The Blue Swords

The story of Johann Friedrich Böttger, an apothecary’s apprentice and alchemist’s assistant. Fleeing from the Prussian King, he goes to Saxony, where King Frederick August the Strong takes him to a fortress and demands that he create gold. Böttger is equipped with everything he would need for the task, but he has known for a while that actual gold production is a myth and instead experiments with porcelain—white porcelain, as the Chinese are said to possess. In 1709, he finally succeeds in surprising the King with the "white gold," the first white porcelain made in Europe, he hopes for freedom.

Director: Wolfgang Schleif

Cast: Hans Quest, Ilse Steppat, Herbert Hübner, Albert Bessler, Alexander Engel, Willy A. Kleinau, Marianne Prenzel, Paul Wagner

Audience-only score — full critic data not yet in the ReelXO vault.