Brigitte Helm
- 1984
Giorgio Moroder re-edited Fritz Lang's 1926 science fiction classic, tinted it and added his own score. The soundtrack also features musicians Pat Benatar, Bonnie Tyler, Billy Squier and Freddie Mercury. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1937
Though the witty, epigrammatic style of Oscar Wilde would seem best suited to the rhythms of the English language, a surprising number of Wilde's plays and short stories were filmed in Europe. The German Ein Idealer Gatte is a fairly faithful adaptation of Wilde's 1895 play An Ideal Husband. The title character is Lord Chiltern (Carl Ludwig Diehl), a prosperous steel magnate. Blackmailed by an old flame, Gloria Chevney (Sybille Schmitz), Lord C. is at last rescued by the real brains of the Chiltern family, his loyal, supportive and eminently courageous wife (Brigitte Helm). Film buffs take note: Ein Ideal Gatte affords a rare opportunity to see Metropolis star Brigitte Helm and Vampyr star Sybille Schmitz in the same picture. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Karl Ludwig Diehl, Brigitte Helm , ( more )
- 1934
The German Gold predicts the postwar harnessing of atomic energy for the purposes of scientific progress (funny how the Germans couldn't put together a working A-bomb in World War II). Hans Albers plays the assistant of Friedrich Kayssler, a modern-day alchemist devoted to finding a method of changing lead into gold. Kayssler constructs a gigantic atomic reactor for that purpose, but when crass commercialism rears its ugly head, the two idealists destroy their invention. Gold was filmed simultaneously in a French-language version, with the two leads intact but with many of the supporting actors shifting their roles around. Generous portions of Gold stock footage were utilized in the 1953 American sci-fier The Magnetic Monster. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1934
L'Or is the French-language version of the simultaneously filmed German melodrama Gold. Brigitte Helm repeats her leading-lady role of Fronce Wills, but the alchemist Maisslot, originally played by Friedrich Kayssler, is herein portrayed by Jacques Dumesnil, while his assistant Berthier, enacted by Hans Albers in Gold, is essayed by Jean Gabin in the French version. Maisslot and Berthier perfect an atomic reactor (20,000,000 volts of power!) for the purpose of manufacturing gold, which is highly coveted by the villains. When the scientists realize that their invention will ruin the world's economy, they set about to destroy it, setting the stage for a near-apocalyptic climax. The original Gold was directed by Charles Hartl, who served as a consultant when Serge De Poligny occupied the director's chair for L'Or. Stock footage from both versions were later utilized in the 1953 Ivan Tors production Magnetic Monster. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brigitte Helm, Rosine Derean , ( more )
- 1933
Andre Beucler directed this German romantic comedy, filmed in two languages and released overseas in French. Brigitte Helm stars as a sophisticated jewel thief who escapes to Spain with an expensive stolen necklace then gets involved with a naive advertising executive (Jean Gabin) who becomes her unsuspecting dupe. The film is nothing special, but is worth seeing for the cast alone. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Gabin, Brigitte Helm , ( more )
- 1932
In this mythical fantasy, the evil queen of Atlantis lives in a magnificent palace, the halls of which are filled with the mummified remains of former lovers. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brigitte Helm
- 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
Also known as Die Herrin von Atlantis, this expansive G. W. Pabst production is a remake of the 1921 Jacques Feyder film of the same name. Like the earlier film, the remake was largely shot in the Sahara Desert and cost a fortune to put together. Based on the best-selling novel by Pierre Benoit, the original story of adventure, sacrifice, fantasy and mysticism is largely dispensed with as Pabst focuses on the pivotal character of Anitnea, played by the always fascinating Brigitte Helm. Still, plenty of time is afforded the narrative of a group of French soldiers literally stumbling upon the underground city of Atlantis, their efforts to escape, and the ultimate destruction of the lost metropolis. Though Feyder's film is still the superior of the two versions, there is still much to recommend Pabst's L'Atlantide. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brigitte Helm, Pierre Blanchar , ( more )
- 1932
The credits for the 68-minute programmer Blue Danube are rather more impressive than the film itself. The picture was produced and directed by British cinematic giant Herbert Wilcox, the script is by veteran actor/director/playwright Miles Malleson, and the stars are the formidable Austrian-born stage actor Joseph Schildkraut and one-time Metropolis leading lady Brigette Helm (this was a German-English co-production). The story casts Helm and Schildkraut as European gypsies whose romance is broken up when both fall in love with aristocrats. It is Schildkraut who finally awakens to the old bromide "stay in your own backyard." Blue Danube is not a remake of the 1928 film of the same name, even though Joseph Schildkraut starred in both. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joseph Schildkraut, Dorothy Bouchier , ( more )
- 1931
Allegedly based on a true story, Im Geheimdienst (Secret Service) takes place during WWI. German spy Willy Fritsch, posing as an American violinist, manages to move within the uppermost circles of Russian society with impunity. He inveigles Brigitte Helm, the wife of Russian general Oscar Homolka, into stealing a cache of secret documents. Facing death at every turn, Helm accomplishes her task, and together with her new lover Fritsch escapes to Sweden. This was considered to be a happy ending, but of course no one asked the poor general. Some sources indicate that Willy Fritsch did his own violin-playing in Im Geheimdienst, but this may not have been the case. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brigitte Helm, Willy Fritsch , ( more )
- 1931
Air-mail pilot George Koehler (Gustav Froelich) would like to be more of a daredevil, but his wife Maria (Brigitte Helm) won't let him. George's frustration is multiplied when his best friend Jonny (Fritz Kampers) wins an aviation competition in which Maria refused to allow him to participate. The last straw comes when, after a particularly grueling mail run, George returns home to find Maria dancing with Jonny. Seething with jealousy, George "gets even" by defying Maria's wishes and embarking upon a perilous transatlantic flight. Maria finally realizes how she's been holding her husband back, and everyone lives happily ever after, or at least until the closing credits roll. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brigitte Helm, Mady Berry , ( more )
- 1931
Several European countries collaborated to create this drama. The story begins as a young British woman meets and falls in love with her tour guide during a vacation to Naples. Along the way, she hears him singing. Recognizing a good tenor voice when she hears one, she takes him back to England for special vocal training. The tour guide is one handsome heartbreaker and one of his lovers is angered by his desertion. In England he sings at a fancy party. They are so impressed, that he is immediately booked into an opera house the following night. During the party, he finds himself becoming increasingly jealous of his newest girlfriend's flirtatious ways. When he discovers that his operatic debut is being financed by other party goers, the tenor flies into a rage and begins attacking the backers. Naturally they cancel his performance. The tour guide returns to Naples and to his other lover. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jan Kiepura, Walter Janssen , ( more )
- 1930
H.H. Evers' best-selling science fiction novel Alraune was the source for this chilling German fantasy. The story is set in motion by a misguided scientist (Albert Basserman) who artificially inseminates a prostitute (Agnes Straub) with the sperm of a convicted murderer. The baby grows up to be a beautiful young woman (Brigitte Helm) with absolutely no sense of right or wrong. Dancing sensuously for the benefit of her admirers, the sociopathic "heroine" leads several otherwise decent men to their ruin. Alraune was remade in 1952 with Erich Von Stroheim and Hildegarde Knef; this version was released to the U.S. as Unnatural. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Albert Basserman, Brigitte Helm , ( more )
- 1930
In this drama, an experimental researcher plays with gene splicing. In one experiment, he artificially inseminates a prostitute with the semen of a hanged killer. A beautiful daughter is produced. The trouble is that the daughter is devoid of moral character. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1929
This French production was based on a novel by Emile Zola, of the same title. Pierre Alcover stars as Saccard, a ruthless and untrustworthy banker who is all but ruined by speculating on the European stock market. Exulting in Saccard's imminent destruction are two old enemies, rival businessman Gunderman (Alfred Abel) and cast-off mistress Countess Sandorf (Brigitte Helm). Briefly rescued from poverty when he aligns himself with Hamelin (Henry Victor) a war hero-turned-petroleum profiteer, Soccard once more faces ruination when Hamelin is reported missing and presumed dead. Upon being assured that Hamelin is safe, Saccard cold-bloodedly sets about to stab his new partner in the back and assume control of his petroleum holdings. But Saccard is foiled by the last-minute manipulations of Gunderman, who ends up inviting Hamelin to join his operation. L'Argent was adapted for the screen by Marcel L'Herbier. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pierre Alcover, Brigitte Helm , ( more )
- 1929
This silent-screen classic, like many others produced near the end of the silent era, was both a theatrical extravaganza boasting an original orchestral score and an item which languished in obscurity for many years. When Carlo Piccardi took what was left of the score by Maurice Jaubert and re-created it, the existing footage was restored and paired with a new orchestral performance which was shown in Paris in 1988. The film's story concerns the travails of a woman who has been living quite comfortably as the mistress of a colonel in the Tsar's army in Russia. However, she eventually encounters a penniless young lieutenant and falls madly in love with him, as he does with her. Despite her best intentions of remaining with the colonel, and his intention to avoid trouble with his fellow soldiers, they cannot forswear this relationship, and tragedy is the inevitable result. The title refers to a moving incident in the story, and translates as "the wonderful lie of Nina Petrovna." ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brigitte Helm, Warwick Ward , ( more )
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