Kurt Heintel Movies

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, Rovi

Intended as an adult parable (meaning intellectually not for small kids), this symbolic drama by director Gottfried Reinhardt has only rhymed dialogue which may be a drawback since prose dialogue is enough of a challenge for most scripters. "Everyman" is played by Walther Reyer, someone who starts to reconsider his life as he faces up to the fact that his mortality might bring him up short very soon. Along with "Everyman" are characters like God (Ewald Balser), Death (Kurt Heintel), Paramour (Ellen Schwiers), the wily Devil (Heinrich Schweiger), and Faith (Paula Wessely) that each play obvious parts in the drama to get Everyman headed on the right path. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi