Joyless Street (1925)

In the shadowy aftermath of World War I, the heart of Vienna throbs with a desperate rhythm. A clique of cunning millionaires hatch a plot to manipulate the stock market with whispers of falsehoods and half-truths, intending to send it spiralling before resurrecting it with the truth. Amongst them is the ambitious Egon Stirner, hopelessly entangled in a web of love and deceit. He yearns for the wealthy Regina Rosenow, but his affections are met with skepticism. Stirner's complicated love life further spirals as he is embroiled in a clandestine affair with Lia Leid, the wife of a well-heeled Dr. Leid, whom he approaches for a loan to feed his stock market ambitions. Simultaneously, Egon's secretary, Marie, nurses an unrequited love for him, opting to secure a loan from Mrs. Greifer, the ruthless owner of a brothel nestled in the impoverished Melchior Street. Don Alfonso Canez, a wealthy opportunist, offers to provide the funds, sparking a chain of events that lead to a mysterious murder and false accusations. Across town, bureaucrat Hofrat Rumfort is blissfully ignorant of the market manipulation, falsely believing his fortune has grown with the stock market's apparent downfall. His daughter, Greta, loses her job amidst the economic turmoil and is forced to rent a room in their apartment to an American Red Cross Lieutenant. The significant rent payment, however, is siphoned off by her father's relentless creditors, pushing Greta towards the dire path of prostitution in Mrs. Greifer's brothel. As the lives of these desperate characters intertwine amidst the backdrop of a crumbling economy, Joyless Street paints a vivid portrait of survival, ambition, and the steep price of love. What does fate have in store for Greta, Egon, and the rest of Vienna's inhabitants caught in this merciless dance of desire and despair? Embark on this gripping journey and find out.

Joyless Street is a drama movie featuring Werner Krauß and directed by G.W. Pabst.

Joyless Street is currently streaming on Fandor Amazon Channel.

It is also possible to buy Joyless Street on Amazon Video.