Die Nibelungen (1924) - Der Drache | Behind the scenes Information

The dragon was about sixteen metres long. It was worked from underneath and came down a steep path. Underneath were six or eight men who pushed the dragon along a track. The dragon was actually sitting on one or two iron sheets. It was attached to them and hovered above the slope of the ground. It didn’t touch the ground anywhere, just it’s tail. Four men sat in the dragon, one in each leg. Two men sat at the front to operate the head. The end scene where Siegfried bathes in the dragon’s blood had to be doubled. The actor Paul Richter didn’t want to be naked in front of a camera, because he feared it would destroy his reputation as actor. They used a double every Lang fan will know for sure: Rudolf Klein-Rogge, who played Rotwang in “Metropolis” was willing to double for Richter.