Michael Janisch Movies
- 1982
In this fictionalized account of the rise of Neo-Nazi organizations in post-war West Germany and Austria, director and co-writer Walter Bannert has focused, in consecutive order, on the disintegration of two dysfunctional families and how the parents' psychotic behavior drove their sons into radical, right-wing paramilitary groups that advocate murder and terrorism in order to achieve their goals. In one family, it is a horrible mother who is at fault, and in the other, a sexually abusive, incestuous father. The sons' activities in the Neo-Nazi groups involve wearing military uniforms, training in actual boot camps, and then being sent on terrorist missions (including murder). ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nicolas Vogel, Anneliese Stoeckl-Eberhard, (more)
The story in this lavish cinemadaptation of Alexandre Dumas' The Man in the Iron Mask remains faithful to the original novel: the right heir to the throne of France is imprisoned in a dungeon by his evil twin brother, his identity kept secret with an uncomfortable iron mask. It's up to the aging D'Artagnan and his three Musketeer companions to set things aright. Though the action takes place in France, the film was rather obviously lensed in Austria, adding an exotic touch to the proceedings. Beau Bridges does double duty as the "right" and "wrong" King Louis, while Beau's dad Lloyd Bridges plays Aramis. Alan Hale Jr. essays the role of Porthos, just as he'd done in 1951's At Sword's Point; also carried over from the 1951 film is Cornel Wilde as D'Artagnan. Other seasoned veterans in the cast include Jose Ferrer (Athos), Ursula Andress (Mme. De la Valliere), Olivia DeHavilland (Queen Anne) and Rex Harrison (Colbert). The Fifth Musketeer was also released as Behind the Iron Mask. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sylvia Kristel, Rex Harrison, (more)
- 1974
- PG
A graceful Russian ballerina falls in love with an American news correspondent in this comedy-drama. The KGB is most displeased and does everything it can to break them up and eventually, tragically, they succeed. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1971
This German language suspense film is based on a quite long best-selling novel of the same name by Johannes Mario Simmel and condenses the novel's complex story using flashbacks and rapid movement between locations. When a young man (Alain Noury) goes to Vienna to try to solve the mystery of his industrialist father's assassination, his investigation leads to events that took place in Vienna in 1939. It also infringes on secrets important to all the Allied Force secret services (French, Russian, American and British), so much so that they forget their natural antagonism and join forces to try and stop the young man in his quest for answers. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- 1963
This biopic from Walt Disney studios chronicles the life and times of Johann Strauss, Jr. as he tries to prove himself as talented as his overbearing father. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
In a rather confusing and slow-paced manner, this wartime drama about a real-life dilemma is meant to highlight the dedication of Colonel Alois Podhajsky (Robert Taylor), the instructor at a prestigious Vienna equestrian school. The colonel is in charge of the safety and health of the royal Lipizzaner horses and he has a serious problem. He has not been able to secure German permission to leave for a safe haven with the horses and, at the same time, he has to get them together with the Lipizzaner mares in order to continue the species. The trouble is that the mares are in the hands of the enemy. And so the colonel sets out to get the horses through a German checkpoint, and convince General Patton (John Larch) to help him with his mission. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Taylor, Lilli Palmer, (more)
- 1961
An odd, incompatible analogy to an ancient legend seems to be the basis for this conventional wartime drama by director Edwin Zbonek. In the legend, an elderly Greek couple were the only people on earth to provide hospitality to the god Jupiter, and he was so appreciative that he granted them one wish -- which was that they be allowed to die together. The god then turns them into two trees whose branches symbolically intertwine. In this drama set in 1944 on a Greek mountainside, Greek partisans are fighting German troops when an elderly couple agrees to give a desperate partisan refuge. They go so far as to protect him from German troops who search their home but come up empty-handed. When the shoe is on the other foot and two German soldiers seek asylum with the same couple, they also shelter them. The results turn out to parallel the "letter" but not the spirit of the legend. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carl Wery, Annie Rosar, (more)
- 1954
This Austrian family film is based on a book by Erich Kastner, of Emil and the Detectives fame. Punktchen (Sabine Eggerth) and Anton (Peter Feldt) are best friends, despite the fact that Punktchen's family is rich while Anton's is poor. Neglected by her parents, Puntchken devotes her time to helping Anton provide for his ailing mother. Puntchken's folks disapprove of this set-up until Anton prevents their home from being robbed. Told from the children's point of view, Punktchen and Anton nonetheless contains ample entertainment value for grownups. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Klinger
