埃里克．冯．施特罗海姆导演的此片，在1952年比利时蒙达尔国际电影节评选的电影诞生以来的12部“最佳影片中”名列第七；在1952、1962年英国《画与音响》评选的10部“最佳影片”中，名列第七和第四位；在1958年比利时布鲁塞尔世界博览会评选电影“最佳电影”中，该片名列第六；在1978年《标题》杂志刊登的电影诞生以来的100部“最佳影片”中，名列第18位。故事主要描写麦克．蒂格和马库斯．斯科勒这对好友因五千美元彩券而变得凶残成性，贪婪吝啬，最后引出一系列的悲剧的过ddd

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　　ThesettingisViennain1914beforetheoutbreakofwar.ThearistocraticandsomewhatjadedPrinceNicki,pursuedbyalltheladies,beginsaflirtationwithMitzi,acrippledharpistwhoworksinasuburbanwine-garden,andwhoisinturnidolizedbySchani,anuncouthandviolentlyjealousbutcher.TheirfirstencountersignificantlytakesplaceinfrontofSt.Stephen'sCathedralonCorpusChristiday,withNickiamongtheemperor'scavalryregiment.Later,intherefractedlightoffallingappleblossomsinthewine-garden--scenesofadistilled,etherealbeauty--Nickigraduallywinsherfaithandlove.Meanwhile,amidstthesumptuousandcorruptmilieuofthefamilypalace,Nickiisdrawnintocomplicityagainsthiswill,ashisunscrupulousmotherinformshimhemustmarryCecelia,thedaughterofawealthycommoner,inordertorevivethefamilyfortune.MitzihasavisionofTheIronMan(asymbolofthedecliningpowerandpositionoftheHapsburgdynasty)andfallsbeforethecrucifixinfear;butherloveremainssteadfast,andsheprotestsherfaiththoughabusedbyhermotherandSchani.Infuriatedbyherrejection,SchanithreatenstokillNickionhisweddingdayunlessMitziagreestomarryhim.Followingtheprocessionalsplendorofthecathedralwedding,Schaniappearstocarryouthisthreat,butMitziarrivesintimetostophim;andthroughthedownpouringrainNickisadlygazesonhistrueloveinthecrowdashedrivesawaywithhisbrideddd

　　HauntedbythememoryofWalterHolderlin,asoldierhekilledduringWorldWarI,FrenchmusicianPaulRenard(PhillipsHolmes)confessestoapriest(FrankSheridan),whograntshimabsolution.Usingtheaddressonaletterhefoundonthedeadman'sbody,PaulthentravelstoGermanytofindhisfamilyaaa　　Asanti-FrenchsentimentcontinuestopermeateGermany,Dr.Holderlin(LionelBarrymore)initiallyrefusestowelcomePaulintohishome,butchangeshismindwhenhisson'sfiancéeElsaidentifieshimasthemanwhohasbeenleavingflowersonWalter'sgrave.Ratherthanrevealtherealconnectionbetweenthem,PaultellstheHolderlinfamilyhewasafriendoftheirson,whoattendedthesamemusicalconservatoryhedid.　　Althoughthehostiletownspeopleandlocalgossipsdisapprove,theHolderlinsbefriendPaul,whofindshimselffallinginlovewithElsa(NancyCarroll).WhensheshowsPaulherformerfiancé'sbedroom,hebecomesdistraughtandtellsherthetruth.SheconvinceshimnottoconfesstoWalter'sparents,whohaveembracedhimastheirsecondson,andPaulagreestoforegoeasinghisconscienceandstayswithhisadoptedfamily.Dr.HolderlinpresentsWalter'sviolintoPaul,whoplaysitwhileElsaaccompanieshimonthepiano.　　Thefilm'soriginaltitle,TheManIKilled,waschangedtoTheFifthCommandmenttoavoidgiving"wrongimpressionsinthemindsofthepublicaboutthecharacterofthestory."ItultimatelywasreleasedasBrokenLullaby.