Heinz Moog Movies

This tragic drama is adapted from a popular Ibsen play about the relationship between a mother, her egomaniacal husband, and their daughter. The father never approves of anything the daughter does. Desperate to win his love, she gives up her own life so a wild duck may fly free. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Luchino Visconti (Count don Luchino Visconti di Modrone) was a film director, true, but he was also a nobleman and a grand patron of traditional European culture: opera, art, music, crafts and literature. These interests enliven many of his films, but few have been so inspired as the four-hour epic, Ludwig, about the castle-building "mad king" of Bavaria. This long film, made very near the end of Visconti's life, suffers greatly when shortened, as every moment is essential to the story. There are at least four different versions of the film (from just under three hours to over four hours in length); the uncut four-hour version is the most coherent, even though many might find it rather long. The disintegration of aristocratic individuals is a continuing theme of Visconti's, though Ludwig's is the most thorough decay he filmed. The last ruling king of Bavaria (1845-1886) is noted for many things besides his eccentricities: he sold Bavaria to Germany, ending the rule of the Bavarian monarchy; he built amazing castles all over his country (with the proceeds from the sale); and he was Richard Wagner's main sponsor. He was also a notorious recluse, conducting a lifelong platonic love affair with Empress Elizabeth of Austria, and finally succumbing to his adoration of handsome men in a series of outrageous affairs and orgies. His excesses eventually led to his being declared mentally incompetent and being held prisoner in his own castle. The film depicts this incredible life from his coronation at age 19 to his (unproved) assassination well over 20 years later. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Shortly after Soviet tanks crush the 1956 Hungarian uprising, adventurer for hire Mike Reynolds (Richard Widmark) goes to communist Budapest to rescue one of the revolt's leaders, Professor Jansci. There's just one big problem; the professor doesn't want to go. While the plot is minimal, this simple actioner conveyed the dark atmosphere of Cold-War Hungary very well -- and it gave American audiences their first look at a ravishing young Senta Berger. ~ Michael P. Rogers, Rovi

This 1955 drama was based - like Istvan Szabo's masterful Colonel Redl (1985) - on the life story of Alfred Redl, a Ukrainian man who worked his way up through the hierarchy of the Austrian army in the early 20th century, while concealing his own homosexuality. In time, when others learn of his gayness, Redl is blackmailed by the Russians into taking counter-espionage maneuvers against the Austrians, and is ultimately forced to commit suicide. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

At the end of World War II, Austria was divided into four sectors, each governed by a separate world power. The Austrian citizenry chafed against foreign rule, and dreamed of the day that their country would again be an independent, self-governing nation. This is the premise of 1 April 2000 which prophesizes that independence will arrive on the titular date. To add a bit of spice to the proceedings, the scriptwriters contrive to have Austria's fate in the hands of a woman (Hilde Krahl) who is susceptible to romance. 1 April 2000 concludes with the imaginary "World Security Council" quelling a disastrous revolution armed with little more than good intentions. Financed by the Austrian government, 1 April 2000 is a mediocre effort even by the questionable standards of nationalistic propaganda. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Having previously portrayed Adolf Hitler in 1951's The Desert Fox, Luther Adler once more dons the postage-stamp moustache of Der Fuhrer in The Magic Face. This time, however, Adler essays a dual role, playing both Hitler and a famed theatrical impersonator known as Janus the Great. While performing in Vienna, Janus attracts the attention of Hitler, who makes a play for Janus' wife Vera (Patricia Knight). When Janus protests, he is beaten and thrown into prison by the gestapo. Janus escapes and vows to destroy Hitler and to that end poses as the German leader, the better to bollix up the Nazi war plans. Predicated on a story than many people would like to believe is true, The Magic Face is given credence via the opening narration by Third Reich chronicler William L. Shirer. The film was lensed on location in Austria and distributed by Hollywood's Columbia Pictures. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Though the title of this German historical drama translates as The Trial, it bears no relation to the Franz Kafka novel of the same name. Instead, the film is based on a true story which took place in 19th century Hungary. When a young peasant girl commits suicide, the superstitious villagers, stirred up by the odiously anti-Semitic Baron Onody (Heinz Moog), immediately assume that she was the victim of a Jewish sacrificial ritual. Despite an utter lack of evidence (or common sense), all the Jews in town are rounded up and subjected to a mass trial. Risking his reputation and possibly his life, idealistic lawyer Dr. Eövötes (Ewald Balser) defends the Jews, forcing all of Hungary to come face to face with its blind and stupid prejudices. The first postwar effort by director G.W. Pabst, Der Prozess has been interpreted by some as Pabst's act of attrition after his reluctant professional association with the Nazis during WWII. Whatever the case, the film, which earned Pabst a Best Director award at the 1948 Venice Film Festival, remains one of the director's finest works. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi