Alraune (1952 film)

Lore & Background

The plot follows Professor Jacob ten Brinken (Erich von Stroheim), who loses his university position due to his interest in artificial insemination. He artificially impregnates a prostitute with sperm from a hanged murderer, and raises the resulting child, Alraune (Hildegard Knef). As an adult, Alraune becomes involved with medical student Frank Braun (Karlheinz Böhm), who initially loves her but later recoils after learning of her ability to lure men to their demise. Alraune then uses her sexual appeal to manipulate men, leading to several deaths. Eventually, Frank returns and accepts her, but after a final confrontation, Alraune dies, and ten Brinken is arrested for his role in the events.

Reader's Guide

Alraune (1952) is significant as the fifth film adaptation of Hanns Heinz Ewers' novel, and for its controversial reception. The church spoke against the film due to its topic of artificial insemination, and the script went through 16 versions to balance the 'magically demonic element' with Catholic sensibilities. The cast was considered all-star, with Erich von Stroheim, a renowned silent film director, and Hildegard Knef, who had international fame. The film's English-dubbed version was released in 1957 as Unnatural: The Fruit of Evil. The film's legacy includes its influence on later works, such as a character named Professor Ten Brincken in Kim Newman's vampire novel The Bloody Red Baron, and a comic book miniseries Alraune (1998–2004) by Tony Greis.

Did You Know?

• The film was originally titled Alraune and later renamed Unnatural: The Fruit of Evil for its 1957 English-dubbed release.
• Erich von Stroheim had the right to write his own dialogues, and he submitted new pages of text each morning during filming.
• The film's soundtrack includes two songs sung by Hildegard Knef, with lyrics by Robert Gilbert.
• The film depicts Alraune's face fading into a grotesque mandrake root, reflecting the plant's folklore associations with both good fortune and death.