Variety (1925)

In the bleak confines of a prison cell, "Boss" Huller, a convicted murderer and former trapeze artist, finally breaks his decade-long silence. He unravels his tale to the warden: once a proud performer who, with his wife, ran a risqué side-show, but always yearned for the glittering life he once knew under the circus big top. The arrival of Berta-Marie, an alluring orphan, becomes a turning point in his life. He is ensnared by her charm, abandoning his wife and son to form an electrifying trapeze duo with her. Their daring performances catch the eye of the renowned Artinelli, a trapeze artist of unparalleled fame, who invites them to join his illustrious show in the heart of Berlin. Their death-defying salto mortale becomes an overnight sensation, catapulting them into the spotlight. However, tragedy lurks in the shadows as the calculating and icy Artinelli, scheming with ruthless precision, seduces Berta-Marie, shattering "Boss'" newfound happiness and setting him on a path of destruction.

Variety is a crime movie featuring Emil Jannings and directed by E.A. Dupont.

Variety is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.