A Throw of Dice (1929) Director: Franz Osten Producer: Himansu Rai Cinematography: Josef Wirsching Studio: British Instructional Films, Himansu Rai Productions Starring: Himansu Rai, Seeta Devi, Charu Roy Release Date: 1929 Runtime: 74 minutes Format: Black & White | Silent | Adventure | Romance | Epic Country: Germany / United Kingdom / India (co-production) Language: Silent (English intertitles) Genres: Historical Epic | Romance | Adventure --- Summary: A Throw of Dice is a silent epic film based on an episode from the Indian epic Mahabharata. It follows two kings—Ranjit (Himansu Rai) and Sohat (Charu Roy)—whose friendship is tested by their rivalry over Princess Sunita (Seeta Devi). When deceit, betrayal, and the fateful game of dice enter the story, their destinies are shaped by love, honor, and ambition. Lavishly shot on location in India with thousands of extras, elephants, and palaces, the film is a visual spectacle that combines German expressionist influence with authentic Indian cultural settings. --- Background: The film was a collaboration between German director Franz Osten and Indian producer-actor Himansu Rai, marking one of the most ambitious international co-productions of the silent era. With its large-scale sets and cross-cultural crew, it stood out as a unique blend of European filmmaking techniques and Indian storytelling traditions. --- Trivia: Over 10,000 extras and hundreds of animals were used in production. Shot entirely on location in Rajasthan, India. Part of a trilogy of Indo-European silent films by Franz Osten and Himansu Rai, which also included The Light of Asia (1925) and Shiraz (1928). In 2006, the British Film Institute restored the film and commissioned a new score by Nitin Sawhney. Recognized today as a landmark in global silent cinema for its cultural blending and visual scale. --- Hashtags: #AThrowOfDice #FranzOsten #HimansuRai #SilentFilm #IndianCinema #Mahabharata #1929Film #SeetaDevi #BFIRestoration #ClassicCinema #PublicDomainFilm #InternationalCinema