A Throw of Dice

Inspired by an episode from ancient Hindu epic The Mahabharata, this rousing 1929 melodrama from director Franz Osten has been described as a "cross between Chaplin, Cecil B DeMille and an early Bollywood movie" by composer Nitin Sawhney, who has provided a new score for the overlooked silent gem. Chronicling the rivalry between kings Charu Roy and Himansu Rai for the heart of hermit's daughter Seeta Devi, it's an old-fashioned morality tale about the evils of gambling and the enduring power of true love. Filmed on location in Rajasthan in order to vividly capture the sub-continent's wildlife and breathtaking landscapes, and boasting over 10,000 extras, it is not always a subtle experience, with Rai in particular indulging in an excess of eye-rolling pantomimic villainy. But Emil Schünemann's cinematography is achingly beautiful and Osten often rivals the exotica produced earlier in the decade by silent masters Ernst Lubitsch, Joe May and Fritz Lang.