''Master of the House'' ( da, Du skal ære din hustru, literally ''Thou Shalt Honour Thy Wife'') is a 1925 Danish silent drama film directed and written by acclaimed filmmaker

Carl Theodor Dreyer Carl Theodor Dreyer (; 3 February 1889 – 20 March 1968), commonly known as Carl Th. Dreyer, was a Danish film director and screenwriter. Widely considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, his movies are noted for their emotional aus ...

. The film marked the debut of

Karin Nellemose Karin Nellemose (3 August 1905 – 5 August 1993), was a Danish actress in the theatre and in Danish cinema. She was the sister of sculptor Knud Nellemose (1908–1997). In ''Matador'' (Danish produced and first shown between 1978 and 1982) s ...

, and is regarded by many as a classic of Danish cinema.

Plot

Viktor Frandsen, embittered by losing his business, is a tyrant at home, constantly criticizes his patient, hard-working wife Ida and their three children. He does not appreciate the effort it takes to maintain a household. While his wife is resigned and browbeaten, his old nanny, nicknamed "Mads" by all, openly defends her. When Ida's mother, Mrs. Kryger, pays a visit, he is very rude to her. Finally, he issues an ultimatum: either Mrs. Kryger and the openly hostile Mads (who regularly helps the family) are gone by the time he returns, or the marriage is over. Mads orchestrates a plan that will force him to rethink his notions of being the head of a household. With the help of Mrs. Kryger, she persuades a very reluctant Ida to go away for a while and rest, while she sees to Viktor and the children. Then, she institutes a new regime, ordering Viktor to take over many of Ida's duties; Viktor obeys, cowed by his memories of the strict discipline she imposed on him when he was a child in her care. Meanwhile, Ida, no longer distracted by her many duties, feels the full misery of her situation and has a breakdown. As time goes by, Viktor comes to fully appreciate his wife and, as he does love her dearly, longs for her return. When Ida, fully recovered, is finally allowed to come back, Viktor and the children are ecstatic. Ida's mother then shows him a newspaper advertisement offering an optometrist's shop for sale and gives him a check to buy it.

Reception

The film has been evaluated as a "spare, compassionate, and astute social satire".

Home media

''Master of the House'' was released to the

Criterion Collection The Criterion Collection, Inc. (or simply Criterion) is an American home-video distribution company that focuses on licensing, restoring and distributing "important classic and contemporary films." Criterion serves film and media scholars, cinep ...

on Blu-ray and DVD.

Cast

* Johannes Meyer as Viktor Frandsen *

Astrid Holm Astrid Holm (born Astrid Vilhelmine Rasmussen; 29 March 1893 – 29 October 1961) was a Danish theater and film actress whose career began on the stage and in the early silent film era. Early life and stage career Born Astrid Vilhelmine Rasmuss ...

as Ida Frandsen *

as Karen Frandsen, their oldest child *

Mathilde Nielsen Mathilde Nielsen (26 October 1858 – 11 September 1945) was a Danish actress in the theatre and in Danish cinema. She was known as a figure of matriarchy in Danish film. Selected filmography *'' Hævnens nat'' 1916 *'' Prästänkan'' 1920 *'' ...

as "Mads" *

Clara Schønfeld Clara Schønfeld (born Clara Julie Christensen; 26 August 1856 – 5 May 1938) was a Danish stage and film actress whose career spanned from the late 19th century through the 1920s. Career Born Clara Julie Christensen in Roskilde, Zealand, she w ...

as Alvilda Kryger * Johannes Nielsen as Doctor *

Petrine Sonne Petrine Sonne (25 November 1870 – 26 May 1946) was a Danish stage and film actress. Born Johanne Petrine Møller in Copenhagen, she was the sister of actor and cartoonist Valdemar Møller. Filmography *''Du skal ære din hustru'' - 1925 * ...

as Laundress *

Aage Hoffman Aage is a Danish masculine given name and a less common spelling of the Norwegian given name Åge. Variants include the Swedish name Åke. People with the name Aage include: *Aage Bendixen (1887–1973), Danish actor * Aage Berntsen (1885–195 ...

as Dreng, son * Byril Harvig as Barnet, son *

Viggo Lindstrøm Viggo Lindstrøm (12 January 1858 – 17 June 1926) was a Danish actor and theatre director, founder of Det Ny Teater in Copenhagen. He was married to the actress Vera Lindstrøm. Biography Lindstrøm was born on 12 January 1858 in Copenhag ...

Aage Schmidt Aage is a Danish masculine given name and a less common spelling of the Norwegian given name Åge. Variants include the Swedish name Åke. People with the name Aage include: *Aage Bendixen (1887–1973), Danish actor * Aage Berntsen (1885–195 ...

*Vilhelm Petersen

References

External links

* * *
''Master of the House: In the Corner''
an essay by Mark Le Fanu at the

{{DEFAULTSORT:Master of the House 1925 films 1925 drama films Danish drama films Danish silent films Danish Culture Canon Films directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer Danish black-and-white films Danish films based on plays Silent drama films