The Tiger of Eschnapur

1959 1h 41m DE

😐

6.3

MID

★6.3TMDB · 150

AdventureDramaRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In Eschnapur, a German architect saves the life of the Maharajah's favorite temple dancer and becomes Maharajah's friend but their friendship is tested when the architect and the dancer fall in-love, triggering the Maharajah's vengeful ire.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

Cast

Debra Paget
Seetha
Paul Hubschmid
Harald Berger / Henri Mercier (in French version)
Walther Reyer
Maharadjaj Chandra
Claus Holm
Dr. Walter Rhode
Sabine Bethmann
Irene Rhode
Luciana Paluzzi
Baharani - Seetha's Servant
René Deltgen
Prince Ramigani
Valéry Inkijinoff
Yama

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Fritz Lang
Writers: Fritz Lang, Werner Jörg Lüddecke, Richard Eichberg
Languages: German
Countries: France, Germany, Italy

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 / 8

ERA

Did you know

67 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: France, Germany, Italy.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "The Indian Tomb (CCC Film) Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Fritz Lang, shot by Richard Angst. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Walter Wischniewsky shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Debra Paget and Paul Hubschmid and Walther Reyer carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0052295 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Fritz Lang directs. Richard Angst behind the camera. Michel Michelet scores. Walter Wischniewsky cuts. Produced in France, Germany, Italy. Dialogue in German.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

167 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2International production across 3 countries: France, Germany, Italy.
3Part of the "The Indian Tomb (CCC Film) Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
4Directed by Fritz Lang, shot by Richard Angst. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Michel Michelet. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Walter Wischniewsky shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Debra Paget and Paul Hubschmid and Walther Reyer carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt0052295 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Richard Angst
Original score: Michel Michelet
Editing: Walter Wischniewsky
Costume design: Claudia Hahne-Herberg
Makeup / hair: Jupp Paschke
Runtime: 101 min · 1h 41m
Status: Released
Box office: $4,673
Original language: DE
IMDB: The Tiger of Eschnapur (1959)

Part of

The Indian Tomb (CCC Film) Collection

Also by

Fritz Lang

Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Wuchak2026-06-13
★ 6/10
A German Architect goes to northwest India to meet the maharajah… and a dancer This is the first of Fritz Lang's duology referred to as his Indian Epic; the second part being "The Indian Tomb,” which was released later the same year, 1959. Both films were heavily edited down into a 95-minute movie for American audiences called "Journey to the Lost City" and released the following year, which heavily trimmed Debra Paget's iconic dance sequences due to the Hays Office. Anyone who likes adventure flicks such as “Princess of the Nile,” "Legend of the Lost,” "The Vengeance of She,” "Raiders of the Lost Ark,” "Octopussy" and “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” should appreciate either installment of the Indian Epic, although the second part’s noticeably superior (as detailed below). They feature spectacular palaces, heroes, villains, rivalry, danger, swords, beautiful women, romantic passion, elephants, tigers, snakes, torches, caverns, dungeons, temples, honorable monks and all-around high adventure. Each includes a 3-minute dance scene by Debra Paget as Eurasian Seetha, both equally well done, but the sequence in “The Indian Tomb” features her in more revealing (non)attire. I prefer the sequence in this one, which was obviously borrowed from the same in “Princess of Nile” five years earlier. Debra's performances are just as good or better than Brigid Bazlen’s routine in "King of Kings" and Salma Hayek's in "From Dusk Till Dawn.” Believe it or not, Seetha’s servant, Bharani, is played by none other than Luciana Paluzzi, who went on to fame as Fiona in “Thunderball” six years later. Speaking of James Bond, there’s a tiger-fighting sequence in the last act in which Paul Hubschmid glaringly prefigures 007, three years before the suave Bond would make it to cinema with “Dr. No.” Unfortunately, I found this first part of Lang’s duology disappointing compared to the second part. It’s more subdued and all around less compelling, yet it clearly influenced “Temple of Doom” 25 years later. As such, I suggest watching “The Indian Tomb” seeing as how it's not absolutely necessary to view this film in order to enjoy that one since it includes a recap at the outset. If you enjoy that one, then catch this. However, if you’re adamant about seeing the entire duology then, by all means, see them in order. You’ll be pleased by how the entertainment value improves with “The Indian Tomb.” It runs 1h 40h (the same as the following film) and was shot Aug-Nov 1958 in Udaipur in northwestern India in the state of Rajasthan, areas that were normally barred from Western film crews up to that point. Interiors were shot at Spandau Studios in Berlin. "Octopussy" later used some of the same India locations. GRADE: B-

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