Die Spinnen, 1. Teil: Der goldene See (1919)

During an evening gathering on the night before the American-Japan regatta is due to start in San Francisco, Kay Hoog (Carl de Vogt), the favorite to win, announces that he will not take part. He has found a bottle at sea containing a message from a distinguished professor who disappeared on an expedition to Peru six months earlier. The message tells of an ancient civilization that still exists and a great treasure. Lio Sha (Ressel Orla), who is at the gathering and belongs to “the Spiders,” an international criminal gang, has the message stolen. With the help of Dr. Telphas (Georg John), she proposes an expedition to search for the treasure at the Spiders’ secret assembly and wins its approval. Lio Sha and Kay Hoog cross paths again in Mexico, where, in a thrilling scene (“Lang’s flattering nod to his beloved Western genre”), Kay seizes a secret document and manages to escape. The document mentions a ship made of diamonds, thus foreshadowing the film’s second installment. After a balloon journey, Kay Hoog reaches the indicated Inca city and meets Naela (Lil Dagover), the Sun priestess, whom he saves from the attack of a gigantic serpent. Lio Sha also arrives in the city with her henchmen, but they cannot prevent the Incas from capturing her. The Incas plan to sacrifice her at the Festival of the Sun, which is to be held in three days.