1921 saw the beginning of the exodus to Germany of actors, directors, cameramen and technicians, left without work in their home- land. And towards the end of the year, Ghione and Sambucini also took the train for Berlin. Almost at once Ghione had the opportunity to direct a film at National-Film. National belonged to the actress Fern Andra, who reserved for herself the role of the Refined Lady alongside Ghione, who for the first time proposed to the German public, who had been offered no Italian films since 1915 on account of the war, the personage of Za la Mort. To Sambucini, who in Germany was presented as Kally Sam, went the role of Za la Vie, passionate lover of the apache and ferocious antagonist of Andra. The film was shot during 1922, the interiors in Berlin and the exteriors on the island of Rugen: originally it was in two series, respectively of 1807 and 1493 metres. Submitted to the censor, it was rejected, but when presented a second time in a one-part version of six acts and 1979 metres, it obtained, after a further clipping of thirty or so metres, its certificate and was initially released in the Berlin “Marmorhaus” on 1 May 1924. The review in “Vorwarts” (Berlin, 4 May 1924) noted that the appearance of Za la Mort in the low dive and this actor-director, unknown to the German public, had instantly made an impression by his extraordinary looks.

Vittorio Martinelli