Max Adalbert Movies
- 1932
Ein Toller Einfall (A 'Phantastic' Idea) features comic actor Max Adelbert as a "poor rich man," who in spite of his magnificent mansion and priceless possessions hasn't a penny in the bank. Heading to England to negotiate the sale of his mansion, he leaves the place in the care of his nephew Willy Fritsch. In Adelbert's absence, Fritsh transforms the mansion into a hotel, packing in the customers with an elaborate floor show. Naturally, this helps to put Adelbert back on his feet, leading inexorably to a happy ending. Dorothea Wieck and Ellen Schwanecke, previously teamed in the controversial Maedchen in Uniform, portray entirely different characters in Ein Toller Einfall. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Willy Fritsch, Jacob Tiedtke, (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)
- 1931
In this drama, set in Germany during the reign of Kaiser Wilhelm, a practical joker cons a town. It is based upon the true tale of a daring shoemaker who dons a captain's uniform and leads a troop of soldiers into a small town of Koepenick. He immediately places the mayor and the treasurer under arrest and absconds with the town coffer. When the townfolk learn that they have been the butt of a joke that criticized their blind acceptance of anyone in uniform they are angry. The cobbler confesses his action and is sent to prison. The Kaiser, a man with a sense of humor, gives him a pardon. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Max Adalbert, Willi Schur, (more)
- 1931
This slow-moving German comedy was adapted from The Man Who Keeps Silent, a play by Fritz Friedmann-Frederich (who also directed the film version). Popular farceur Max Adelbert stars as the titular finance director, who finds that the future of his livelihood hinges upon his silence. The problem, of course, is that Adelbert loves to hear the sound of his own voice. But he also loves money, and thereby hangs a tale. Reviewers in 1931 carped that Der Herr Finanzdirektor looked more like a photographed stage play than a film, but this criticism could have been levelled against 75 percent of all films released that year. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Max Adalbert, Elga Brink, (more)
- 1931
Its militaristic title notwithstanding, Schlachet von Bademuende (The Battle of Bademuende) is actually a comedy. The story is set at a summer resort, where soldiers and sailors on leave duke it out over the affections of the local females. The film concludes with a bathing-beauty contest, which in addition to displaying ample feminine pulchritude also serves as an excuse for another knock-down, drag-out fight. Newcomer Claire Rommer plays the heroine and though she's quite attractive, her inexperience lessens the impact of her performance. Far better suited is that stellar Teutonic farceur Max Adelbert, who could probably have gotten laughs by reading the Berlin telephone book. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Max Adalbert, Paul Heidemann, (more)
- 1931
Das Ekel translates as The Grouch; in any language, it's an apt description of curmudgeonly protagonist Adalbert Bulcke (Max Adelbert). A small-town bureaucrat, Bulcke carries his officious, obstreperous manner into his own home. His dictatorial edicts are subtly challenged by Quitt (Heinz Koenecke), the sweetheart of Bulcke's daughter Katherine (Evelyn Holt). Before even he is aware of what's happening, "The Grouch" is completely transformed into "The Pussycat." Of course, it does take a term in jail before the metamorphosis is complete. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Max Adalbert, Emilia Unda, (more)
- 1931
The German playwrighting team of Arnold and Bach were the collective Neil Simon of their time, turning out one successful stage comedy after another. Hurra! Ein Junge (Hurrah! A Boy!) is a typical Arnold-Bach melange of infidelity, mistaken identity, and punctured pomposity. The situations surrounding the birth of the heroine's child sparks a maelstrom of slapstick, coming to a hilarious head just a few moments before the final fadeout. Critics found the picture "grotesque"; audiences found it side-splittingly funny. The best performances were rendered by Ralph A. Roberts and Max Adelbert, two veterans of many a previous Arnold-Bach collaboration. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Max Adalbert, Ida Wuest, (more)
- 1930
Das Gestohlene Gesicht (The Stolen Face) is an old-fashioned detective yarn given credence by its talented cast. A set of peculiar circumstances force the heroine of the story to assume the identity of another woman. When a murder occurs, the wrong person is held responsible, and it is up to a methodical detective to separate fact from falsehood. Edith Edwards and Fridel Haerlin essay the female leads, doing what they can (and more) with the dialogue they're given. The 1952 British melodrama A Stolen Face is not a remake. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Friedl Haerlin
Dr. Mabuse: The Gambler is the eight-reel version of Fritz Lang's twenty reeler, two-part silent thriller, Dr. Mabuse. Mabuse (Rudolph Klein-Rogge) a sinister mesmerist/psychiatrist, toys with the weaknesses of the rich and influential. He worms his way into the confidence of wealthy men, plays cards with them, hypnotizes them into cheating at their businesses, then puts them in a position to be blackmailed so that he can corner the stock market. A devilishly ingenious plan-but Mabuse is up against the plodding, methodical police detective Wrenk, whose subconscious is not so easily swayed...at least, not at first. In 1932, Lang directed a talkie sequel to Dr. Mabuse the Gambler, The Testament of Dr. Mabuse. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rudolf Klein-Rogge, Aud Egede Nissen, (more)
Fritz Lang was a stickler for realism in his American films; not so his German silents, which were fanciful to the point of being fairy tales. Der Müde Tod, Lang's first big critical success, is an allegorical tale of love, fidelity and death. The heroine (Lil Dagover), who in her dreams is confronted by Mr. Death, argues for the life of her beloved, but is unable to make the personal sacrifices that Death insists upon. Originally presented in three parts, Der Müde Tod was often boiled down to a single film for its non-German showings. Its English-language titles range from The Weary Death to Between Two Worlds to Beyond the Wall to Destiny. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lil Dagover, Walter Janssen, (more)
