The German silent film Drohende Wolken am Firmament/Threatening clouds in the sky (1918) was directed (probably) and written by its star, Fern Andra. It was also produced by her own studio, Fern Andra Atelier. The American actress was one of the most popular film stars of the German cinema in the 1910s and early 1920s.
![Fern Andra in Drohende Wolken am Firmament]()
German postcard by Rotophot in the Film Sterne series, no. 557/1. Photo: Fern Andra Atelier. Publicity still for Drohende Wolken am Firmament/Threatening clouds in the sky (Fern Andra, 1918). In the foreground Paul Passarge as Hans and Fern Andra as Fern, in the background Alfred Abel as the husband, doctor Alfred.
![Fern Andra in Drohende Wolken am Firmament]()
German postcard by Rotophot in the Film Sterne series, no. 557/2. Photo: Fern Andra Atelier. Publicity still of Fern Andra in Drohende Wolken am Firmament/Threatening clouds in the sky (Fern Andra, 1918).
In Drohende Wolken am Firmament/Threatening clouds in the sky, Dr. Alfred (Alfred Abel) takes a bet with his friend Hans (Paul Passarge) that he can commit adultery without being noticed. Alfred seems to manage but then he loses his wallet.
Hans finds it and uses it as proof to convince Alfred's wife Fern (Fern Andra) to agree with his indecent proposal. Alfred overhears a talk between them and suspects his wife may commit adultery.
The dramatic development in Fern's and Alfred's marriage crisis finds its redemption only when their child is in dire straits. Alfred's operation rescues the child and the couple reconciles.
Drohende Wolken am Firmament was shot during the first half of 1918 in the Fern Andra Filmatelier in Berlin's Chausseestrasse 42. The four-act film was 1170 meters long, passed the censorship in July 1918 and premiered in the following month at the Berlin U.T. Nollendorfplatz.
In Austria, it started on September 13, 1918. The version shown there was at about 1700 meters, significantly longer than the German original version. In the Austrian source Paimann’s Filmlisten one reads: "script and cinematography really good, performance outstanding."
![Fern Andra in Drohende Wolken am Firmament]()
German postcard by Rotophot in the Film Sterne series, no. 557/3. Photo: Fern Andra Atelier. Publicity still of Fern Andra in Drohende Wolken am Firmament/Threatening clouds in the sky (Fern Andra, 1918).
![Fern Andra in Drohende Wolken am Firmament]()
German postcard by Rotophot in the Film Sterne series, no. 557/4. Photo: Fern Andra Atelier. Publicity still of Fern Andra in Drohende Wolken am Firmament/Threatening clouds in the sky (Fern Andra, 1918).
Sources: Wikipedia (German) and IMDb.
German postcard by Rotophot in the Film Sterne series, no. 557/1. Photo: Fern Andra Atelier. Publicity still for Drohende Wolken am Firmament/Threatening clouds in the sky (Fern Andra, 1918). In the foreground Paul Passarge as Hans and Fern Andra as Fern, in the background Alfred Abel as the husband, doctor Alfred.
German postcard by Rotophot in the Film Sterne series, no. 557/2. Photo: Fern Andra Atelier. Publicity still of Fern Andra in Drohende Wolken am Firmament/Threatening clouds in the sky (Fern Andra, 1918).
Can he commit adultery without being noticed?
In Drohende Wolken am Firmament/Threatening clouds in the sky, Dr. Alfred (Alfred Abel) takes a bet with his friend Hans (Paul Passarge) that he can commit adultery without being noticed. Alfred seems to manage but then he loses his wallet.
Hans finds it and uses it as proof to convince Alfred's wife Fern (Fern Andra) to agree with his indecent proposal. Alfred overhears a talk between them and suspects his wife may commit adultery.
The dramatic development in Fern's and Alfred's marriage crisis finds its redemption only when their child is in dire straits. Alfred's operation rescues the child and the couple reconciles.
Drohende Wolken am Firmament was shot during the first half of 1918 in the Fern Andra Filmatelier in Berlin's Chausseestrasse 42. The four-act film was 1170 meters long, passed the censorship in July 1918 and premiered in the following month at the Berlin U.T. Nollendorfplatz.
In Austria, it started on September 13, 1918. The version shown there was at about 1700 meters, significantly longer than the German original version. In the Austrian source Paimann’s Filmlisten one reads: "script and cinematography really good, performance outstanding."
German postcard by Rotophot in the Film Sterne series, no. 557/3. Photo: Fern Andra Atelier. Publicity still of Fern Andra in Drohende Wolken am Firmament/Threatening clouds in the sky (Fern Andra, 1918).
German postcard by Rotophot in the Film Sterne series, no. 557/4. Photo: Fern Andra Atelier. Publicity still of Fern Andra in Drohende Wolken am Firmament/Threatening clouds in the sky (Fern Andra, 1918).
Sources: Wikipedia (German) and IMDb.