Valdemar Psilander
Acting
Biography
Valdemar Einar Psilander was a Danish actor hugely prevalent in early 20th century cinema, dubbed a popular world star of his time, achieving great success among many European audiences. He notably appeared in 83 films while working with Nordisk Film, whereof only 27 have survived, before his untimely death at the height of his career in 1917.
Born: May 9, 1884
Place of Birth: Copenhagen, Denmark
Known For
The Film in the Film
The only surviving excerpt of a documentary on film production in Weimar Germany, featuring the different personalities of several famous directors of the era at work on the set including Fritz Lang, Robert Wiene, and E.A. Dupont.
The Right of Youth
Court huntsman, Søtoft, is courting his daughter Else’s lady-in-waiting, Miss Engelke. That’s why it’s a bit of a punch in the stomach when, late one evening, he discovers his son Ove in close contact with her. Chamberlain von Plessen, who had been gossiping to Søtoft and is himself spying on the young couple, is going to set fire to the room they’re in. The hurt Søtoft wants to leave the young couple to their cruel fate – that is until he discovers that it’s not Engelke, but his daughter Else, who is trapped in the flames with her brother. (Stumfilm.dk)
Goofy Movies Number Two
A satire on movie newsreels combines with humorous narration of silent screen footage in this one reel comedy short.
The Black Chancellor
Chancellor von Rallenstein is terrorizing the country. He even forces Princess Irene to marry Prince Deima, even though she is already engaged to her true love, Pawlow. When Rallenstein finds out about their secret wedding, he furiously sets out to sabotage the marriage. (stumfilm.dk)
The Clown
The circus clown Joe Higgins is scouted by a world famous artist agent, who promises him fame and fortune. Joe takes the offer on one condition: His fiancèe Daisy and her parents are coming with him. Soon, Joe finds himself performing on the biggest stages in the city, enthralling his audience night after night. But the glamorous life in the big city is no fairy tale after all.
Temptations of a Great City
Mrs. Hellertz is distraught about her son Aage, who – in spite of a good pay and generous support from home – manages to spend every penny on debauchery in the night life. He indebts himself deeply and falls into the clutches of a malicious loan shark who is out for Mrs. Hellertz's fortune. To complicate things further, Aage starts a relationship with the loan shark's beautiful daughter. (Stumfilm.dk)
The Candle and the Moth
Young hothead Billy, quick to speak and drifting into a life of crime, has many encounters the community's lay preacher, John Redmond. Billy's conscience stirs as Redmond recounts his life's story. Holger-Madsen supplied three different endings for the film's various releases.
Alone with the Devil
The manufacturer Laroque stops at nothing when trying to destroy his enemies, and this time Fréderic Nessières, one of his competitors, is in the line of fire. With his diabolical, hypnotic power, Laroque has snared Nessières’s wife, Madeleine, in his evil web, and she will now do anything to help her husband’s enemy. But even though Laroque’s first plan to ruin Nessières fails, he does not give up. Once he has selected a victim, he will quite literally fight to the death to vanquish them. (stumfilm.dk)
The Man Without a Future
While holidaying, the beautiful heiress Grace meets the love of her life. Percy Fancourt is a cowboy and hardly a suitable match for a millionaire’s daughter – at least not if you ask her father. Reluctantly, she returns home. Then, a surprising piece of news reaches heartbroken Percy: a huge estate in London has been willed to him as sole heir. Will his newfound wealth make his marriage to Grace possible? (stumfilm.dk)
Love the Conqueror
Alice, the seventeen-year-old daughter of millionaire John Payne, is dying. Doctor Sheldon, deep in grief due to the very recent loss of his wife, reluctantly agrees to help and saves Alice’s life at the very last minute. While he was treating his patient, a fire has broken out in his home, and upon his return the sight of the flames consuming the flower-covered coffin still laid out in the living room takes a heavy toll on his psyche. He is admitted to a mental hospital, where Payne and Alice’s frequent visits help him get back on his feet. But darkness still lurks in a corner of his mind. (Stumfilm.dk)
Filmography
as Man (archive footage) (uncredited)
as Self
as Ludvig Romay - Actor
as Peter Niemand
as William Sheldon
as Klovnen Joe Higgins
as Percy Fancourt, cowboy på ranchen
as Marc-Arron, premiereløjtnant
as Erik von Wimpfen
as John Redmond, Evangeliemanden
as Fréderic Nessières, fabrikant
as Poul Holck - Artist
as Fritz Lobheimer
as Hans, Goldstein's son
as Hans Berner
as Løjtnant Parlow
as Frank Harvey - skuespiller
as Chas Burns
as Grev Willy von Rosenörn
as Paul Rich, painter
as Andrew Larson
as Poul, skovfoged
as Johan Waldberg, greve
as Aage Hellertz
as Doctor Willy Prager