Paul Beckers Movies
- 1936
Paul Becker stars as Carl Tiempe, a lovable old village "schustermister," or shoemaker. Despite his spotless reputation and scores of friends, Carl is accused of stealing a valuable set of spoons. When he finds that no one will listen to his side of the story, the old cobbler decides to play detective and track down the thief himself. Told in a light-hearted fashion, the film is heavily reliant upon puns and convoluted sentences, both comic specialties of the veteran leading man Becker. As a result, Wackere Schustermeister lost a great deal in translation when it was released in the United States. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Beckers, Paul Richter, (more)
- 1936
Henrik Ibsen's 1877 play Samfundets Stotter (Pillars of Society) was the source for this German drama. The plot centers upon a flagrant case of municipal corruption, carried out by the town's "finest" people. The selfishness of the elite results in widespread tragedy, yet still the perpetrators hypocritically blame everyone but themselves. The director of Stutzen der Gesellschaft was Detlef Sierck, who as "Douglas Sirk" would later expose the peccadilloes of the rich and powerful in such American films as Written on the Wind. The Ibsen original was earlier adapted to the screen in 1915, with H. B. Walthall in the lead. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Heinrich George, Maria Krahn, (more)
- 1935
Originally Gruene Ist Die Heide, this German romantic drama was based on a novel by Hermann Loens. The story centers upon a romance between a handsome young forest ranger and his lady friend. Having spent several years trying to track down a mysterious poacher, our hero is taken aback when he discovers that the man he's looking for is the heroine's father. Rather than run off to parts unknown, the poacher elects to make amends to those he's wronged. Ironically, the old man is killed while trying to prevent another poacher from stealing a prize doe. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Camilla Spira, Theodor Loos, (more)
- 1935
Dream of the Rhine is the English-language title of this easygoing romantic comedy. German-born Jupp Steinweg (Schroeder-Schromm) returns to Der Fatherland after several years in America. He arrives with two servants, who are instantly inveigled into a pick-pocketing scheme. This comic subplot is never permitted to intrude upon the film's main purpose: to offer a picture-postcard paean to the beauties of the Rhine River. Unlike many other German films during the Hitler regime, Der Traum von Rhein downplays its nationalistic fervor, to good effect. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
