Willem van Oranje

Summary

Costume drama about the life of William of Orange.

The film is regarded as the first Dutch sound film. On January 4 1934, the first 'official' Dutch sound film premiered in the presence of Prince Hendrik and prime-minister Colijn. The film paid homage to William of Orange and was presented as a historic document on the history of the Netherlands, highlighting the importance of prince William's role during the Eighty Years war. His story is told in a series of short episodes, spanning his sudden rise to prince of Orange in 1844 to his murder by Balthasar Gerards in 1584.

Although the popular Jordaan musical De Jantjes had been finished slightly earlier, the title of 'first Duch sound film' went to the prestigious - and very expensive - Willem van Oranje. Director Jan Teunissen's feature debut is the only film that was ever shot in 'Philiwood' , as the Philips studios were known. The lead parts were played by famous theatre actors. The unemployed were given jobs as Spanish soldiers and anti-Spanish Dutch Geuzen (literally the Beggars, a name they proudly adopted as their own).