Cast
- Emil Jannings as Robert Herne: The main protagonist of the movie. The film follows his life from that of a normal man to that of corrupt dictator over a period of 20 years.
- John Gottowt as Algol: An Alien presumably from the planet orbiting the Algol star. He gives Robert Herne an advanced alien machine allowing him to produce unlimited energy reserves. The motivations of Algol for providing such a technological device to a less advanced culture are not made clear or examined further during the movie.
- Hans Adalbert Schlettow as Peter Hell: The son of Herne's friend Maria. He lives in the one part of the world over which Herne still has no influence. As that countries coal supplies are exhausted however he travels to meet Herne only to be told that no assistance can be provided for his people. He eventually returns to his mother and his homeland without access to the machine but with Magda (Herne's daughter).
- Hanna Ralph as Maria Obal: Maria and Herne met in the coal mines before his encounter with Algol and became friends. During his rise to power however they lost touch and she moved to live in the one part of the world over which he has no control. Following her sons unsuccessful attempts to negotiate an energy source for their people she recalls her once close friendship with Robert and decides to visit him in person. It is partly her influence which makes him realise what he has become; a realisation which ultimately leads to him destroying the machine.
- Erna Morena as Yella Ward.
- Ernst Hofmann as Reginald Herne: Robert Herne’s son and chosen successor. Despite his fathers promises to one day show him the secrets of the machine he becomes hungry for power and seeks to overthrow his father by means of a coup. Robert however destroys the machine before his son can learn its secrets.
- Gertrude Welcker as Leonore Nissen.
- Käthe Haack as Magda Herne: Robert Herne’s daughter. Following her fathers refusal to provide energy to Maria’s country she realises the extent to which he has become corrupted and chooses to leave with Peter.
- Sebastian Droste as a dancer
Read more about this topic: Algol (film)
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