Willem van Oranje

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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).

Information

original title
Willem van Oranje
alternative title
Prins Willem van Oranje
production year
1934
censorship date
07-12-1933
release date
04-01-1934
country
Netherlands
category
Fictional
director
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Images

Cast

Actor

Crew

Technical notations

runtime
75 min / Archival print: 67
language
Dutch
original length
2047
censorship length
2047
sound
Sound
colour
Black & White
format
35mm
acts
7

Resources

K. Dittrich, Achter het doek: Duitse immigranten in de Nederlandse speelfilm in de jaren dertig, Houten (1987), p. 123

Centrale Commissie voor de Filmkeuring (Nationaal Archief; A4146)

more information

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