Moliere’s social comedy about the hypocrite and parasite Tartuffe is transposed without much ado into the 20ies by Murnau.  The conflict between the rich gentleman Orgon, his young wife and the hypocritical moraliser Tartuffe returns in this adaptation in the form a film carrying a moral message within a film. Rejected because of his passion for acting, the son opens his father’s eyes by means of a staged play, thereby proving the practical benefits of his art.