Directing
Franz Osten
Born December 23, 1876 · Munich, Germany
Died December 2, 1956 · aged 79
Franz Osten (23 December 1876 in Munich – 2 December 1956) was a Bavarian filmmaker who along with Himansu Rai was among the first retainers of Bombay Talkies. Osten partnered with Rai on a number of India's earliest blockbuster films like Achhut Kanya and Jeevan Naiya.
Known For
Savitri · 1937Savitri
★ 10.01937
Movie
The love story from the 'Mahabharata'. Savitri, a heroine born through divine benediction to Ashwapati, marries Satyavan, the son of an exiled and blinded hermit, although he is scheduled to die soon.
A Throw of Dice · 1929A Throw of Dice
★ 6.31929
MovieDramaAdventure
Two neighboring kings addicted to gambling, Ranjit and his cousin Sohat, vie for the same beautiful young woman, Sunita, daughter of the hermit Kanwa.
Durga · 1939Durga
★ 10.01939
MovieDrama
Rural melodrama about Durga, an adolescent child of nature, living with her aged mother Heera. Unable to get the medicine required to prevent her mother's death, one misfortune after another befalls the heroine in spite of the sympathies of the newly arrived village doctor, Jawahar.
Mother · 1936Mother
★ 10.01936
Movie
An early drama starring Devika Rani, was a social drama exploring motherly love, family bonds, and sacrifice.
The Light of Asia · 1925The Light of Asia
★ 6.51925
MovieDrama
Living an indolent life in a luxurious palace, Prince Gautama (Rai) is insulated by his family from the harshness of the world outside. But he is destined to learn greater truths: shocked to discover the pain and suffering of so many in his kingdom, he abandons his privileged existence, and his wife Gopa (Seeta Devi), to become a wandering teacher, eventually finding enlightenment and founding Buddhism. Featuring superimposed images and deep-focus shots that were highly impressive for the time, Light of Asia astutely combines a deeply felt spirituality with the surefire attraction of Indian exotica, which helped make it a considerable success in Europe.
The Judas of Tyrol · 1933The Judas of Tyrol
★ 5.51933
MovieHistory
In the year 1810, the Tyrol is suffering under French occupation. A servant, who believes himself oppressed and disenfranchised by the peasants, dreams of being allowed to play Christ in the yearly Passion Play. Instead, he is forced to play Judas and soon the lines of reality blur: he betrays the location of Andreas Hofer, hidden by the farmers, breaks under the weight of his guilt and suffers Judas' fate.
Shiraz: A Romance of India · 1928Shiraz: A Romance of India
★ 6.01928
MovieRomanceDrama
A historical romance set in the Mughal Empire. A potter's son falls for the foundling girl he was raised alongside, unaware she carries royal blood. When slavers abduct her and sell her into the household of a Mughal prince, he follows her to the imperial court at Agra — risking his life to reach her, in a story that imagines the origins of the Taj Mahal.
Youth Astray · 1927Youth Astray
★ 9.01927
MovieDrama
What the children conceal from their parents. Banned at first in Europe. Released in the U.S.















