The Abyss (Danish: Afgrunden), also known as Woman Always Pays, is a 1910 Danish silent black-and-white drama film, written and directed by Urban Gad. The lead performance and natural acting by Asta Nielsen led to her international stardom. Because of the overt eroticism of Nielsen's performance, the film was censored in Norway and Sweden.[1]

The Abyss
"Gaucho dance" scene
Directed byUrban Gad
Written byUrban Gad
Produced byHjalmar Davidsen
Starring
CinematographyAlfred Lind
Production
company
Kosmorama
Distributed byKosmorama
Release date
  • 12 September 1910 (1910-09-12) (Denmark)
Running time
38 minutes
CountryDenmark
LanguageSilent

Plot

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Knud, a vicar's son, meets Magda, a piano teacher, on a tram. He falls in love with her and introduces her to his parents. She refuses to go with them to the Sunday service and convinces him to go to the circus with her. She dances with the performers and at night and one of them, Rudolf, comes to seduce her. They run away on horseback. Magda is not happy with Rudolf who keeps flirting with other girls, but she cannot leave him, despite Knud's efforts.[2]

Cast

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Asta Nielsen and Poul Reumert
Afgrunden

References

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  1. ^ Engberg, Marguerite (March 1993). "The Erotic Melodrama in Danish Silent Films 1910-1918". Film History. 5 (1): 63–67.
  2. ^ Review, synopsis and link to watch the film: "A cinema history". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
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