOS solicitor specialized in divorce actions" "Majesty, Majesty!" "He's coming, he's coming." "Ah, solicitor." "My wife cheats on me!" "Oh, who would have thought it?" "Such a virtuous woman!" "Yes, who would have thought it?" "Such a virtuous woman!" "You know my wife?" " Who doesn't know the charming wife..." "Of the famous Amphitryon?" " Yes, who doesn't know her?" "We all know her." "by the way, do you have any proof?" " Proof?" "If you don't have any proof..." " ...nothing can be proven." "Nothing at all!" "What about that armour?" "My wife's lover left it in my house." "Good gracious." " A valuable piece of evidence." "Has to be stored safely at once." "Take it away." "Steel vault." "Do you know the armour's owner?" " No!" "Pity." "But I'll find him. then Jupiter may help him!" "What do you intend to do with him?" " I'll kill him." "And if he's stronger than you are?" " I am the strongest man in Thebes!" "I know." "you tear lions apart in the air." "The ladies Tisotemes, Fricala, Stiles..." "And Lavaria can testify my wife's unfaithfulness." "Most interesting, Assessor." " Most interesting, solicitor." "Assessor?" "please summon the ladies at once." " To your health!" "No, to interrogation." " Yes sir, to interrogation. solicitor," "May I remind you that you have an important appointment." "I completely forgot." "I am very sorry, but as you can see," "Your affair is in the very best hands." "And now I'll prepare a long statement with the captain." "That will take about 3 hours." "Would that be sufficient?" " It may as well last 4 hours." "So you can spare 5 hours?" " I can spare unlimited time." "So much the better, that makes things easier." "Would you step into my private office?" "Captain, I am happy to represent your interests." "Yes yes, we are very happy." "May I ask you to step in here?" "Don't forget the bandage!" " Oh, the bandage. thanks a lot!" "The youngster thinks of everything." "I can't get rid of my cold!" "In this register are entered all the men who are liable" "To make love to married women." "one of them must be the adulterer." " Are there so many blackguards in Thebes?" "Yes, Thebes is a very modern city." "Oh!" "you too, captain?" "How did I get into that collection of criminals?" " Oh, hallo, captain," "Would you perhaps..." " I'll tear them apart, I'll tear everybody apart!" "You can't leave this room." " Why not?" "For your affair it is absolutely necessary, that until further notice..." "You don't return to madame your wife." " Alright!" "I'll never set foot into that house again!" "I'm used to some rough stuff by Sosias, I've weathered some storm," "But the way the captain has behaved this morning was insufferable...." "If I hadn't picked up my courage and interfered," "He would have killed her." "My lady, the doctor." "If you please." "Now what's the trouble?" "Doctor, ever since the captain returned from the war, he can't be recognized." "He's positively common!" "Andria!" " But that's the way it is, my lady." "Good God, all men are such pigs." " My dear madam, there is nothing wrong with you." "You just miss your husband, you must reconcile with him." "Amphitryon." " Beloved!" "Amphitryon!" "What a weak sex we women are!" "What's the matter?" " Captain, are you ill?" "Of course, your hand is all cold." "And your head is hot." "Open your mouth, show me your tongue, say "A"." "You are ill." "You ought to be in bed!" "Hot camomile tea, cold compresses." "And sweat. a good sweat!" "I don't want to sweat." " You be quiet." "Now I give the orders, and you have to obey." "So!" "Be a good boy and lie still." "Don't move." "Hallo!" "Miss, I am glad that you came." "How do I earn the honour?" "How can I be of service?" "Doctor, I hope you'll understand me." "I stand before you as..." " A woman having been harshly treated by fate." "Yes, harshly treated is the right word." "My husband.." " You're married?" " Yes." "But don't think ill of me because of that." "I think only the best of all men, of you the very best of course." "That's mutual." "I thought about you the whole time." "I found you at once so sympathetical." "I find men generally so antipathetical." "Doctor, I know you understand me perfectly," "Because I am a virtuous woman." "Oh." "That's why I want to get a divorce." "I can't stand my husband." "The man is a monster." "Well, but... so?" "And?" "Isn't that a ground for divorce?" " No." "Did he lie to you?" " No." "did he cheat on you?" " No." "Did he beat you?" " No." "Didn't he perform his duties as a husband?" "He did." " Then I don't know what is your concern." "You've no reason for complaint." "I think he's an ideal husband." "You make me giggle, if you permit." "You have a lover, haven't you?" " Doctor!" "I am shocked!" "And I thought you understood me perfectly." "I bed your pardon, madam." ""Madam"!" "How wonderful that sounds, coming from your mouth to my heart." "My husband, Jupiter be implored, has never called me "madam"." "I would like to help you, but how?" " Doctor, only you can help me, only you!" "You've come into my life at the right moment, fate has brought me to you." "I thank you for your confidence, but I cannot grasp the meaning of your speech." "Doctor, I am not one of those women who..." "Avoid being direct." "You are right." "I can see that." " Yes, you understand me." "That's why I would dare share my life with you." "You wouldn't cause me any sorrow." "your looks, your character..." "Everything so tender." "You have such a special way..." "In dealing with lonely hearts." "With you one forgets all one's pains." "You're from top to bottom a perfect accomplice." "Doctor, let yourself be touched!" " What shall I do?" "You shall abduct me." " Now?" "Better today than tomorrow." "Then let me go!" "Goodbye." " Where are you rushing to?" "To get the tickets." " Yes, but second class." "And where will we be fleeing to?" "I know a quiet hotel in Sparta." "Oh, you!" "Oh, those humans!" "Come in." "A lady wants to speak to you, madam." "Where is my husband?" "Release my husband at once!" "You seem to have come to the wrong address." " Don't be impertinent!" "You'd better confess." "How far did you go with my husband?" "Leave me in peace." "I don't know your husband." " Liar!" "It is true, by Jupiter!" " I won't allow my husband to help you!" "Jupiter is your husband?" " That's what I've been telling you all the time." "Then you must be..." " His wife." "You haven't expected me." "You thought I'd sit patiently up there in Olympos waiting till my husband" "Had concluded his affair." " I swear I never had that honour!" "Honour!" "Honour!" "Do you call it an honour to be one among thousands?" "Oder did you imagine you were the only one?" "With my heart and soul I belong only to one man:" "my husband!" "Foolish girl." "No man will appreciate that sort of fidelity." "You don't know my Amphitryon." "He is the truest husband of all Thebes." "Are you so sure about that?" " Why?" "Do you know anything else about him?" "I know nothing." " But you are all-knowing!" "That's what you think." "If I were all-knowing, I would have found my husband long ago." "That skunk!" " My dear lady, you are committing a sin." "I can afford it." "He let me believe he went to cheap Sparta..." "Instead he goes to expensive Thebes!" "But whenever I need a new dress," "There's the devil to pay in Olympos!" "By the way, how do you like my new dress?" "Very beautiful." " Thank you." "Well..." "Yours is nice too." "Who's your dressmaker?" " Madame Kalipikos." "I heard she's very expensive!" "My husband always says nothing is too expensive for me." "Your husband belongs to a curiosity shop." "If I kill that one, it might be this one!" "If I kill him, then it's the other one or the one here!" "So what!" "I'll exterminate all Thebans!" "Captain?" " You here?" "Are you spying on me?" "The divorce proceedings are in full swing." ""There are still independent judges sitting in Thebes!"" "You're talking like an oracle." "But you've reconciled with your wife!" "What?" "When would I have done that?" " You can't deny it." "Dr. Eskulap was there too!" "Doctor Eskulap?" "Who else was present?" " You were, captain!" "I've been there?" "Doctor Eskulap was there?" "I've reconciled with my wife?" "Am I dreaming?" "Am I awake?" "Pinch me, Andria!" " But that's not proper." "I tell you to pinch me!" "Ouch!" "I'm awake." "My wife has reconciled with me?" "Dr. Eskulap!" "I'll have to see Dr. Eskulap!" "He's suffering from "hallucinatrones"." "Doctor?" " Captain, I've ordered you..." "To go to bed and to sweat." " Ordered me?" "Drink hot camomile tea, have cold compresses." "Drink hot camomile tea, have cold compresses." "Me?" " Instead you go out." "Captain, that's impossible!" "You are very ill!" "Say, Doctor," "How does one notice when one goes mad?" "The person in question doesn't notice it, only the others do." "Only the others notice?" "Doctor?" "Doctor?" "Doctor, do you notice anything?" " Why?" "I am mad." "Jawohl!" "yes yes yes I am mad!" " But you were quite normal an hour ago." "These things happen very fast with me!" "I am mad." "Jawohl!" "I am mad." "Totally mad!" "Divine!" "Such chic, such design!" "And so youthful." "I have to get a dress like that myself." "You permit me to have the design copied?" " With greatest pleasure." "You are an angel." "Such a pity that we haven't met each other earlier." "Of course, it'll be too expensive for my husband again." "Apropos, my husband!" "I almost forgot why I came." "Tell me, my child: are you sure..." "That he hadn't been with you?" " Very sure." "Has some kind of funny animal molested you lately?" " No, why?" "Jupiter is a tough customer, he refrains from nothing." "Help!" "Double!" "he double, I double, everyone double!" "I beg your pardon, the orderly has been drinking again!" "What's the matter?" "The captain is double too!" " The captain will have you arrested!" "Yes but which one?" "The one in here or the one out there?" "Everybody is double!" "I am double, and he is double!" "There he goes, everybody double!" "Indeed!" "My husband!" "They're completely alike." "Amphitryon..." "Twice!" "How terrible!" "That must be the devil's work!" "The devil?" "No." "My husband!" " Jupiter?" "This time he poses as a human." "That's the ultimate example of bad taste!" "Halt!" "Not one step further." "You weren't prepared for this surprise." "Did you imagine I'd sit clueless in Olympos." "Well you were wrong about that." " I beg your pardon?" "Silence!" "Now I am speaking!" "I though you went to Sparta!" "Instead you hang around in Thebes!" "Sneaking into the home of strangers in this disguise!" "The humans must get a very low opinion of us Gods!" " Gods?" "Especially you Jupiter, the highest of the Gods, who ought to be an example to the others," "Applying means that would get any mortal before the public prosecutor!" "You go through your well-know magic routine, take Amphitryon's shape..." "And impersonate the youthful hero!" "I order you to resume your real pathetic shape at once!" "So!" "I've just come in time to prevent the greatest misfortune." "Too late." "It has already been done." "That's terrible!" " He's lying!" "How can you claim such a thing?" "It's true, you were with me last night." "That's where he sat." "I admit it, he kissed me, and then..." "And then?" " And then he got drunk!" "And fell asleep!" " That's just like my husband." "And if you claim anything else you lie!" "You may look at me in that threatening way as much as you like!" "Your eyes may shine in that spooky way, and even if the lightning" "You have reserved for me will strike me dead, and even if the whole of Olympos will condemn me:" "I'll shout it to the whole world:" "Jupiter lies!" "I won't get my good reputation harmed through your talk." "I won't have my marriage destroyed in that shameful way!" "Lord!" "I love my husband." "I renounce the Gods' favour." "My god is Amphitryon!" "There, you see what you have done." "Jupiter!" "Jupiter!" "If I could do as I would like to, I would..." "Yes, I know, tear him to pieces in the air." " Yes!" "I would do so, Mr. solicitor." " Alright, but don't shout so." "My wife mustn't hear everything." " Your wife?" "Don't you know..." "but you cannot know." "It's all the fault of that idiot Mercury!" "I'll have him thrown out of Olympos." "As much as I am Jupiter!" " Jupiter?" "Yes!" "The only, the great Jupiter!" "You dare to insult my virtuous wife..." "Oh!" "you'll give me satisfaction!" "Pst, don't shout!" "Your complaints are perfectly justified," "But I have extenuating circumstances." "My wife!" " Jupiter will be very angry with me." "Don't be afraid." "I'll be your guardian angel!" "My wife!" "Leave this house at once." " Excuse me, this is my home." "Yes, but you are lying ill in bed." " I'm not ill!" "But my wife is coming." "What do you think will happen if she learns about..." "What had happened?" "That is, about what didn't happen." "Unfortunately." " Unfortunately?" "Luckily!" "That's him in his real shape." " Not everyone can be as beautiful as you." "My dear madame Alkmene." "You were always one of my most devoted admirers." "You believed in me, offered plenty of sacrifices." "And what did I do?" "I made of myself..." "A perfect fool!" "Juno always has to have the last word." "But for what I have committed..." "I'll have to..." " ... pay a heavier fine still!" "Yes." " Farewell, my child." "Come!" " Goodbye, dear madam." "Farewell, my child." "Jupi!" " Splendid times will be awaiting me." "The hat!" "Sosias, you're the best of them all!" "The Gods Unmasked" "The gods of European antiquity were rather suspicious characters." "Zeus, or Jupiter, excelled especially in conquering mortal women as a trickster." "Already Plautus, the ancient Roman comedy playwright made fun of Jupiter's love adventures in "Amphitryon"." "Later, the story was adapted again for the stage by the French MoliÃ¨re and Jean Rotrou, and the German Heinrich von Kleist and Peter Hacks." "In 1935, director Reinhold SchÃ¼nzel turned the story of mistaken identity into a film, ...at a time when it was a true risk to treat authority, ...whether human or divine, with parody and satire." "The start of the film shows the father of the gods in his home on Olympus as a heavenly, slightly decrepit lazybones, ...with secrets, and dangerous powers too." "That the desiring old man is so interested in mortals, ...and their statues are better than the gods themselves, ...is only the result of his erotic hunting instincts." "# I need to have some adventure again" "# I feel so happy and young today" "# What could be better # than a little affair?" "Is this your majesty himself?" "Who, me?" "Not so different." "A bit too much hair, what do you think?" "I abstain from any comment." "Apart from that, a very good likeness." "Which is more than can be said from you." "Where am I?" " Over there." "What bad manners these people have." "How is that?" "I think they flatter us gods." "I think they expose us!" "# Dear lady, dare I offer you my umbrella?" "# It's not raining yet, but it will very soon." "# I've never been mistaken in the weather" "# Dear lady, it's well known:" "# The most beautiful women of Greece," "# But, on my life, you're the most enchanting of all." "So what are you trying to ask?" "When Alkmene has rebuffed a first attempt, ...Jupiter has no qualms about changing his identity." "The change is a cinematic masterpiece of hidden cuts." "Even with the help of slow motion, the cuts are hardly visible." "The second cut is betrayed by a change in lightness." "The final revelation completes only a diversion for the viewer." "A similar optical use of near invisible cuts allows the director to show his lead actor in both roles at once." "My wife is cheating on me!" "Who would have thought it!" "Such a virtuous wife!" "Yes, who would have thought it, such a virtuous wife." "You know my wife?" "Who doesn't know the charming wife of the famous Amphitryon!" "Yes, who doesn't know her?" "We all know her." "By the way do you have proof?" " Do you have proof?" "If you do not have any proof..." " Nothing can be proven nothing at all." "This armour, which my wife's lover left behind in my house." "Valuable evidence." "Which must be secured at once." "Put it away!" "In the vault!" "Is the owner of this armour known to you?" "No!" " Pity..." "Jupiter and Amphitryon together in one shot." "The image, as betrayed by the left of the table, is made up from two parts." "I'll kill him!" "And when he's stronger than you?" "I AM the strongest man in Thebes." " I know, I know." "On the set, April 1935" "Almost no other '30s UFA film uses so many tricks and special effects." "Here, the galley sequences are shot in a basin." "At the back, ancient Thebes, to the right, an artful horizon, ...below, the small model of the large hallway." "The galleys first traverse the basin as small models." "At the back, the wall of the basin under the painted sky." "Then the big ships, pulled or pushed and edited in with shots from the smaller models." "The constructions were designed by Robert Hertlth and Walter RÃ¶hrig, ...both of whom were counted since the early '20s among Europe's most influential cinema architects." "This is the model of Alkmene's house." "Home of the gods" "For the leads, the popular stars of UFA in the '30s." "Amphitryon was again a succesful production, ...and a triump for its director Reinhold SchÃ¼nzel," "...who after 1933 needed a special permission for every job, ...because the nazis had labelled him as a half-jew." "In 1937 he emigrated to the USA." "Early on, SchÃ¼nzel had also made a name as an actor." "In "Madame Dubarry", directed by Lubitsch, ...he plays the plotting minister Choiseul, ...opposite Pola Negri and Emile Jannings." "Lubitsch's influence on SchÃ¼nzel's own films cannot be measured." "The central theme is camouflage, hide and seek, dressing up." "And always for the appearance of doubles, ...leading the heros into abysmally strange identity crises." "Must it necessarily be the theatre?" " Yes..." "Why don't you try something else?" "# I must succeed at any price" "# I won't rest until I've won" "# I want to be a star unrivalled" "# Who has the world at her feet" "# I want to stand in the limelight # and everyone shall see what I can do" "# I want to be on the posters in huge letters" "# And at the top, at the very top," "# To be at the Top!" "# Won't you come play with me, # Won't you come play with me?" "Handsome lad, no?" "Not really my taste." "Yes, yes, a very handsome lad." "No, mama, I did not keep you waiting." "Forgive me, mama." "How uncanny!" "A miracle..." "A mircale!" "A miracle of nature." "This similarity!" " Astounding." "Even the face..." "Something like this could be useful, I thought." "Attention." "Franz is not the king, and the king is not Franz." "Franz is Franz, and was the king, ...the king is the king, and was never Franz." "I'm glad we got that straight." "Sosias!" "How is my wife?" "What?" "It isn't me, not me." "You're drunk." "No!" "I'm not drunk, and I won't drink." "You were at my house." "Yes, both of me." " Both?" "Yes, me, and me." "Speak sense, I don't understand." "I don't understand it either." "But when I got home, I was already there!" "When I was already there, I arrived a again." "Now I don't know anymore..." "Am I there and the other here?" "Or is he here and I am there?" "Or are we both gone?" "You're totally drunk!" "No, I am double!" "No you're seeing double." " No, I AM double." "Aren't you ashamed man!" "First day home, and you booze up!" "I'll throw you in the brig or this." "Take him away!" "But... but..." "I am double!" "I was there, and so was I." "We were both there." "So, double..." "Willy Fritsch, too, began his career in silent film." "With Fritz Rasp he starred in Fritz Lang's "Woman in the moon"." "Here, too, we can see how a cut hides a change." "At UFA, Fritsch's biggest hits were as a ladies' man and womanizer." "I forgot something." "Please, a gentleman doesn't break his word." "I don't even know who you are." "What is your name?" "Gerti." "Do you want the sun?" "The moon?" "The stars?" "One word from you, and I lay them at your feet." "Boaster, you!" "I will prove it to you." "That one, that shines brightest." "The biggest of course, I might have known." "Grab the chance..." "Here it comes." "Amphitryon!" "The Viennese KÃ¤the Gold had a long career, mostly on stage." "She was applauded as Gretchen, Ophelia, and Nora." "She did not appear in many films." "Under theatre director Hans Schweikart, ...she played the title role in the film version of Lessing's comedy "Minna von Barnhelm", opposite Ewald Balser." "What can I do for you?" "I've come to thank you, herr major." "You are welcome, miss." "My uncle entrusted all his possessions to me." "The care of the servants and our people." "Think I can leave my post, because I am a woman?" "In 1956 she still appeared as mrs." "Flamm, ...in Gerhart Hauptmann's tragedy "Rose Bernd", ...adapted by Wolfgang Staudte." "# A thousand times I have thought of him" "# A thousand times I waited for him" "# I don't want to complain a thousand times" "# He whom I love... # ...will come back to me." "# My love is as hot as a burning fire..." "# No wonder for those, that know Amphitryon." "# Amphitryon well deserves her love" "# It's to the endagered fatherland, # that I devote all my thoughts." "# When the country is in danger" "# When our valiant men are on the march" "# To defend it and avenge it" "# We must keep on, and keep on more..." "# Be brave, Stop with these complaints." "# We have to be worthy of them." "# They fight for us, for wife and child..." "# We're Theban women, don't forget that!" "Amphitryon tells of doubles, and has a double itself too:" "The French version." "Shot by shot, by the same director, it's staged almost the same, ...on the same sets, with the same extras." "Only the speaking parts are performed by others." "One has to admit, the French actors, ...Henri Garat, Jeanne Boitel, Armand Bernard and Florelle, ...are no less than equal to their German counterparts." "Especially the ensembles reveal the onderlying traditions and tempers." "# Ah, it's you, dear!" "# You invited us." "Now we are here." "# But we've come..." " So it seems..." " Out of season..." "# Why, how, for what reason?" "(French) # But...?" "# Just now I got a migraine." "# Poor Alkmene... # ...has a migraine." "# So you'll have to forgive me..." "# Parbleu, we'll leave you alone." "(German) # Just to have a rest..." "# But please come back another time." "# Another time..." "# But of course..." "# Definately." "(French) # For a migraine... # ...there's nothing like a good night's rest." "# Poor Alkmene... # ...has a migraine." "(German) # You must forgive me." "# Of course, we leave you." "(French) # With?" "# We'll meet some other time, and very soon." "# Another time, agreed." "(German) # Agreed." "# Such a headache... # ...needs a good night's rest." "(German) # I've had my eye on him for long" "# My feelings for him are quite strong" "# If only he wasn't made of marble..." "# I would've kissed him long ago." "(French) # He has so much charm and fine touch" "# He really stirs me, how I long for him" "# If he wasn't of polished marble, I'd take him in my arms" "# Mercury has no equal here on earth." "# And no-one surpasses him, I swear this:" "# No-one has muscles as strong as his... (German) # Where on earth could you find a man so robust?" "# Really?" "Well, feel my biceps then, if you must." "(German) I haven't been to the hairdresser yet." "My new dress is not yet delivered." "And I wanted to look my very best for you." "(French) # An amphora of Samos wine" "# Hear my prayer" "# Remember it" "Where Alkmene's upper costume is concerned, ...the Germans with the transparance are even more loose than the French." "(French) ...very nice." "That isn't bad either." "Where is it from?" "From Kalipikos." "But that's expensive... (German) How do you like my new dress, by the way?" "Very nice." " I'm glad." "Yours is pretty too." "Who makes your dresses?" " Kalipikos." "But isn't he very expensive?" "Alkmene..." "# A thousand times you were in my dreams" "# A thousand times you gave me heaven" "# You're my entire life" "# And true love, only you can give" "# A thousand times, I've thought of you" "# A thousand times, I waited for you" "# I want to ask you a thousand times" "# Tell me once more:" "# 'I love you'." "(French) Alkmene..." "# Night and day" "# I only thought of you" "# Night and day" "# I had you near me" "# So close that sometimes even..." "# - to my supreme happiness - # ..." "I heard your voice" "# Night and day The sweet memory of you # ...was what kept me going" "# until my return" "# ...my dear love." "# Night and day" "# I only think of you..." "# Night and day" "# I only love you" "# Without you, I can't be bothered" "# I grow pale # and my fingers hurt" "(German) Captain sir..." "I ask permission to go to bed?" "You can't even stand." " Aye-aye, captain." "Good night." " Good watch, captain sir." "# Tell me once more:" "# 'I love you'." "(French) General..." "I ask permission to go to bed?" "You drank too much." "Good night." " Good watch, general." "# Tell me you love me, my love." "The way to heaven differs only in details." "And the final kiss is so alike in both versions, they can easily be overlaid."