In the first part, Siegfried, zillions of Fantasy tropes are seen on screen for the first time. This part was released in Germany on February 14, 1924. The grimmer and more realistic Kriemhild's Revenge (Kriemhilds Rache in the original German) was released two and a half months later on April 26. Combined, the two parts run four and a half hours.
These films have the examples of:
- Achilles' Heel: Siegfried becomes invulnerable by taking a bath in dragon blood, as you do. However, part of his skin was covered by a leaf during the bath, making that his vulnerable spot.
- Art Shift: Kriemhild's dream is illustrated through a brief animated sequence.
- Best Her to Bed Her: King Gunther has to beat Brunhild in a series of contests to get to marry her. Siegfried helps him win through the magic of cheating.
- Bros Before Hoes: Majorly violated by King Gunther, who has his best friend Siegfried killed in order to please his wife Brunhild. Even Brunhild herself, who told him to do it, is not impressed, instead laughing at him for being such a terrible bro.
- Contrasting Sequel Protagonist: After the death of her husband in Part 1, Kriemhild becomes the protagonist in Part 2. Whereas Siegfried uses magical artifacts and his own physical prowess to solve conflicts, Kriemhild relies on political manipulation and the strength of her followers to achieve her objectives.
- Crusading Widow: Kriemhild becomes one after the murder of Siegfried. It's sort of the whole point of Kriemhild's Revenge.
- Cycle of Revenge: Brunhild wants revenge against Siegfried for helping Gunther to rape her. After Hagen avenges her, Kriemhild wants revenge against Hagen for killing Siegfried.
- Darker and Edgier: Downplayed since Part 1 isn't any less violent than Part 2. That said, the first part was a lot more fantastical as it features dragons, dwarves, and a Nigh-Invulnerable protagonist. On the other hand, the second part is more realistic and lacks the fantasy elements of the first part.
- Forging Scene: Siegfried forges a sword in the first part.
- Gory Discretion Shot: The camera cuts away when Hagen kills Ortlieb. Note that in the original story, Hagen lopped off Ortlieb's head, which then rolled into Kriemhild's lap. In this version, we just see the dead Ortlieb with his head apparently still attached.
- Historical Domain Character: "King Etzel" is another name for the historical Attila the Hun.
- Hunting "Accident": Siegfried's murder is disguised as a hunting accident.
- I'm Not Hungry: Brunhild refuses to eat until Siegfried is killed.
- Invisibility Cloak: Siegfried acquires a magic net that can turn him invisible. It also allows him to transform into King Gunther.
- Kill It with Fire: At the end of Kriemhild's Revenge, Kriemhild orders the Hunnic palace burned down in order to kill the Burgundians inside.
- Lady Macbeth: Brunhild towards Gunther. Later, Kriemhild towards Etzel.
- One Last Song: Volker plays a final song as the burning Hunnic palace collapses on him and his compatriots.
- Pelts of the Barbarian: The Huns dress this way.
- Protagonist Title: Part 1 is called Die Nibelungen: Siegfried while Part 2 is labeled Die Nibelungen: Kriemhild's Revenge.
- Puddle-Covering Chivalry: Etzel does this for Kriemhild.
- Rape and Revenge: After Brunhild finds out that Siegfried helped Gunther rape her, she wants Siegfried killed. Note that she does not want Gunther killed because that's different.
- Revenge Before Reason: Kriemhild will stop at nothing to get revenge against Hagen, even if it means killing her whole family.
- Revenge of the Sequel: Kriemhild's Revenge, anyone?
- Right Behind Me: A Hunnic warrior mocks Etzel for supposedly being Kriemhild's Henpecked Husband. Then Etzel angrily exits his tent right behind him.
- Sacred Hospitality: King Etzel refuses to kill Hagen unprovoked because it would violate this trope.
- The Siege: At the end of Kriemhild's Revenge, the Burgundians are besieged inside the Hunnic palace.
- Ugly Guy, Hot Wife: Kriemhild is way, way more attractive than Etzel, whom she only married in the hope that he could help her avenge Siegfried.
