Addressing issues of domestic abuse and gender roles, Master of the House brings a daring and revolutionary script for the 1920s. It is quite unfortunate, however, that the film suffers from pacing issues and a generic piano score, especially during the middle part of the film. My biggest complaint is how tone-deaf the soundtrack felt when playing ecstatic and blissful pieces during moments of heartfelt drama. Although sometimes it fit the theme well, this was seldom. Had it considered tweaking these noticeable flaws, this film would easily feel timeless and legendary.

carl theodor dreyer a feminist icon!!!!

Du skal ære din hustru
Oh wow, this film was not what I expected from a 1920s silent film. Viktor (played by Johannes Meyer) is the man of the house, and rules his household with a rod of iron. He never has a nice word to say to his wife Ida (played by Astrid Holm) who slaves day and night for him and their children, and neglects herself as they go through a time of financial hardship. He may however have met his match in the form of Mads, his old nursemaid (played by Mathilde Nielsen).
I would never have expected a film from the early 20th century to have portrayed a marriage in this way, to have suggested that women aren't men's slaves and aren't of less worth than men. Sadly there are still many Viktors in the world, but hopefully fewer than there were 90 years ago.

A solid morality play about a tyrannical husband who learns that he must respect and appreciate his wife properly.

It is wild how Dreyer went from something like this to THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC in just a few years. That's like going from directing an episode of Coronation Street to making Eraserhead or something.

Of course the best thing about this is how it ends with a bunch of title cards about how you need to respect your wife & how wonderful she is and then it cuts to a card reading 'SLUT' (Danish for 'the end'). I laughed so hard. Proper unintentional comedy.

In certain aspects Carl Theodor Dreyer's THE MASTER OF THE HOUSE (1925), or the orginal title DU SKAL ÆRE DIN HUSTRU, comes off like an old-fashioned version of PHANTOM THREAD (2017). Protagonist Viktor act like the arrogant Woodcock, a tyrant who demands control and power, while his caretaker 'Mads' becomes his challeging counterpart. Viktor demoralizes and taunts his wife Ida, who eventually breaks down and force Viktor to reconsider his behavior.

Thus, Dreyer dwells into interesting subjects of gender roles and love, but oh does the lengendary filmmaker create something dull here. THE MASTER OF THE HOUSE is overly long and its messages are tediously repeated and thrown in your face. Neither is there really anything interesting going on visually. The film definitely feels like a Dreyer who hasn't found his style yet and it's difficult to believe that only three years later the director would make the technical marvel that is THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC (1928).

pretty sure i woulda slit his throat at breakfast

Family as patriarchal violence. A rather simple exercise by Dreyer, not taking many chances as he just tries to develop the film as a direct sattire without losing his potent dramatic focus.

Everything is great about Carl Theodor Dreyer.
The last just good film, from the master, before he started making some of the greatest masterpieces of all cinema.

Film School Drop Outs 2018

Week 3 - Movement - Scandinavian Silent Cinema in the 1920s

No, I have not given up on Film School Drop Outs 2018. Yes, I am doing terribly at it.

I honestly enjoyed watching Viktor being a deplorable jackass more than anything, and when that stopped, I was quite disappointed. Dreyer going from this to The Passion Of Joan Of Arc with only one film in between is quite incredible though.

I enjoyed this a lot. Easily one of my favorite silent films, only behind Dreyer’s Passion of Joan of Arc and some Chaplin films. Extremely entertaining and quite impressive for the time it was made, especially in regards to the themes of this movie. If anyone is looking for a surprisingly progressive silent film, check this one out.

The great Dreyer making a good movie. That's not a compliment. A step back from his previous 'Michael'.

The closest the cute Dreyer may have gotten. It's a light comedy about the ever common theme of Dreyer, the tyranny of men against women. Progressive for 1925, but a bit too long for such a simple idea. It's still entertaining and you can see hints of what was to come further down his career.

Dreyer remains a maestro of storytelling, even in the early days of the cinematic form.

There’s a great deal of nuance in Master of the House’s organic (even languid) pacing and acting, and it kept me hooked every minute. The interior cinematography is comprised mostly of searing portraits, while the exteriors are ultra-grim wide (sometimes tracking) shots. It got under my skin in a way I didn’t expect.

Turns out this actually is a pretty Decembery film, with its Christmas Carol type of story where a despicable man goes through a radical change to become a better man. Obviously, Dreyer would go on to make better films, but this is still clearly made by a cinematic master.

Alternate title: What's He Gonna Bitch About Now?

You gotta sleep sometime, mofo.

Mads FTW!

Very ahead of its time in message! Fun to watch young Dreyer play around.

Criterion Blu-ray.

I've seen it at the French Cinémathèque with very fine piano accompaniment.

It's a very modern film in its imagery, funny and it carries a message which - unfortunately - has not aged so much. Excellent!

Thematically ahead of its time, but Dreyer is still learning the language of cinema, using intertitles as a crutch and leaving in unnecessary scenes. And by the end, there's no doubt what the movie was about, as the message has been drilled into your head a dozen times.