Alraune (PG*)

A scientist (Paul Wegener) embarks on an experiment to answer the question of whether an individual’s humanity is a product of nature or nurture. His plan: to inseminate a prostitute with the semen of a hanged murderer, and to make of the child a model citizen.

We join the story again years later with the child, now a teenager, at convent school. And something’s clearly not right: Alraune causes a rumpus in her dorm, cruelly drowns a fly, and puts a stag beetle down Mother Superior’s wimple. And worse: she is starting to intuit the awful power she has over men.

Despite advancing some pretty retro ideas about female sexuality, the film provides a wonderfully sexy, wicked role for Brigitte Helm and features some terrific 20s fashions.

The live musical accompaniment will be performed by Stephen Horne and Martin Pyne.