Lucie Englisch Movies
This German performance tells the story of a man who decides to sell his estate and his horses after he has an accident. Available in German only. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1930
Released in the U.S. as The Alluring Goal and The Enticing Goal, this film represented the second screen appearance in as many months by world-famous operatic tenor Richard Tauber. The story is the old one about the provincial clod who rises to fame on the opera stage only to forget about the truly important things in life. Surprisingly, there's more story than singing in this one, putting Tauber, who musical abilities far outweighed his acting talents, at a distinct advantage. Far better served within the framework is his co-star, soprano Maria Elsner, who not only can act but is easy on the eyes to boot. Highlights include the usual opera vignettes as well as Tauber's rendition of the folk tune Joseph. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Tauber, Oska Sima, (more)
- 1931
The title of this German comedy is derived from a colloquialism which translates as By the Skin of His Teeth. In the tradition of Harold Lloyd and Ben Turpin, leading man Siegfried Arno manages to wriggle in and out of one devastating dilemma after another, always managing to escape by the proverbial teeth-skin. Arno, who later enjoyed a lengthy Hollywood career as a character actor, was a slight, meek-looking individual, making his various on-screen adventures all the more amusing. Critics, then as now, were resistant to such pure-slapstick endeavors as Um Eine Nasenlaenge, and most of them turned thumbs down. But audiences -- especially German audiences -- were too busy laughing to notice the plot and production deficiencies. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sig Arno, Lucie Englisch, (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)
- 1931
Gustav Froehlich and Charlotte Susa play Rochus and Judith, the zwei menschen (two humans) of the title. Rochus' domineering mother insists that he enter the priesthood, but he is reluctant to break up his blissful romance with the fair Judith. A religious fanatic of the first order, the mother swears before God and her Church that Rochus will indeed take his vows. When this does not come about, she dies of grief, whereupon the guilt-stricken Rochus abandons Judith to become a priest. The girl subsequently commits suicide -- and it is Rochus who must officiate over her body during the funeral. This final scene was excised from the print of Zwei Menschen released in New York, leaving audiences hanging in regard to Judith's ultimate fate. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gustav Froehlich, Charlotte Susa, (more)
- 1931
Blue-eyed heroine Lore (Grete Berndt) is "Das Rheinlandmaedel" ("The Rhine Maiden") in this frothy German operetta. A girl of modest means and background, Lore falls in love with Hans Waldorf (Werner Fuetterer), a wealthy college student. When Hans' father finds out, he tries to bribe Lore to drop the boy. She refuses, whereupon daddy is so impressed by Lore's sincerity that he gives his blessing to the marriage. That's about all there is to Das Rheinlandmaedel, except for lots and lots of singing, dancing, and quaffing of spirits. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Trude Berliner, Lucie Englisch, (more)
- 1932
This German operetta is one of several of the period utilizing events (both actual and imagined) in the life of composer Franz Schubert. Carl Joeken is cast as Schubert, who though homely and impoverished manages to find time for romance -- when he isn't writing songs, that is. Though loved by pretty innkeeper Therese (Lucie Englisch), Schubert is enamored of the glamorous Countess Maria Esterhazy (Gretl Theimer). In desperation, Therese has a heart-to-heart talk with the Countess, who magnanimously agrees to bring the heroine and Schubert together. Alas, Therese misunderstands the Countess' motives, and as a result Schubert loses both ladies. In the depths of despair, the great composer manages to write some of his most enduring tunes, including the title song. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gretl Theimer
- 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)
- 1932
Brigette Helm stars as a disillusioned movie extra who makes a speedy exit from a Viennese movie studio while still wearing her elegant costume. She heads off to a resort in Monte Cristo, where she poses as a wealthy countess (she's certainly dressed for it!) Jewel thief Gustaf Gruendgens and swindler Rudolf Forster help Helm carry off her masquerade for larcenous reasons of their own, but Forster spoils everyone's plans by falling in love with the girl. Graefin von Monte Cristo served as the basis for the 1934 Universal comedy The Countess of Monte Cristo, with Fay Wray in the starring role. The property was remade in 1948 as a musical vehicle for skating-star Sonja Henie. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brigitte Helm, Rudolf Forster, (more)
- 1932
No Ceremony With a Mayor is the English-language title of this provincial German farce. Siegfried Arno is typecast as Siegmund Meyer, the owner of a combination marriage bureau and divorce service. Hoping to impress his future father-in-law, Siegmund adopts the pose of a millionaire. Meanwhile, he nearly loses his sweetheart by inadvertently matching her up with his best friend. All of this sounds a lot like Bachelor Bait, a Stu Erwin comedy filmed in 1934 by RKO Radio. Chances are, however, that neither RKO nor director George Stevens were aware of the existence of Kein Feier Ohne Meier. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sig Arno, Ralph Arthur Roberts, (more)
- 1932
Also known as Komm' zu Mir Rendezvous, this is the German-language version of the French marital farce L'Amour Chante. To throw her suspicious husband off track, an unfaithful wife hires a total stranger to pose as her singing coach. While our hero doesn't know one note from another, he pulls off his charade so well that he is hired to give voice lessons to the husband's mistress. Sensing a good thing when he sees one, the faux singing teacher sets up a music conservatory, catering exclusively to philandering spouses. Though its direction is sometimes credited to Carl Boese, Rendezvous was actually directed by Robert Florey, who also helmed L'Amour Chante and its Spanish-language version, Professor de mi Señora. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ralph Arthur Roberts, Walter Rilia, (more)
- 1932
The title translates as Unfaithful Eckehart, and indeed Dr. Eckart Bleitreu (Ralph A. Roberts) is cheating on his loving wife (Luize Englisch). To throw his wife off his scent, Bleitreu claims that it's his brother-in-law Fritz (Fritz Schulz) who is the philanderer. The doctor's deception backfires when, thanks to his presumed prowess with the ladies, Fritz ends up with a cushy government job and a huge salary. Befitting its subject manner, Ungetrue Eckehart has plenty of old-fashioned door-slamming and ducking in and out of boudoirs. Reportedly, the film was also produced in a French-language version. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ralph Arthur Roberts, Lucie Englisch, (more)
- 1936
Set in provincial Bavaria, Der Lachende Dritte (The Chuckling Third) concerns a valuable cache of liquid manure owned by elderly farmer Naz (Joseph Eichbein). Fully aware of how his odious possession is highly coveted by the local farmers, Naz refuses to move his compost pit when a fancy hotel is erected next to his property. The hotel owner spends most of the film cooking up schemes to remove Naz and his pungent pond without ruining the town's economy. The plot is resolved when the hotel becomes a sulphur-springs spa, all thanks to Naz's heap o' liquefied goat custards. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucie Englisch, Josef Eichheim, (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, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alfred Neugebauer, Thekla Ahrens, (more)
- 1937
Per its title, the plotline of this film is motivated by a counterfeit $50 bill. The funny money is passed to shopgirl Christa (Lucie Englisch), who, fearful of being arrested, hides it in a baby's piggy bank at her home. In dire need of money, Christa's sister "robs" the bank and puts the bill into circulation. Eventually, the faux banknote falls into the hands of Frau Lehmann (Kathe Haack), the mother of a banker (Theo Lindgren); the banker just happens to be in love with Christa. The plot alone is enough to induce chuckles, but the producers of Ein Falscher Fuffzinger felt the need to truckle to the lowest common denominator by throwing in a whole bunch of gratuitous slapstick. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Theo Lingen, Kaethe Haack, (more)
- 1939
Italian filmmaker Carmine Gallone was still in his "operetta" mode when he helmed 1938's Il Sogno di Butterfly (Dream of the Butterfly) Maria Cebotari plays opera diva Rosa Belloni, currently starring in a production of Puccini's Madama Butterfly. The plot thickens when Rosa's backstage life begins to mirror the travails of the character she is portraying. The climax comes when Harry Peters (Fosco Giachetti), the American father of Rosa's illegitimate child, returns after four years with his new wife in tow, leading inexorably to a doleful ending both on- and offstage. Critics complained about the substandard photography in Il Sogno di Butterfly, but this might have been due to poor laboratory work. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maria Cebotari, Fosco Giachetti, (more)
- 1951
This German presentation features a film company that turns this town on it's ear. Cowboy's in Lederhosen? ~ All Movie Guide
- 1953
Ich und Du (I and You) is totally reliant upon the charms of its stars. Hardy Krueger (later Kruger) and Liselotte (later Lilo) Pulver star as young marrieds Peter and Brigette. After a silly spat, the couple divorces, each refusing to admit that he/she was wrong. The film is predicated upon the couple's realization that they could patch things up at any moment, but who feel obligated to go through the motions of "typical" divorced folks. Lucie Mannheim, a German actress best known to American viewers as the opening-reel murder victim in Hitchcock's 39 Steps, plays a family friend who tries to smooth out the domestic wrinkles in the story. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Liselotte Pulver
- 1956
This German production tells the story of a man and his son that are after the same woman. ~ All Movie Guide
