Hermann Thimig Movies
- 1960
The focus of this standard drama is a group of singing boys from Vienna and a vacation they take in Hinterbiechle in the East Tyrolean Alps. The boys' teacher Mario Pucci (Teddy Reno) has a romance going with the lovely Hanna (Loni Friedl), which is challenging enough to keep him busy. One of the boys, Michael (Michael Ande) has his own challenge when he is accused of being a thief, though fortune smiles on him when evidence comes up to the contrary. The singing and the various subplots are set against the spectacular Alps and are enhanced by a good musical score. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Willy Birgel, Ellen Schwiers, (more)
- 1954
Director Paul Verhoeven manages to cut through the sentimental strudel in this biopic of "waltz king" Johann Strauss. Future filmmaker Bernhard Wicki plays Strauss, conveying the charisma and genius of the man without digging too deeply into what made the composer tick. The highlights of Strauss' life are handled sketchily, albeit played out before some of the most gorgeous Viennese locations ever committed to film. The picture's strong suit is its musical score, drawn in toto from Strauss' works. Filmed in 1954, Eternal Waltz was released to the U.S. via television five years later. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1948
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, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ewald Balser, Ernst Deutsch, (more)
- 1946
The third production from the newly formed postwar Austrian film industry, Praterbuben (Boys of the Prater) endured numerous censorial cuts before its release in early 1947. The crux of the problem was that the film depicted the mischievous misadventures of the Vienna Boys' Choir, causing the choir's representatives to complain that their organization was being depicted in an unfavorable light. There was nothing remotely offensive about the release version of Praterbuben, which plays like an extended musical adaptaiton of The Little Rascals. What plot there is concerns a choirboy who inveigles his wealthy father into bankrolling a play that the boy's friend has written. Minus this angle, Praterbuben was more or less remade by Disney in 1962 as Almost Angels. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fritz Imhoff, Alfred Neugebauer, (more)
- 1936
Hermann Thimig stars as Henry Rolland, a Barrymoresque matinee idol whose flamboyant lifestyle has driven him deeply into debt. Hoping to appease his creditors, Henry agrees to marry a wealthy woman, sight unseen. Meanwhile, however, he falls in love with a "normal" girl (Lien Deyers) whose name he doesn't know. Henry is on the verge of renouncing his marriage of convenience for the sake of his mystery sweetheart, only to discover that she's actually the woman he's supposed to marry! As one can see, there are no surprises in Karneval und Liebe (Carnival and Love), but audiences in 1936 didn't care so long as they were thoroughly entertained -- which they were. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hermann Thimig, Herbert Hübner, (more)
- 1935
Originally titled Tanzmusik, this Austrian tunefest is the story of Viennese composer Mario "Max" D'Almeida (Hermann Thimig). After enjoying only a modest success in his own country, Max moves to America, where he achieves fame and fortune as a jazz pianist. New York socialite Gina Harding (Liane Hald) falls madly in love with Max, following him all the way back to Vienna -- while being followed in turn by her jilted sweetheart Bob Crawler (George Alexander). Eventually, Max and Gina are married, but it doesn't take long for both of them to realize they're totally unsuited for each other, thereby assuring a happy ending for Gina's ex-beau Bob and Max's new-found love Hedi Baumann (Gusti Huber). It was reported at the time that the ocean-liner set seen in Dance Music was the largest of its kind ever constructed on an Austrian soundstage. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Liane Haid, Gusti Huber, (more)
- 1933
In this Austrian musical, a princess finds herself being forced to marry a prince she does not love. She finds herself falling in love with another man who turns out to the prince in disguise. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marta Eggerth, Hermann Thimig, (more)
- 1933
The most popular of Reinhold Schuenzel's German directorial efforts, Viktor und Viktoria is a spoof of such music-hall "male impersonators" as Vesta Tillie. Unable to get a show-business job, would-be singer Renate Muller is urged by her somewhat epicene friend Hermann Thimig to adopt a brand-new stage persona. Our heroine re-invents herself as a cross-dressing entertainer, posing as a man (Viktor) who poses as a woman (Viktoria)! The fun begins when Muller falls in love with Adolf Wohlbrueck, who can't quite understand why he's so attractive to the aggressively male "Viktoria." Viktor und Viktoria was remade in England by Jessie Mathews as First a Girl (1936), then of course by Blake Edwards as the 1981 Julie Andrews vehicle Victor/Victoria. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Renate Mueller, Hermann Thimig, (more)
- 1932
The "office manager" of the title is Joachim Reinsnagel, played by Felix Bressart. Employed by lawyer Fritz Barke (Herman Thimig), Joachim takes a special interest in one of his boss' clients, the beautiful Katrin (Margot Walter). In his efforts to put Katrin's finances in order, our hero inadvertently sets the stage for a compromising situation between the girl and the innocent Herr Barke. Mrs. Barke (Julia Serda) very nearly files for divorce, but Joachim pulls off a miraculous bit of chicanery and saves the day. Der Herr Buerovorsteher was based on a play by R. Bernauer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Felix Bressart, Hermann Thimig, (more)
- 1932
Mein Leopold was based on the long-running play by A. L'Arronge, originally written in the 1870s. Max Adelbert plays a wealthy old Berlin shoe manufacturer who sacrifices all for the sake of his son Leopold (Harald Paulsen). The boy repays his father's devotion by behaving like a thorough bounder, though he eventually redeems himself through the simple expedient of honest hard work. Meanwhile, a trio of subplots involving three young couples are adroitly woven into the central narrative. A delicate blend of comedy, sentimentality and pathos, Mein Leopold proved to be a box-office bonanza. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Max Adalbert, Gustav Froehlich, (more)
- 1932
Sincere but klutzy bank employee Ernest Dumcke is in love with the wealthy and beautiful Maria Meisner. When Meisner and her father head off to a summer resort, Dumcke worshipfully follows after them. Unable to convince the father that he'd be a worthy son-in-law, our hero gets his chance when he finds out that a rich American with whom the father hopes to go into business is actually a penniless swindler. Dumcke pretends to befriend the fraudulent millionaire, then exposes him as a phony at just the right psychological moment. The music for Mein Freund der Millionaer was provided by Hans J. Salter, later a mainstay of Universal Pictures, where he wrote the unforgettable background score for Son of Frankenstein (1939). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hermann Thimig, Maria Meissner, (more)
- 1932
Ein Bischen Liebe (A Bit of Love) was based on Business in America, a play by Frank & Hirschfield. A wealthy American auto manufacturer pays a visit to Vienna, there to make an inspection tour of his company's Austrian plant. Weaned on the romanticized images of Vienna as seen in the movies, our hero is rather surprised to discover that conditions in Austria are not so far removed as those in the good old USA. Well, there is one difference: while in Vienna, he manages to fall in love for the first time in his life. At this point, Ein Bischen Liebe evolves into a marital-mix-up farce, with all the expected comic cliches. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hermann Thimig, Lee Parry, (more)
- 1931
Jenny Jugo stars as innocent young Mary, whose titular "start into matrimony" occurs when her father selects her husband-to-be. She rebels at this, running off to the railway station with all her money and valuables packed in a single valise. When the bag is stolen, Mary assumes that the man sitting in front of her on the train is the thief, since he's carrying a similar bag. She "retrieves" the valise while the man sleeps, whereupon he wakes up and assumes that Mary herself is a crook. On and on it goes until Mary and her railway acquaintance finally march down the altar. The co-scripter of Mary's Start in Die Ehe was Hermann Kosterlitz, who as Henry Koster was to pilot several of the best Deanna Durbin vehicles at Universal. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hermann Vallentin, Jenny Jugo, (more)
- 1931
The title of this German farce translates loosely as The Slight Indiscretion. What makes the story all the more amusing is the fact that the indiscreet hero, Walter Heller (Herman Thimig), is a divorce attorney. When his affections are stolen by femme fatale Lona (Hilde Hildebrand), Heller's wife Erika (Renate Muller) gets even by "vamping" Lona's husband Dr. Eppman (Hans Brauseweiter). A dual divorce ceremony follows almost immediately, but everything is straightened out in time for the closing production number. German audiences were happy with Der Kleine Seitenspring, but American observers felt it was a shade overlong. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hermann Thimig, Renate Mueller, (more)
Filmmaker G.W. Pabst's adaptation of Bertoldt Brecht and Kurt Weill's Threepenny Opera (Die Dreisgoschenoper) is every bit as good as the stage original, and sometimes even better. Filmed in both German and French versions with different casts (a planned English-language version was abandoned), Threepenny is most readily available today in its German incarnation. Rudolf Forster stars as robber captain MacHeath -- aka Mackie Messer, or Mack the Knife -- who falls in love with Polly (Carola Neher), daughter of beggar king Peachum (Fritz Rasp). Despising MacHeath, Peachum plots the thief's downfall with his best friend, corrupt police official Tiger Brown (Reinhold Schunzel). The satirical "happy ending" of the original -- MacHeath, en route to the gallows, suddenly and without motivation promoted to knighthood! -- is altered somewhat by Pabst and his scenarists to accommodate a swipe against Depression-era bankers. Lotte Lenya, Weill's wife, brilliantly repeats her stage role as Pirate Jenny. Stylistically, Threepenny Opera is a Georg Grosz drawing come to life; despite its 1890s London setting, the film's calculatedly tawdry veneer is clearly meant to represent the wide-open Berlin of the 1930s. For the record: the French version of Threepenny Opera starred Albert Prejean as MacHeath. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rudolf Forster, Carola Neher, (more)
- 1929
Napoleon auf St. Helena was the next-to-last film of director Lupu-Pick, who died by his own hand in 1931. Werner Krauss is a physically inappropriate choice for the role of Napoleon, though he plays the part with his usual consummate skill. This study of Napoleon's last days in exile doesn't offer much in the way of action, but is more interesting as a "chamber piece." Especially well handled is the curious relationship between the Little Corporal and his "host," the British governor of St. Helena (played by Albert Basserman). The screenplay was by Abel Gance, whose own 1927 filmization of the life of Napoleon remains one of the unchallenged masterpieces of the silent cinema. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Werner Krauss, Albert Basserman, (more)
- 1924
It's a mystery why Paramount released this terrible film. Actress Pola Negri had filmed it years before in Europe and it was neither a credit to her nor to the director Ernst Lubitsch, who she has collaborated with on other, truly stunning films. The setting is Paris in the 1860s. Yvette (Negri) owes a hundred francs at the boarding house where she lives, so she goes out in search of a way to get the money. She winds up starting a fight between two men and runs off. During her escape, she runs into the handsome Andre Leduc, a young composer. The two fall in love and marry. But their happy life is marred by the presence of her wicked cousin, Raoul Fournier. He is determined to break the couple up by proving that Yvette is far below Leduc's station in life. This crudely made film was adapted from the play The Flame, by John Mueller. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pola Negri
- 1922
Henny Porter stars in this comedy about an actress who mistakes an amorous count to be a robber. The nobleman mistakes the actress to be a criminal and sets out to get himself arrested to be with her. She goes on vacation at a seaside resort to escape the crush of public adulation. The count falls in love with her at first sight and steals the key to her hotel room in order to meet the girl of his dreams. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- 1921
A father-son conflict set against the tumultuous background of the First World War lies at the center of this high-class soap opera. S.I. Rupp (Emil Jannings) is a former butcher who has been elevated to the pinnacle of success in postwar Europe, by virtue of having made a few correct decisions about business during the recently ended world war. Now he is one of the wealthiest men on the continent, and beloved of the press and public for his charitable work, his beef company feeding thousands every day who would otherwise starve; and he has in his employ, at his beck-and-call, numerous members of the former aristocracy, reduced to penury by the dissolution of countries and governments. Rupp is a decent man but also a crude man, given to acting on his impulses, and like many a self-made man he also has a tendency to brook no contradiction or interference when he thinks he's right, which is most of the time. The one person in the world whom he loves and respects is his son, Fred (Hermann Thimig), by his first marriage, who, among his other attributes, is a champion-level racing-car driver. Rupp's personal life explodes, however, when he agrees to marry a beautiful former aristocrat; through a misunderstanding, Rupp thinks his son is also interested in his bride-to-be, and father and son end up estranged, just when Rupp's enemies and rivals are preparing to destroy him and his empire. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Emil Jannings
