Know For Sure

Out of Africa

December 1985 •English

Tells the life story of Danish author Karen Blixen, who at the beginning of the 20th century moved to Africa to build a new life for herself. The film is based on her 1937 autobiographical novel.

Of the World's Horrors

January 1920 •Romanian

A wife and her husband have both contracted syphilis and don't know how to tell each other.

The Quiet Duel

March 1949 •Japanese

A young idealistic doctor works at his father's clinic in a small and seedy district. During the war, he contracts syphilis from the blood of a patient when he cuts himself during an operation. Treating himself in secret and tormented by his conscience, he rejects his heartbroken fiancée without explanation.

The Libertine

September 2004 •English

The story of John Wilmot, a.k.a. the Earl of Rochester, a 17th century poet who famously drank and debauched his way to an early grave, only to earn posthumous critical acclaim for his life's work.

Sex Madness

April 1938 •English

A young beauty queen travels to New York to further her modelling career, but contracts syphilis after being tricked into a sexual encounter. She is torn between the prospect of a slow, intensive but proven therapy and a supposed miracle cure.

Synden Lockar

December 1946 •Finnish

Falsche Scham

March 1926 •German

This educational film combines medical information and story to teach the viewers about the prevention and treatment of syphilis. The four episodes cover the stories of students looking to pick up prostitutes, a careless medical student, a wet nurse who has infected an infant, and a country girl afraid of seeking treatment.

Es werde Licht! 2. Teil

January 1918 •German

A doctor who believes that only the immoral catch syphilis reconsiders his stance.

Es werde Licht!

March 1917 •German

A painter with syphilis infects his brother's wife and the child born of their affair.

Damaged Goods

May 1937 •English

A groom-to-be contracts syphilis and wrestles with the consequences of his diagnosis.

The End of the Road

February 1919 •English

Childhood friends Mary Lee and Vera receive two different versions of the 'birds and the bees' from their mothers. Mary Lee gets the facts, while Vera gets a prudish fairytale version. Their lives separate after graduation, Mary Lee becomes a nurse who falls in proper love with a Doctor, whereas Vera follows her mother's advice and seeks to marry a rich man, but falls for the unlawful and syphilitic charms of a wealthy cad. Mary Lee and her Doctor rescue Vera and help her get proper care after a series of revelations showing actual patients of the loathsome disease. Finally, Mary Lee and her new husband volunteer to help our boys fighting the Huns in France.

Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet

February 1940 •English

True story of the doctor who considered it was not immoral to search for a drug that would cure syphilis.

The Solitary Sin

July 1919 •English

Bob, John, and Edward--three young boys growing up in the same neighborhood--have vastly-different experiences with sex. Bob's father patiently explains "the birds and the bees" to him, and even takes him to a hospital to see the effects of venereal disease.

V.D. Every 30 Seconds

January 1971 •English

Describes the symptoms of gonorrhea and syphilis, with warnings of the consequences of avoiding treatment. Discusses some of the prevalent myths about contracting these diseases and stresses the importance of consulting a doctor if infection is suspected.

Damaged Lives

September 1933 •English

An extramarital affair leads to a young couple contracting venereal disease.

The Price He Paid

December 1914 •English

The Price He Paid

Someone I Touched

February 1975 •English

A woman learns that her husband has been unfaithful and that she has acquired a venereal disease. Then she learns that, after years of trying, she is finally pregnant

Her Name Was Ellie, His Name Was Lyle

September 1967 •English

In New York City, a relationship is threatened when a young man discovers he's caught syphilis from a tryst with a waitress named Ellie. This threatens his relationship with a new girl. Film critic Amy Taubin co-stars as the new girl who gets the bad news. The director is apparently the same man who edited Fritz Lang's The Testament of Dr. Mabuse.

Es werde Licht! 3. Teil

March 1918 •German

A tyrannical landowner terrorizes his wife and seduces the daughter of one of his employees.

Geißel der Menschheit

January 1926 •German

Venereal disease threatens to tear a young couple apart.