Hans Deppe Movies
- 1955
Der Pfarrer von Kirchfield (The Parson of Kirchfield) is based on the popular German "folk play" by Ludwig Anzengruber. Bearing a strong resemblance to several other stories -- notably The Atonement of Gosta Berling -- the film stars Claus Holm in the title role. Holm's spotless reputation as village priest is compromised when he befriends unwed mother Anna Birkmaler (Ulla Jacobsson). Throwing caution to the winds, the priest falls in love with the "soiled" but basically decent Anna. Ultimately, however, he realizes that his covenant with God is stronger than his carnal desires. Previously filmed in 1930, Der Pfarrer von Kirchfield was challenged at the box-office in 1955 by an Austrian version of the same Anzengruber play. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Claus Holm, Ulla Jacobsson, (more)
- 1954
In this emotional melodrama, a woman is devastated to discover that her beloved has fathered the child of her closest friend. With many tears, she breaks their engagement and moves into the country where she eventually falls in love with a handsome schoolmaster. Unfortunately, this sets local tongues to wagging and, unable to bear the scandal, she leaves. Time passes and when she learns that the teacher has been horribly burned while saving someone from a fire, she returns to marry him. Unfortunately, while helping a friend's ailing child she catches diphtheria. Just before she passes on, she vows that she will love the teacher forever. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1953
The English-language title of this German musical is Secretly, Quietly and Softly. Essentially, this is an "inventory" film, spotlighting the tunes written by popular early 20th-century composer Paul Linke. Providing continuity to the musical highlights is a gossamer-thin plotline concerning an amorous opera diva. When the heroine's servant decides to "tell all" to a gossip magazine, all sorts of embarrassing complications ensue. Greti Schrog and Hans Nielsen are in fine voice as the opera star and her lover, while Theo Lingen makes a superb comic villain as the duplicitous servant. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Theo Lingen
- 1952
A movie about two men opening up a health resort. The characters are a ship's doctor and a burned-out millionaire. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1952
The German Land des Lachelns was released abroad as Land of Smiles. Based on an operetta by Franz Lehar, the film serves as a showcase for the splendid vocal talents of Martha Eggerth and Jan Kiepura (whose last movie this was). Eggerth plays a Viennese opera diva who falls in love with a Siamese prince, played by Kiepura. Both are slated for marriages of convenience, but that doesn't stop them from pursuing their romance. The King and I it's not, but it's still enjoyable. Comedy relief is provided by Ludwig Schmitz as the Harpo Marx-like servant to Prince Kiepura. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marta Eggerth, Jan Kiepura, (more)
- 1948
Long before he played the corpulent Goldfinger, German actor Gert Froebe was a scarecrow-skinny comedian. In Berliner Ballade, Froebe makes his screen debut as Otto, a feckless Everyman who tries to adjust to the postwar travails of his defeated nation. Stymied by black-market profiteers and government bureaucrats, Otto begins fantasizing about a happier life at the end of that ever-elusive rainbow. Director R. A. Stemmle doesn't have to strive for pathos: he merely places his gangly star amidst the ruins of a bombed-out Berlin, and the point is made for him. Filmed in 1948, Berliner Ballade was later released in the U.S. as The Berliner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1938
Gewitter im Mai (Storms in May) was directed by Hans Deppe, a past master of romantic escapism. Set in and around the Bavarian Alps, the story revolves around a vacationing sailor named Poldi (Viktor Staal) and Hein. While visiting his hometown, Poldi heals old wounds with his friends and family. He also finds time to fall in love with Dorle (Hansi Knoteck), the fiancee of his best friend Domini (Ludwig Schmid-Wildy). The film ends as Poldi and Dorle elect to do the "right thing" by terminating their romance. Hans Richter provides comedy relief as Poldi's sailor buddy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Viktor Staal, Hansi Knoteck, (more)
- 1937
The cumbersome title of this German comedy was streamlined as The Loser Wins for non-German consumption. Georg Alexander plays young aristocrat Arnd Krusemark, who, while laid up in the hospital, takes a turn for the nurse-nurse Schwester Gesine (Carola Hohn), to be exact. When he announces his plans to marry Schwester, Krusemark is roundly chastized by his family, who are appalled that he wants to wed beneath his station. While the loud remonstrations of the hero's relatives consume most of the film's running time, the funniest scenes-notably a zany vignette in a tennis court-are visual. One gag involving a nude statue would seem to be an "homage" to the 1929 Laurel & Hardy comedy Wrong Again. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Georg Alexander
- 1937
By accident or design, two pre-Hitler efforts from German filmmaker Carl Boese were distributed to the U.S. during the same week of 1937, roughly five years after both were completed. The first was The Gentleman from Maxims; the second was Die Klein Schiwindlerin -- or, as it was known in the U.S., The Little Schemer. Pixieish Dolly Haas plays the title character, a flirtatious cutie named Annette. Our heroine causes all sorts of mischief for handsome young man-about-town Bob (Harald Paulsen), ultimately winning his love. She also saves him from the machinations of a group of con artists. Though Dolly Haas was unable to sustain her acting career in Hollywood, she remained in close contact with the Performing Arts through her long and lasting marriage to caricature artist Al Hirschfield. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dolly Haas, Harald Paulsen, (more)
