The Abyss (1910 film)

The Abyss (Danish: Afgrunden), also known as Woman Always Pays, is a 1910 Danish silent black-and-white drama film, written and directed by Urban Gad. The lead performance and natural acting by Asta Nielsen led to her international stardom. Because of the overt eroticism of Nielsen's performance, the film was censored in Norway and Sweden.^[1]

The Abyss
"Gaucho dance" scene
Directed by	Urban Gad
Written by	Urban Gad
Produced by	Hjalmar Davidsen
Starring	Asta Nielsen Robert Dinesen
Cinematography	Alfred Lind
Production company	Kosmorama
Distributed by	Kosmorama
Release date	12 September 1910 (1910-09-12) (Denmark)
Running time	38 minutes
Country	Denmark
Language	Silent

Plot

Knud, a vicar's son, meets Magda, a piano teacher, on a tram. He falls in love with her and introduces her to his parents. She refuses to go with them to the Sunday service and convinces him to go to the circus with her. She dances with the performers and at night and one of them, Rudolf, comes to seduce her. They run away on horseback. Magda is not happy with Rudolf who keeps flirting with other girls, but she cannot leave him, despite Knud's efforts.^[2]

Cast

Asta Nielsen and Poul Reumert

Afgrunden

• Asta Nielsen as Magda Vang
• Robert Dinesen as Knud Svane, Magda's fiancé
• Poul Reumert as Rudolf Stern, circus performer
• Hans Neergaard as Peder Svane, vicar
• Hulda Didrichsen as the Vicar's wife
• Emilie Sannom as Lilly d'Estrelle, singer
• Oscar Stribolt as Waiter
• Arne Weel as garden guest
• Johannes Fønss as garden guest
• Torben Meyer