Paul Hubschmid Movies

Maria Montez made her final screen appearance in the Italian-American co-production Thief of Venice. Montez is cast as Tina, an 8th-century Venetian tavern keeper, caught in the crossfire during the Italian city-state's war with Turkey. Aligning herself with naval officer Alfiere Lorenzo Contarini (Paul Christian), Tina does her best to prevent a Turkish takeover of Venice. First, however, she must neutralize the chief villain, scheming Scarpa the Inquisitor (Massimo Serato). Production values are quite impressive, even though the script (by Hollywood's Jesse Lasky Jr. and England's Michael Pertwee) is nothing special. Maria Montez died in 1951, a full year before the American release of Thief of Venice. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Basically a low-budget reworking of Ninotchka, this romantic comedy drama contains a strong anti-communist message as it tells the story of a Czechoslovakian secretary and the government official she works for. Both are loyal party members, particularly the secretary. One day, her boss, having just returned from a visit to the US is assigned to test his secretary to insure that she is immune to the lure of capitalism and materialism. At first, when her boss begins to shower her with such decadent gifts as make-up and a beautiful evening gown, she is shocked and afraid that he has become a traitor. Still he continues to give her such luxuries as bubble bath and even nylon stockings. Much to her chagrin, the woman begins to like these things and sure enough her party values crumble. By this time, her boss has fallen in love with her and rather than turn her in for treachery, he decides to defect to Austria with her. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

A longtime "dream" project of production designer-turned-director Eugene Lourie, The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms sees the titular beast unleashed on the world via nuclear testing. Making its way from the Arctic Circle, the monster-a carnivorous "rhedosaurus"-begins advancing towards New York. It stomps its way around Wall Street, pausing to have a policeman for lunch. By the time it has reached Coney Island, the rhedosaurus is more of a danger than ever because of the deadly bacteria it carries within its system. It's up to researcher Paul Christian and sharpshooter Lee Van Cleef to try to liquidate the beast with a grenade chock full of radioactive isotopes. Beast From 20,000 Fathoms represented effects artist Ray Harryhausen's first solo effort, after assisting Willis O'Brien on Mighty Joe Young (1949). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The story of the romance between composer Franz Liszt and Princess Caroline is covered here. Presented in German only. ~ Rovi

Having escaped the clutches of a white-slavery ring in They Were So Young, Johanna Matz is back in the "mannequin" business in Ingrid--Die Geshchichte Eines Fotomodel (Ingrid--Story of a Model). A wartime refugee, Ingrid (Ms. Matz) secures a job as a seamstress, working her way up to fashion model. Soon success becomes more important than anything else, nearly costing Ingrid the love of her sweetheart Robert (Paul Humschmid, who acted in the US as Paul Christian). Though the "reunion" finale is conventional, the lovers' method of perpetuating their romance is most daring for a mid-1950s film. Ingrid was directed by Geza Radvanyi, who'd previously helmed the well-received "displaced person" drama It Happened in Europe (1947). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this drama, an amiable architect assists a sad little orphan and helps her find happiness at last. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Released in English-speaking regions as Italian Journey-Love Included, this modest German romantic drama was based on a novel by Barbara Noack. Paul Hubschmid plays a tour guide, shepherding a group of German vacationers through sunny Italy. All the ladies on the tour immediately fall in love with the handsome Hubschmid, but he has eyes only for the toothsome Susanne Cramer. Meanwhile, Cramer's jealous lover Walter Giller dogs Hubschmid's trail throughout the tour. Italienreise-Liebe Inbegriffen is reminiscent of the 1967 English-language comedy Three Bites of the Apple. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this romantic comedy, a cocquette playfully pursues any man she can find. She is most enamored of a handsome playboy whom she pursues through some of Europe's most scenic sights including St. Moritz, Switzerland, Berlin, and Hamburg. After many adventures, the young flirt finally settles down with a less glamorous but true-blue fellow who has been there to pick her up everytime one of her romantic schemes fails. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi