Live piano accompaniment: Hilde Nash.
Oscar Krug, an old sea dog, returns to his native village in Maine after many years. As he walks through the deserted streets, he muses on the past. In a flash, he sees himself as the middle-aged German-American who, when the United States entered the war in 1917, was suddenly confronted with mistrust and hostility because of his heritage.
To prove his patriotism, he enlists as a captain in the navy. But his loyalty is put to the test when he secretly marries Alice Morse, the daughter of a wealthy family. Her father disapproves of the marriage, after which Alice joins Oscar on his ship.
Then a terrible fate strikes when a German submarine sets its sights on their ship. What follows is a deeply disturbing story of xenophobic hatred, sexual violence, and horrific revenge. Featuring a large-scale brawl and extensive scenes aboard a submarine, this action-packed film also carries one of the most shocking climaxes of the silent film era.
The film is introduced by Bruno Mestdagh.
In collaboration with San Francisco Film Preserve.
