'' Majoor Frans '' is a 1916 Dutch silent

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

directed by

Maurits Binger Maurits Binger (5 April 1868 – 9 April 1923) was a Dutch film director, producer and screenwriter of the silent era. He directed 39 films between 1913 and 1922 and is considered one of the pioneers of fictional films in the Netherlands. ...

Plot

Wealthy John von Zwenken ( Louis H. Chrispijn) lives with his daughter and son-in-law in a castle named ''De Werve''. One day, he returns from hunting and is informed that a new child has been welcomed in the family. Disappointed and ashamed that the child is a girl, John introduces her to his friends and staff as a boy. Shortly after the delivery, the mother dies and the baby is left in John's hands. Twelve years later, young Frans (

Lily Bouwmeester Lily Geertruida Maria Henriëtte Bouwmeester (28 September 1901 – 12 July 1993) was a Dutch theater and film actress, who was crowned with a Golden Calf for being "the best actress in Pre-War Dutch cinema".Willem Hunsche Willem () is a Dutch and West FrisianRienk de Haan, ''Fryske Foarnammen'', Leeuwarden, 2002 (Friese Pers Boekerij), , p. 158. masculine given name. The name is Germanic, and can be seen as the Dutch equivalent of the name William in English, Gui ...

). Her nanny's (

Paula de Waart Paula de Waart (1 January 1876 – 2 December 1938) was a Dutch film actress of the silent era. She appeared in 24 films between 1915 and 1935. Filmography * '' Het Mysterie van de Mondscheinsonate'' (1935) * '' The Man in the Background' ...

) attempts to teach her how to be a girl have been unsuccessful. Meanwhile, the Colonel receives a visit from his son Rudolf (

Willem van der Veer Willem van der Veer (26 May 1887 – 21 June 1960) was a Dutch film actor of the silent era. He appeared in 32 films between 1913 and 1937. Filmography * '' De man zonder hart'' (1937) * ''Op hoop van zegen'' (1934) * '' Het meisje met d ...

), who has been living a joyful but expensive student life in

Leiden Leiden (; in English and archaic Dutch also Leyden) is a city and municipality in the province of South Holland, Netherlands. The municipality of Leiden has a population of 119,713, but the city forms one densely connected agglomeration wit ...

). Rudolf promises to better his life, but is quickly lured back in Leiden's nightlife. All of this happens during Frans' birthday. With her grandfather absent due to a business travel, her wish is to invite aunt Roselaar ( Maria Bouwmeester-Clermont), who has not been on speaking terms with John for years, due to a huge debt. She has now been paying the money back by supporting Frans' education, and is thus shocked to find out that Frans is a girl. Because a girl requires less education money, Roselaar feels betrayed and leaves angrily. As a consequence, Frans (now

Annie Bos Johanna "Annie" Bos (10 December 1886 – 3 August 1975) was a Dutch theater and silent film actress, known as Holland's first movie star and diva. Bos started her acting career in Antwerp, but soon returned to the Netherlands and made her thea ...

) is sent to a boarding school, where she spends her years showing rebellious behavior against her superiors. She is expelled when she one day rides a horse spontaneously, but shows no remorse and returns to ''De Werve''. After a warm welcome, she finds out that her grandfather is no longer able to afford the castle, so she proposes to raise money by organizing a fox hunt. When this proves unsuccessful, she turns to her uncle Rudolf for help, though he responds by leaving to join the army. A terrible soldier, Rudolf deserts the army, but is caught and jailed. A ''De Werve'' member has been condemned a scandal, so Frans makes it her goal to help him escape, on condition that he passes the border and never returns to the Netherlands again. Following, Rolf has inherited a fortune and uses the money to co-support ''De Werve'' by moving in. Simultaneously, Frans meets Roselaar's cousin Leopold van Zonshoven ( Frederick Vogeding). Leo - who was granted the fortune meant for Frans - has been sent to ''De Werve'' by Roselaar to court Frans. Frans has never experienced love, though she feels immediately attracted to Leo. However, his attempts to financially support the family does not please her, for as her pride does not allow her to accept money from outsiders. In the heat of anger, she fights Leo and accidentally slashes him. Frans feels guilty and makes up with him, and accepts when Leo proposes to her. However, when she misinterprets that Leo will inherit all of Roselaar's money while the Von Zwenkens remain ignored, she becomes furious, until finding out that her grandfather has died of old age. Despite the financial situation, she buries him with military honor. Assuming that she will lose ''De Werve'', Frans abandons the castle and explores the world, still filled with grief. She eventually finds work at a circus, where she runs into Rudolf as her colleague. When Rolf hears about this, he feels ashamed and begs Leo to do something about it. Leo, who has bought ''De Werve'', will be traveling for a few years and offers Frans to live in the castle during his absence. There, she finds out that the Von Zwenkens are indeed included in Roselaar's fortune, and she sets out to find Leo and apologize to him. They eventually kiss and start a life together.

Cast

as Francis Mordaunt alias Majoor Frans * Frederick Vogeding as Leopold 'Leo' van Zonshoven *

Lily Bouwmeester Lily Geertruida Maria Henriëtte Bouwmeester (28 September 1901 – 12 July 1993) was a Dutch theater and film actress, who was crowned with a Golden Calf for being "the best actress in Pre-War Dutch cinema".Willem van der Veer Willem van der Veer (26 May 1887 – 21 June 1960) was a Dutch film actor of the silent era. He appeared in 32 films between 1913 and 1937. Filmography * '' De man zonder hart'' (1937) * ''Op hoop van zegen'' (1934) * '' Het meisje met d ...

as Rudolf von Zwenken * Louis H. Chrispijn as John von Zwenken *

Willem Hunsche Willem () is a Dutch and West FrisianRienk de Haan, ''Fryske Foarnammen'', Leeuwarden, 2002 (Friese Pers Boekerij), , p. 158. masculine given name. The name is Germanic, and can be seen as the Dutch equivalent of the name William in English, Gui ...

as Rolf *

as Nanny *

Christine van Meeteren Christine van Meeteren (26 April 1885 – 3 January 1973) was a Dutch film actress of the silent era. She appeared in 17 films between 1913 and 1936. Filmography * '' Komedie om geld'' (1936) * ''Majoor Frans'' (1916) * ''Het geheim van ...

as Coachman's widow * Maria Bouwmeester-Clermont as Aunt Roselaar *

Minny Erfmann Minny may refer to: * an abbreviation of the US state of Minnesota and/or the city of Minneapolis * Annelie Minny (born 1986), South African cricketer * Qischil Minny (born 1987), Indonesian footballer * Harriet Marian "Minny" Thackeray (1840-187 ...

Nola Hatterman Nola Hatterman (12 August 1899 – 8 May 1984) was a Dutch actress and painter. Hatterman was born in Amsterdam as an only child in a large house on the Middenweg in the Watergraafsmeer district. Her father was an accountant with Mirandolle, Voû ...

Jan van Dommelen Jan van Dommelen (28 April 1878 – 26 October 1942) was a Dutch film actor of the silent era. He appeared in 44 films between 1911 and 1939. Filmography * '' Boefje'' (1939) * '' De Big van het Regiment'' (1935) * '' De Familie van mijn ...

as Colonel *

Alex Benno Alex Benno (2 November 1873 – 2 April 1952) was a Dutch film actor, screenwriter and film director, director of the silent film, silent era. He appeared in 15 films between 1913 and 1920. Filmography * ''John Heriot's Wife'' (1920) * ''S ...

Lola Cornero Lola Cornero (30 March 1892 – 6 May 1980) was a Dutch film actress of the silent era. She appeared in 17 films between 1916 and 1920. Filmography * '' John Heriot's Wife'' (1920) * ''As God Made Her'' (1920) * ''Het verborgen leven'' (1 ...

Ernst Winar Ernst Winar (3 September 1894 – 28 June 1978) was a Dutch actor and film director. He appeared in 34 films between 1916 and 1955. He also directed 14 films between 1922 and 1955. In 1920 he published ''Peccavi...???'', a then-scandalous n ...

External links

* {{IMDb title, 0007009 1916 films Dutch silent feature films Dutch black-and-white films 1916 drama films Films directed by Maurits Binger Dutch drama films Silent drama films