The theater of lies is not contemptible if it expresses itself through truth, sincerity and the beauty of a face. We have to thank director Hanns Schwarz. He gave us the possibility to see our faith in actress Brigitte Helm confirmed. He freed this woman from the rigid mask imposed upon her by unpropitious teachers. This beautiful, elegant, sensitive, expressive face is now free. And with that something has already been accomplished. Such a way of moving, of walking through the space, of dressing (and the emotions, with a certain calm and with restraint), this is more than style. Maybe it’s already personality. Maybe tomorrow it will be great art. Tomorrow. Today the director’s joy in having broken the spell of the mask is still too great. The actress moves for one second too long, showing the good side of her profile, and she lifts her head, lowering her eyelashes for one second too long… “Stay in that position Ms. Helm, you’re wonderfully photogenic!”…This could be the road to kitsch. Or to recognizing the desired effect thanks to new frugality. We believe in this lady’s art for the future. And this film will get people talking about her abroad.

Hanns G. Lustig, “Tempo”; in Der Film der Weimarer Republik 1929, Berlin-New York, Walter de Gruyter, 1993