Frontstairs - Backstairs

An officer courts the young cleaning lady of his apartment building, knowing that she has won a big take in the lottery, and tries in vain to turn her into a woman of the world. “Between the acting power of Nielsen and the mastery of mise-en-scène of Gad, a style completely appropriate and self-sustaining emerged. For example, Vordertreppe-Hintertreppe, in particular through the technique of lighting and stylized decor, shows the contribution of their relationship to the development of a type of worldly drama which foreshadowed what would be seen much later as ’Lubitsch’s touch’”. (M. S. Fonseca, International Dictionary of Films & Filmmakers) —http://www.bampfa.berkeley.edu