Stanislav Ledinek Movies
In this mystery, a beautiful mystery writer helps a Scotland Yard detective look into the murders of several important business man. She solves the mystery before the cop and informs him that the killer's identity will be revealed in the last chapter of her newest book. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dieter Borsche, Hans Söhnker, (more)
- 1965
A trio of crooks just out of prison plan their next scheme to strike it rich in this amusing crime comedy. Kurt (Curd Jurgens) is a handsome ladies man, with Charly (Walter Giller) as a dim-witted dolt and Roland (Charles Regnier) as the criminal mastermind. Their scheme is to ship Volkswagens to the United States, sell them for a profit, and eliminate the nearly 18 months waiting time the car buyers normally had to endure. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Curd Jürgens, Walter Giller, (more)
- 1963
This quirky crime thriller stars Hansjörg Felmy as an intrepid Scotland Yard inspector tackling two seemingly disparate cases. He is officially assigned to investigate an underground society of vigilantes who take the law into their own hands, trying criminals in their own "Star Chamber"-style kangaroo court. On his own initiative, he is also pursuing a serial sex-killer who decapitates his victims. Felmy's dogged devotion to this case turns out to be personal, since his sister was among the killer's victims. The vendetta eclipses all other concerns, as the inspector even uses his own fiancee (Maria Perschy) as bait to trap the madman -- who suddenly falls into the clutches of the hooded vigilantes and is whisked away for a speedy trial. No prizes will be issued to viewers who guess the identity of the judge. This German production was also released as The Mad Executioners. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- 1963
The German The Squeaker is the third film version of the Edgar Wallace mystery novel of the same name. The title character is an omnipotent "fence" who has cornered the diamond-smuggling racket. The fence travels in polite society under the guise of a wealthy philanthropist. A Scotland Yard detective pretends to be an ex-convict in order to infiltrate the Squeaker's gang and to track down the stolen gems. The Squeaker was one of several German Edgar Wallace adaptations of the 1960s, ground out simultaneously with Britain's long-running Wallace B-picture series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Heinz Drache, Barbara Rutting, (more)
- 1962
Hampered by over-orchestrated music, smeary color photography and (in the English version at least) poor dubbing, this 1963 French/German adaptation of the Kurt Weill-Bertolt Brecht piece The Three Penny Opera nonetheless has its attractions. Not least of these is the central performance of Curt Jurgens as robber captain MacHeath, whose romance with Polly Peachum (June Ritchie), daughter of beggar king J. J. Peachum (Gert Frobe), puts his life in jeopardy. Hildegarde Neff has an effective cameo as whore-ish Pirate Jenny. For the film's American release, distributor Joseph E. Levine hired Sammy Davis Jr. to play the Ballad Singer, who narrates the story, introduces the scenes, and sings the opera's most famous song "Moritat (The Ballad of Mack the Knife)." Unlike the music in the rest of the film, Davis' rendition of "Mack the Knife" is rearranged in Bobby Darin "pop" fashion. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sammy Davis, Jr., Curd Jürgens, (more)
Rising young German leading man Horst Buccholz followed up his award-winning performance in Sky Without Stars with his starring role in Die Halbstarken. The title translates to "The Half-Strong Ones", in reference to the film's juvenile-delinquent protagonists. Though virtually irredeemable, Buccholz's gang-leader character is softened somewhat by his love for tenement girl Karin Baal. With the exception of Buccholz, most of the young toughs in the film are nonprofessionals, exuding a raw energy that many "pros" could not emulate. Most of Die Halbstarken was lensed on location in genuine gang-ridden urban neighborhoods. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Horst Buchholz, Karin Baal, (more)
- 1955
Despite its frivolous title, Eine Frau Genuegt Nicht? (One Woman Is Not Enough?) is a complicated romantic drama. Ernst Vossberg (Hans Soehnker) is married to Maria (Hilde Krahl), but their romance has soured and they haven't lived together in years. When Ernst's current girlfriend Renate (Helaine Bei) becomes pregnant, he intends to marry her. Unfortunately, Maria isn't willing to give him up just yet. Refusing to take sides through most of the proceedings, the film is sympathetic to the individual plights of all three protagonists. It is a shame, then, that the story is resolved in a tawdry, melodramatic fashion. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hilde Krahl
