Rudolf Forster Movies
- 1939
Anna May Wong and J. Carroll Naish, so memorably teamed in Paramount's Dangerous to Know, are costarred once more in Island of Lost Men. Naish plays ruthless jungle plantation owner Gregory Prin, who runs his domain like a dictatorship and treats his workers little better than slaves. Into Prin's world comes Kim Ling (Wong), daughter of a disgraced Chinese general. Kim Ling hopes to clear her father's name by bringing his primary accuser, Prin, to justice. The native-uprising finale is rendered in gloriously gruesome detail. A remake of the 1931 Charles Laughton-Carole Lombard starrer White Woman, Island of Lost Men also offers early but well-rounded performances by Anthony Quinn (as a Chinese patriot!) and Broderick Crawford. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anna May Wong, J. Carrol Naish, (more)
- 1933
This German language film illustrates the worship of military endeavor which was to become a staple of the Hitler regime. It centers around life on a German submarine in WWI. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rudolf Forster, Adele Sandrock, (more)
- 1932
Dreaming Lips was lovingly assembled by filmmaker Paul Czinner as an "ideal" vehicle for his popular actress wife Elizabeth Bergner. The star plays Gabrielle, the glamorous, spoiled wife of world-famous orchestra leader Peter (Romney Brent). Left alone by her constantly touring husband, she inaugurates a romance with brilliant but reclusive violinist Miguel de Vaye (Raymond Massey). Booked for an American tour, De Vaye insists that Gabrielle accompany him -- and that she tell her husband about their affair. But when Peter falls seriously ill, Gabrielle dutifully remains by his side, never telling him of her indiscretion. Torn between two lovers, Gabrielle eventually decides to kill herself -- leaving a nonplused Peter to wonder just why his wife was so distraught. Overlength is the only significant flaw of this luxuriously produced three-hanky picture. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anton Edthofer, Elisabeth Bergner, (more)
- 1932
Also known as Der Traumende Mund and Dreaming Lips, Melo was filmed in both French- and German-language versions by director Paul Czinner. Based on a play by Henry Bernstein, the film focuses upon a romantic triangle: orchestra violinist Peter, his wife Gaby, and their concert-violinist friend Michael. Gaby loves both Peter and Michael with equal fervor, making the situation all the more unbearable. When no other solution seems possible, Gaby kills herself rather than hurt either one of her lovers. In the French version of Melo, Gaby was played by Gaby Morlay; in the German version, the role was essayed by Czinner's wife Elisabeth Bergner. Both versions were eventually banned in Germany because virtually everyone involved in the production was Jewish. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gaby Morlay, Anton Edthofer, (more)
- 1932
This German flag-waver recounts the life and career of famed 19th-century Prussian military leader General Yorck. Werner Krauss, who 13 years earlier had starred in Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, plays the title role. The film's dramatic high-water mark is the moment in 1812 that Yorck refuses to obey his wrong-minded King, whereupon he is branded a rebel. Within a few years, the German film industry would be nationalized by the Nazi party, whereupon any film in which a courageous general dared to stand up to his country's leader would be rejected out of hand. Ironically, by that time the fervently patriotic Werner Krauss would be designated an "Actor of the State." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Werner Krauss, Grete Mosheim, (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)
- 1931
Ariane was Hungarian director Paul Czinner's first talking picture. Starring in the title role is Czinner's charming wife, Elizabeth Bergner, likewise making her talkie debut. Young, naive Ariane sets herself for an emotional fall when she falls in love with Konstantin (Rudolf Forster), a much older and very married businessman. For his part, Konstantin regards the girl as just another harmless fling -- until he realizes a shade too late that he's really in love with her after all. Filmed in German, Ariane was simultaneously lensed in an English-language version, The Loves of Ariane. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elisabeth Bergner, Rudolf Forster, (more)
Filmmaker G.W. Pabst's adaptation of Bertoldt Brecht and Kurt Weill's Threepenny Opera (Die Dreisgoschenoper) is every bit as good as the stage original, and sometimes even better. Filmed in both German and French versions with different casts (a planned English-language version was abandoned), Threepenny is most readily available today in its German incarnation. Rudolf Forster stars as robber captain MacHeath -- aka Mackie Messer, or Mack the Knife -- who falls in love with Polly (Carola Neher), daughter of beggar king Peachum (Fritz Rasp). Despising MacHeath, Peachum plots the thief's downfall with his best friend, corrupt police official Tiger Brown (Reinhold Schunzel). The satirical "happy ending" of the original -- MacHeath, en route to the gallows, suddenly and without motivation promoted to knighthood! -- is altered somewhat by Pabst and his scenarists to accommodate a swipe against Depression-era bankers. Lotte Lenya, Weill's wife, brilliantly repeats her stage role as Pirate Jenny. Stylistically, Threepenny Opera is a Georg Grosz drawing come to life; despite its 1890s London setting, the film's calculatedly tawdry veneer is clearly meant to represent the wide-open Berlin of the 1930s. For the record: the French version of Threepenny Opera starred Albert Prejean as MacHeath. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rudolf Forster, Carola Neher, (more)
- 1923
At the Grey House was the English-language title of the 1925 German drama Zur Chronik von Greishuus. Advertised as "A Romance of the Moors," the film stars Lil Dagover as Barbara, a servant's daughter. Wealthy young Viscount Heinrich (Paul Hartman) is in love with Barbara, but their marriage is opposed by the boy's guardian Old Greishaus (Arthur Krausmack), who threatens to cut off Heinrich's inheritance. There are many heartbreaks and disappointments ahead for the two lovers, but in the end Right prevails. Variety's critic not only panned At the Grey House but also skewered the introductory comments made by the manager of the New York theater which ran the film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Hartmann, Rudolf Forster, (more)
