Die Augen des Ole Brandis is a fantasy silent film directed by Stellan Rye, written by Hanns Heinz Ewers, and starring Alexander Moissi, Lothar Korner and Grete Berger.
[3] One of the themes of this work seems to be to not "judge a book, by its cover", and that people aren't always internally, who they claim to be, or look like externally, hence, one should be mindful of the close friends that they keep around them as a result.
Lichtespiele in Berlin's Alexanderplatz amusement park, according to the book,[5] "Hanns Heinz Ewers und der Phantastic film" by Reinhold Keiner.
Ulla, is described, by the manuscript, as being a "...fresh, unspoiled girl from the people...", and Brandis is attempting to convey through his painting the characteristic expression of her eyes, but when he does not succeed he is left sullen and desperate.
Running the letter over his eyes as he looks at Lady Clara, Brandis is shocked to discover that she transforms from her youthful, beauty into an ugly maid with a knitted stocking in her hands and an unpleasant-looking dog in her lap.
In competition with Lady Clara de Vere over the heart of Brandis, Marga wants to marry him because he is rich and famous, and not out of any actual love and affection for the man.
Rummaging through his belongings, Brandis grabs a sharp edged dagger and points it at his chest, intending to stab himself, until Ulla arrives to stop him.
However, his mistrust of people overwhelms his ability to think clearly, and in response, Brandis takes out Coppilander's letter and waves it over his eyes to see Ulla's inner soul.
The revelation of this, prompts Brandis to breathe in response, as he realizes that maybe not all of his friends and acquaintances are as bereft of internal character as Coppilander's letter portrayed them as, and that there are some people he can trust as being as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside.
[8] The film journal, Der Kinematograph, stated that, "...after the premiere, which took place on January 9, 1914, on the occasion of the reopening of the U.-T.-Lichtspiele' on Berlin's Alexanderplatz, the review praised not only the wonderful nature shots, but also the excellent acting of the actors and especially that of Alexander Moissi-he lends Ole Brandis the charm of his personality.
"[9] The production company, Deutsche Bioscop-Gesellschaft, was also very pleased with the film stating in a booklet accompanying its premiere that the "... inherently brittle material, which places the highest artistic demands on all actors, was handled by Moissi in such a way that the psychological impossibilities appear possible and logical to the viewer.