Mania (1918 film)

Mania is a German silent film produced in 1918, starring Pola Negri. It was directed by Eugen Illés. The film is notable for its explicit content and its early example of Negri's star power, although it's also considered lost, with no known complete copies surviving.

The plot centers around a young dancer named Mania, played by Negri, who becomes involved in a torrid affair with an artist. Her beauty and charm attract the attention of numerous men, leading to complex and often scandalous relationships. The story explores themes of passion, infidelity, and the destructive nature of unchecked desire.

While the film elevated Negri's career, its explicit nature meant it was subject to censorship and cuts, even during its initial release. Contemporary accounts suggest the film included scenes of nudity and suggestive behavior that were considered daring for the era.

The loss of Mania is a significant blow to film history, as it represents a crucial early work in the career of one of cinema's first international stars and offers insights into the changing social and moral attitudes of the late 1910s. Fragments and stills are all that remain to provide a glimpse into this once controversial and influential film.