Wagner: Das Rheingold

1980 2h 26m DE

👍

7.1

SOLID

★7.1TMDB · 5

Music

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

This is a beautifully conducted and thoughtfully staged performance of the first opera (the prologue) in Wagner's Ring Cycle. As soon as the clouds of mist have dissipated, while the daring, long-held opening chord is still reverberating, the screen clears to show not only the River Rhine and the three maidens (dressed like prostitutes in this production) assigned to guard the gold hidden there. It also shows an enormous dam (not mentioned in Wagner's text). This is the underwater base of a hydroelectric plant, and its presence tells us two things immediately: that this production takes the story out of the vaguely medieval fantasy world in which Wagner had placed it, and that a basic theme of the four-opera cycle would be power. Alberich, the Nibelung, is willing to renounce the love of women, after stealing the gold from the Rhine, to become the ruler of the world. Another basic theme is greed.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Donald McIntyre
Wotan
Martin Egel
Donner
Siegfried Jerusalem
Froh
Heinz Zednik
Loge
Matti Salminen
Fasolt
Fritz Hübner
Fafner
Hermann Becht
Alberich
Helmut Pampuch
Mime

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Brian Large
Writers: Richard Wagner
Languages: German
Countries: Germany

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

46 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

CRAFT

Did you know

Part of the "Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen 1980" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Richard Wagner. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Donald McIntyre and Martin Egel and Siegfried Jerusalem carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0275631 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

Only 5 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Brian Large directs. Richard Wagner scores. Produced in Germany. Dialogue in German.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

146 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Part of the "Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen 1980" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Original score by Richard Wagner. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Donald McIntyre and Martin Egel and Siegfried Jerusalem carry the top of the cast.
6IMDB entry: tt0275631 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Only 5 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.