Julius Brandt Movies
- 1936
Axel Nielsen's stage play Kontuschowska was the basis for the German comedy Ein Hoczeitstraum (A Wedding Dream). Ida List plays heroine Vera, who is railroaded by her title-chasing mother into a marriage with "Prince Narishkin" (Heinz Salfner). Turns out, however, that the Prince is a phony; the real monarch (Ferdinand Marian) has gone incognito, taking a job as a chauffeur to escape his responsibilities. While honeymooning with the false prince, Vera falls in love with the real Narishkin, never suspecting that she's actually married to the Prince's valet! Things can only get more complicated from here on in, and they do. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ida Wuest, Ferdinand Marian, (more)
- 1936
Maedchenjahre Einer Koenigen translates as The Girlhood of a Queen -- the queen in question being young British regent Victoria. As played by Jennie Jugo, Victoria is hardly prepared for the responsibilities attending her ascension to the throne at age 18. But she learns quickly, thanks in great part to her loyal court advisor Lord Melbourne (Otto Tressler). The only time she refuses to follow Melbourne's advice is when he arranges a marriage for her, but all this is forgotten when she falls in love with her husband-to-be Prince Albert (Friedrich Benfer) without being ordered to do so. In a few years, most German films would not treat their British characters as affectionately as those found in Maedchenjahre Einer Koenigen. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jenny Jugo, Otto Tressler, (more)
- 1936
Based on the stage favorite Lilac Time, Drei Maederl um Schubert re-creates incidents in the life of composer Franz Schubert (Paul Hoerbiger). The story concerns his romantic entanglements with three sisters: Hederl (Greti Theimer), Heiderl (Maria Andergast), Hannerl (Else Elster). All three girls have a profound effect on Schubert's work, though none of them is able to land him as a husband. The music has been adapted from Schubert's best-known compositions, with emphasis on his Unfinished Symphony. The direction of Drei Maederl um Schubert was evenly divided by E. W. Emo (from UFA studios) and Hans Sassman (from the original stage production). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Hoerbiger, Gustav Waldau, (more)
- 1931
Mein Frau, Die Hochstaplerin (My Wife, the Swindler) has something in common with the much-later Barbra Streisand comedy For Pete's Sake. The hero, played by Heinz Ruehmann, is a bank employee whose wife, Kaethe von Nagy, will do anything to help her hubby get ahead in business. Hocking all of their valuables, Von Nagy then indulges in a bit of swindling, all for the purpose of seeking out a sure-fire financial opportunity for Ruehmann. Amazingly, she succeeds, and by film's end Ruehmann is manager of a profitable sausage factory (it is a German film, after all). The script manages to wedge in a few musical numbers for the pleasure of Kaethe von Nagy's most fervent fans. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kaethe von Nagy
- 1931
Leading German actor Fritz Kortner made his film directorial debut with Der Brave Suender (The Good Sinner). In his first talking picture, Max Pallenberg is cast as a cashier who through no fault of his own finds that there's a deficit in his records. Suspecting that there's an embezzler involved, Pallenberg traces the lost money to his superior, Heinz Ruhmann. This leads to a series of misunderstandings and deceptions which have a startling effect on both Pallenberg and Ruhmann. The film was based on the best-selling novel Die Defraudanten. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Heinz Rühmann, Dolly Haas, (more)
- 1930
Mesnchen im Kaefig is the German-language version of the British melodrama Cape Forlorn (aka Love Storm). Based on a play by Frank Harvey, this is the story of William, a taciturn lighthouse keeper who marries dance-hall girl Eileen. Their already shaky relationship is further damaged when the husband hires a handsome young assistant named Gordon, who immediately inaugurates an affair with the wife. When Gordon is arrested for a killing committed by Eileen, she leaves her husband and returns to the dance-hall whence she came, there to patiently await her lover's release from jail. The stars of the British Cape Forlorn were Fay Compton (Eileen), Frank Harvey (William) and Ian Hunter (Gordon); in Menschen im Kaefig, these roles were essayed by Tala Birrell, Fritz Kortner and Heinrich George (also appearing in a lesser role was Conrad Veidt, the star of the 1919 silent classic Cabinet of Dr. Caligari). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Conrad Veidt, Fay Compton, (more)
