Die Heilige und ihr Narr (1928): Besetzung, Handlung & Streaming

Released in 1928, Die Heilige und ihr Narr is a drama and liebesfilm film directed by William Dieterle, running about 99 minutes.

What it’s about. Agnes Günther’s heart-rending fairy tale dazzled turn-of-the-century German audiences and sold hundreds of thousands of copies before being adapted into this tale of timeless passion, the beautiful The Saint and the Fool. The unapologetically sentimental classic was directed by Wilhelm Dieterle, who launched a successful career in Weimar cinema before becoming known for romantic, lush melodramas and technicolor extravaganzas, including 1945′s Marlene Dietrich unforgettable Love Letters. The dashing Dieterle himself plays Harrogate, Earl of Torstein, whose star-crossed love for the luminous Rosemarie of Brauneck (Lien Deyers, discovered by Fritz Lang) is further doomed by royal heroes and villains, the requisite evil stepmother, and fantastical elements that channel the intoxicating romance of Camille through the magic of the Brothers Grimm.

Who’s in it. Die Heilige und ihr Narr stars William Dieterle as Harro, Graf von Torstein, Lien Deyers as Rosemarie von Brauneck, Gina Manès as Fürstin von Brauneck and Sophie Pagay as Tante Uli, among others.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Die Heilige und ihr Narr page.

If you liked it. Fans of Die Heilige und ihr Narr tend to enjoy Die Verurteilten, Der Pate, Schindlers Liste and Der Pate - Teil II.