Leo Peukert Movies
- 1943
This movie tells the story of a suicidal young woman who became involved with an artist. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1938
Even as their basic civil liberties were being eroded by the Nazis, German audiences continued to flock to such escapist films as Der Lachdoctor. The title translates as Laughter is the Best Medicine, and the film sets about to prove that theory. Set in provincial Bavaria, the plot concerns a quack doctor (Paul Heidemann) who peddles a "miracle drug" consisting of water and very little else. The charlatan is opposed at every turn by the local general practitioner (Weiss Ferdel) who seems to be acting out of jealousy rather than professional ethics. The fun really begins when a gorgeous female doctor (Carla Rust) enters the scene, raising the temperatures of everyone concerned. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carla Rust
- 1932
Hasenklein was based on a stage play by Hans Mahner-Mons. Arriving in the big city to visit his daughter, provincial dressmaker Jacob Tiedke finds himself attending a political meeting. Through a series of hilarious misunderstandings, our hero is elected a member of Parliament then is promoted to the Presidency. Tiedke wants nothing to do with all this, but the more he tries to disqualify himself, the more his followers are convinced that he's a legislative genius. After using his political clout to smooth the romantic path for his daughter and her sweetheart, Tiedke blissfully returns to the small-town dress shop whence he came. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jacob Tiedtke, Lien Deyers, (more)
- 1932
Czikos Baroness was adapted from the stage play by Fritz Greenbaum and Ida Jenbach. Set in Hungary, it's all about Terka Von Marocisz (Greti Theimer), a headstrong noblewoman who prefers the company of the "Czikos," or Hungarian cowboys. Turning down a marriage proposal from Count Ruttkai (Paul Vincenti), one of her own kind, Terka disguises herself as a Cziko maiden and blends into a provincial festival. Not wishing to lose the girl, Ruttkai himself adopts native garb to prove his worthiness amongst the rough-and-ready Cziko men. A climactic horse race brings this musical romance to a rousing conclusion. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gretl Theimer, Paul Vincenti, (more)
- 1932
Sincere but klutzy bank employee Ernest Dumcke is in love with the wealthy and beautiful Maria Meisner. When Meisner and her father head off to a summer resort, Dumcke worshipfully follows after them. Unable to convince the father that he'd be a worthy son-in-law, our hero gets his chance when he finds out that a rich American with whom the father hopes to go into business is actually a penniless swindler. Dumcke pretends to befriend the fraudulent millionaire, then exposes him as a phony at just the right psychological moment. The music for Mein Freund der Millionaer was provided by Hans J. Salter, later a mainstay of Universal Pictures, where he wrote the unforgettable background score for Son of Frankenstein (1939). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hermann Thimig, Maria Meissner, (more)
- 1931
The legendary European clown Grock plays himself in this lachrymose German biopic. Celebrated by countless admirers as the funniest man in the world, Grock was in real life one of God's most miserable creatures -- at least, that's what it says here. The plot follows along these Pagliacci lines for well over 90 minutes, evenly balancing laughter and tears throughout. Not surprisingly, the film's highlights are its re-creations of Grock's more famous stage routines, in which he is assisted by his longtime partner Max von Emblen. Reportedly, $150,000 was expended on this production -- not so lofty a sum by Hollywood standards, but a veritable fortune in Germany. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Liane Haid, Betty Bird, (more)
- 1931
Meine Kusine aus Warschau (My Cousin From Warsaw) was based on a stage play by Louis Verneuil. It's a romantic farce, with the heroine posing as her own cousin to carry on two amours at once. Reviewers of the time felt that the film was not so much an adaptation of the Verneuil original as a lampoon, and as such it wasn't quite as good as the play. Audiences disagreed, greeting even the silliest of goings-on with whoops of laughter. Lianne Haid played the lead, while others in the cast included such future Hollywood residents as Tala Birrell and Szoeke Szakall (aka S. Z. Sakall). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Liane Haid, Tala Birell, (more)
- 1929
Werner Krauss stars as The Jolly Peasant in this not-always-jolly confection. For the sake of his son, an aspiring priest, Krauss goes heavily into debt to finance the boy's evangelical education. But the son changes his mind and decides to become a doctor, breaking his old dad's heart. Metamorphosing into an impossible snob, the son doesn't even bother to invite his father to his high-society wedding. It is the boy's new bride, of peasant stock herself, who brings the young snot to his senses and arranges a reunion between father and son. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Werner Krauss, Carmen Boni, (more)
