The Mad Genius

Club-footed Russian puppeteer Ivan Tsarakov is able to live his frustrated ambition to dance ballet through his protegé, Fedor Ivanoff. Tsarakov makes Fedor the greatest dancer in the world, even providing him with women. When Fedor falls in love with fellow dancer Nana Carlova, however, Tsarakov is convinced she will ruin him as a dancer. Consequently, he encourages the attentions of Count Renaud, hoping he will lure Nana away from Fedor, and when that fails, he fires Nana from the company. Fedor overhears Tsarakov talking to Nana and leaves with her. Together in Paris, the two lovers are happy at first, but as Tsarakov has informed all the ballet companies that Fedor is tied to an exclusive contract with him, Fedor is reduced to work in a cabaret. When Tsarakov's company opens in Paris, Nana begs him to give Fedor his job back. Tsarakov agrees on the condition that Nana leave Fedor for Renaud and she consents. Fedor is once again dancing, but he has become bitter and dictatorial. On opening night, he sees Nana in a box with Renaud and realizes that she still loves him. When he refuses to continue with the dance, Tsarakov threatens to kill him. Just before the curtain rises, ballet master Serge Bankieff, who is crazed by the drugs that Tsarakov supplies, kills Tsarakov. Liberated by Tsarakov's death, Fedor and Nana are reunited. (forgalmazó hivatalos szövege)