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Hans Thimig Movies

1960  
 
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This is a deft satire by Axel von Ambesser that undercuts the adage that a soldier must always obey orders, no matter what. At the heart of the story is Schwejk (Heinz Ruhmann), a canine salesman who is drafted into the army during World War I. The setting is Bohemia when it was under the sway of a combined Austro-Hungarian rule. Once Schwejk has his uniform on he so devotedly follows the very letter of the law, every order that is given him, that he comes off as a total idiot. Nevertheless, he manages quite well with this tactic, whether it is feigned or not. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

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1959  
 
My Daughter Patricia Meine Tochter Patricia is a lightweight, romantic comedy by award-winning director Wolfgang Liebeneiner, with no particular pretensions other than to entertain. Patricia (Gerlinde Locker) has just finished her stay at a Swiss boarding school, and like other young women her age, her thoughts have turned to men. In fact, they have turned to one man in particular (Gerhard Riedmann). Unfortunately for Patricia, someone else has her sights set on the same young man -- but unfortunately for him, neither woman is very constant -- their affections go back and forth like a ping-pong ball. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

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Starring:
Martin HeldGerlinde Locker, (more)
 
1954  
 
Filmed in 1954 as Madchenjahre einer Konigin, The Story of Vickie stars 16-year-old Romy Schneider as England's soon-to-be Queen Victoria. Purportedly based on the Queen's diary and letters, the story concerns the early romance between "Vickie" and her beloved Prince Albert (Adrian Hoven). When first she meets Albert, Vickie has no idea that he is her betrothed, thus she delights in embarking upon a "forbidden" love affair. Enlivening the film is the young princess' frisky unwillingness to conform to Royal protocol--until it becomes utterly necessary for her to do so. Those who question the casting of an Austrian actress as Victoria should be reminded that the real Queen was also of Teutonic heritage. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Starring:
Romy SchneiderAdrian Hoven, (more)
 
1948  
 
God's Angels are Everywhere was originally released as Gottess Engel Sind Uberall. Just before the end of WWII, a soldier returns to his hometown of Vienna. Here he meets his spiritual alter ego, a young war refugee searching for his mother. Forming a strong alliance, the soldier and the boy find they have a lot more in common than they ever imagined. As indicated by the title, the film's denouement is largely shaped by divine intervention (or at least that's what the audience is supposed to conclude). God's Angels are Everywhere possesses an indefinable appeal that reached far beyond its target Austrian audience. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Starring:
Attila Hoerbiger
 
1937  
 
Like the title says, "every woman has a secret," especially Annemarie Kolper (Karin Hardt). Upon finding an abandoned train ticket, Annemarie decides to take a trip to Baden-Baden. Here she is assumed to be a young heiress, who'd thrown away the ticket rather than marry a man she didn't love. Forced to keep up the charade, poor Annemarie does her best to hobnob with High Society, even comically participating in a charity steeplechase. Like the heiress, however, Annemarie spurns the chosen fiance, plighting her troth instead with Hans Juergen (Hans Soehnker), an advertising man who ends up promoting the perfume that the heroine's father has invented! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Starring:
Karin HardtHans Söhnker, (more)
 
1937  
 
The merry monarch of the title is King Louis XV of France, here rechristened "Ludwig" and played by Alfred Neugebaur. For most of the film however, the king is shunted off to the background, while the spotlight is shifted to provincial coachman Chapelou (Willy Eichberger). Gaining fame as a singer, Chapelou is whisked off to Versailles, where he catches the eye of royal mistress Madame Pompadour (Thekla Ahrens), who tries to dispose of Chapelou's wife Madelaine (Rose Stradner) by confining her to her home. But Madelaine has her revenge when she shows up at the King's palace, posing as the Countess Latour. Yes, the King smiles, but not before La Pompadour is given plenty of reason to frown. This frothy costume escapade was originally released as Der Postillon von Lonjumeau. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Starring:
Alfred NeugebauerThekla Ahrens, (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, Rovi

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Starring:
Liane HaidGusti Huber, (more)
 
1932  
 
Sehnsucht 202 (Longing 202) is all about a not-so-slight misunderstanding. A pretty young millionairess places an "Object: Matrimony" newspaper ad, signing herself "Longing 202." At the same time, a poor shop girl, in search of a job, places a separate classified ad -- likewise identifying herself as Longing 202. The inevitable mix-ups occur, with the millionairess landing a department store job and a handsome husband, and the shop girl landing a handsome husband and a "job" of a different sort. The film's two heroines are played by Magda Schneider (mother of Romy Schneider) and a Vienna-born newcomer named Luise Rainer. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Starring:
Magda SchneiderFritz Schulz, (more)
 
1930  
 
In this romance, a banker's daughter suddenly breaks off her engagement on her wedding day. She then meets a man who believes in easy money. He sees her as his meal ticket and the two take off together. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

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1922  
 
This epic Austrian production was credited to Michael Kertesz, who became better known as Michael Curtiz. It was also the screen debut of Walter Slezak. Mary Conway (Lucy Doraine) agrees to marry the wealthy Jackson Harber (George Reimers) to save her mother (Erika Wagner) from a forgery charge. She's really in love with Harry Lighton, a poor sculptor (Kurt Ehrle). At the engagement party, Lighton shoots himself, and Mary turns vindictive and cynical. She decides to make Harber's son, Edward (Slezak), fall in love with her and she succeeds. In an attempt to save Edward, his tutor (Michael Varkonyl) tells him the story of the queen of sin, who he compares to Mary. When this doesn't work, he goes to Mary and relates the story of Lot's wife. When Mary falls asleep, she dreams, in vivid cinematic detail, about the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, in which Lighton is Lot and she is his wife. When she wakes up, she calls off the wedding and goes to Lighton, who is recovering from his wound. Haber and his son reconcile. In its European release, this picture was 18 reels long; it was cut down to eight for release in the States, but the severe editing made the story disjointed and confusing. ~ Janiss Garza, Rovi

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Starring:
Walter Slezak