Curd Jürgens Movies
German actor Curd Jurgens worked as a journalist until his first wife, actress Louise Basler, persuaded him to take up acting. In 1935 he began appearing on the German stage and screen, and gradually increased his career status until 1944, when he was sent to a concentration camp at the order of Dr. Goebbels. After his release he continued to appear in German films, gaining international recognition with his work in The Devil's General (1955). Jurgens went on to be a leading star of the European stage and international films; onscreen he often played urbane villains, and sometimes was cast as a Nazi. Although he appeared in over 100 films, he considered himself primarily a stage actor. He directed a few films with limited success, and also wrote screenplays. Jurgens was married five times; one of his wives was actress Eva Bartok. He authored an autobiography, Sixty and Not Yet Wise. ~ All Movie Guide- 1981
This story starts in 1980 in Paris as the memories of Andrei Borodin (Igor Kostolevsky), a Soviet agent, take the action back to 1943 during the Teheran meetings of Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill. A high-ranking Nazi intelligence officer (Albert Filozov) developed a plan to assassinate the three world leaders in order to undermine the Allied forces. He commissioned a German agent Max Richard (Armen Dzhigarkhanyan) to carry out his plan, but it failed due to the quick action and thinking of Andrei. While in Teheran, Andrei met a Russian woman (Natalia Belokhvostikova) living in the city and they had a brief but intense affair. Nearly four decades later, the Nazi officer has been captured - but not for long. Freed by terrorists, the officer is hunting down the German agent who failed to carry out the planned assassinations. In the meantime, the Soviet agent is in Paris to meet his lover from years ago, and modern terrorists pose threats that seem to have been carried across the decades. Alain Delon briefly appears as the ill-fated police inspector who must hunt down the terrorists. Teheran '43 won a Gold Medal at the 1981 Moscow Film Festival. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Natalya Belokhvostikova, Igor Kostolevsky, (more)
- 1979
The Patriot is the kind of symbolic, avant-garde, historical and cultural drama that lends itself to several viewings in order to get at the basis of what, in this case, director Alexander Kluge had in mind. Various aspects of German history are explored from several angles in a series of odd sequences. Gabi Teichert (Hannelore Hogar) is both a history teacher and a patriot. One day she goes out into the winter landscape carrying a shovel (digging for the truth?). She comes across is a dead soldier killed at the battle of Leningrad, whose symbolically disembodied knee speaks to her. Next, Gabi scans the landscape with a telescope, looking for evidence. Later, she is at a convention of the Social Democrat Party and tries to find information there. The scenes continue at different venues and with different people as this history teacher tries to piece together history. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hannelore Hoger, Alfred Edel, (more)
- 1979
Based on a short story by Sheridan Le Fanu, this thriller follows a series of murders that occur as a young man attempts to court a high-society lady. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- 1979
Michel Serrault plays a double role in this lighthearted comedy. An ineffectual actor is called on to portray his look-alike cousin, a prominent politician who is driven into hiding after he learns of an assassination plot. Jean Poiret plays the political consultant who recruits the uncured ham for the role of his life. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michel Serrault, Jean Poiret, (more)
- 1979
- PG
The very healthy looking Susan Anton is appropriately cast in Goldengirl. The daughter of a former Olympic athlete, Goldengirl (that's her name!) has been groomed for athletic competition since childhood. Her hero worship of her dad (Curt Jurgens) comes to an abrupt end when she finds out that he was an intimate of Adolf Hitler and that, through experimentation, he has converted his darling daughter into a near android. Somehow, Goldengirl must regain her humanity and sustain her integrity in the face of a myriad of celebrity endorsement deals. Originally intended as a two-part TV movie to be run in conjunction with the 1980 Olympics, Goldengirl was re-edited and released theatrically when the U.S. pulled out of competition. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Susan Anton, James Coburn, (more)
- 1979
Anyone interested in why UFOs might be stealing our lettuce deserves to sit through this film. The plot, not a regular garden-variety, involves an earthling experimenting with the explosive potential of lettuce. This singularly dedicated biologist runs into interference by the police, finds his mother who has been missing for years, and begins a love affair with the daughter of a baker. Involved in this mix of characters is the U.S and Russian armies, and a film crew working on a movie about Hitler. None of these elements make sense in the long run, or short run either. These oddities are being observed from the UFO, which is perched out in space like a hawk, waiting for one of the little lettuces to blossom into a full-blown explosive device before it swoops down to steal the organic weapon of mass destruction. This film was distinguished at the 1984 Vienna Film Festival as being one of the entries in the "Cinema Nobody Likes" category. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ursula Monn
- 1979
- R
The West German Just a Gigolo has little to do with the popular song of the same name. Its central character, played by David Bowie, is a World War I-era Prussian aristocrat. Living by his wits throughout Europe, Bowie uses his sexual prowess with beautiful women (and powerful men) to advance himself. The leering lothario eventually comes to grief in the decadent Berlin of the 1920s. We don't know how he did it, but director David Hemmings managed to corral some of the most stellar sex goddesses in film history to play cameos in Just a Gigolo: Kim Novak, Maria Schell, and even Marlene Dietrich. The film was originally released as Schoner Gigolo, Armer Gigolo. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Bowie, Sydne Rome, (more)
- 1978
- PG
Also released as Sergeant Steiner, Breakthrough is a German war flick helmed by western specialist Andrew McLaglen. Richard Burton stars as Sgt. Steiner, a German who doesn't subscribe to the Nazi party line. When the plot to kill Hitler is hatched, Steiner is persuaded to join the conspiracy by General Hoffman (Curt Jurgens). Robert Mitchum and Rod Steiger costar as American officers peripherally involved in the storyline. Intended as a sequel to the successful Cross of Iron, Breakthrough failed to match the box-office performance of the earlier film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Burton, Rod Steiger, (more)
- 1978
Cruise Missile takes its time getting to its much-anticipated climax, but by and large it's worth the wait. Peter Graves heads a special task force, assigned to literally save the world. A wacko has gotten hold of a nuclear cruise missile, and has threatened to touch off World War 3. What possible benefit this will have for the villain is never completely explained; it's enough that it provides a consistent level of suspense. Curt Jurgens and Michael Dante costar in this apocalyptic nailbiter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
This German picture, filmed in Puerto Rico, stars Curt Jurgens as a tough German sea captain. He rescues a group of nurses who have been captured by bandits and later takes on a gang of drug smugglers. For the American release, the film's distributor, Independent-International, had director Al Adamson shoot 20 minutes of new footage. ~ Brian Gusse, All Movie Guide
Though not Ian Fleming's most famous James Bond novel, 1962's The Spy Who Loved Me was distinguished by the unique device of telling the story from the heroine's point of view; in fact, Bond doesn't make an appearance until the book is two-thirds over. This would hardly work in the film world's Bond franchise, so the original austere plotline of the novel was eschewed altogether in favor of a labyrinthine story involving outer-space extortion. The leading lady, a "hard-luck kid" in the original, is now sexy Russian secret agent Barbara Bach, who joins forces with Bond (Roger Moore, making his third appearance as 007) to foil yet another megalomaniac villain (Curt Jurgens), who plans to threaten New York City with nuclear weaponry. Beyond the eye-popping opening ski-jump sequence, the film's best scenes involve seven-foot-two Richard Kiel as steel-toothed henchman Jaws. Fifteen scriptwriters worked on The Spy Who Loved Me; only two were credited, including Bond-film veteran Richard Maibaum. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Roger Moore, Barbara Bach, (more)
- 1976
- NR
French New Wave director Claude Chabrol steps away from his usual style of mysteries and psychological dramas for the sex comedy Folies Bourgeoises, based on the novel Le Malheur Fou by Lucie Faure. Bruce Dern is the American writer William Brandels and Stephane Audran is his French socialite wife, Claire Brandels. The story follows the confusion of the infidelities of the wealthy upper class. Also starring Ann-Margret and Maria Schell. This film was also released in an English-language dubbed version titled The Twist. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bruce Dern, Stéphane Audran, (more)
- 1975
- R
Peter Sellers stays busy in this comedy playing Hitler, Prince Kyoto, and four others in this tale of an anti-Nazi French whorehouse which supports the Allied war effort by exterminating the most dangerous of its patrons in the bedroom. Highlights include Lila Kedrova as the madame who becomes a general in the resistance, and Curt Jurgens as Gen. Von. Grotjahn, Sellers' nemesis. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lila Kedrova, Curd Jürgens, (more)
- 1975
- R
This epic drama profiles the life of the 18th-century scientist Cagliostro (Bekim Fehmiu) who founded the mysterious Masons in Europe just prior to the French Revolution. He based the secret fraternal order on a philosophy comprised of his ideas on reincarnation, ESP, and alchemy. It was his defiant answer to the domination of the Catholic church. Unfortunately, the Church was stronger and he was captured and sentenced to death by the Inquisition. A new pope reduced his sentence to life in prison. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bekim Fehmiu, Curd Jürgens, (more)
- 1974
In this drama, a young woman with expensive tastes uses unusual methods to confront the corporation and its CEO who controls her rapidly falling corporate stock. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1973
- R
Vault of Horror is the first sequel to 1972's horror hit Tales from the Crypt. It is also known as Tales from the Crypt, Part II. It continues it's predecessor's popular formula of using established stars in five witty short horror episodes. The first, "Midnight Mass," shows that having a vampire for a relative can be upsetting, to say the least. In "The Neat Job" a nagging neat-freak is neatly nullified. In "This Trick'll Kill You," a colonial overlord learns that it's not safe to steal magic tricks from natives. "Bargain in Death" exposes the greed of two insurance swindlers, and "Drawn and Quartered" takes "The Picture of Dorian Grey" one better. Among the stars appearing in these episodes are Terry-Thomas, Glynnis Johns, Curt Jurgens, Denholm Elliott and Tom Baker. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- 1972
This French film is a sex comedy set in the World War I period. Franz (Leonard Whiting) is in love with the Colonel's daughter, but the Colonel will not let a mere lieutenant marry any daughter of his. In order to further his career so as to wed the woman of his dreams, Franz makes love to a succession of women. Bedroom confidences lead him to get hold of the Russian plan for an attack on his countrymen. This gets him his promotion and the hand of his girl. When he finds himself behind enemy lines, he heads off for yet another adventure involving a General (Curt Jurgens) and his mistress. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Curd Jürgens, Sylvie Fennec, (more)
- 1971
Kill is an English-language, French-made crime thriller/melodrama with elements of satire. In this film, Alan (James Mason) is an Interpol agent "on the take" from international drug rings he is supposed to investigate. Before he can get to Asia on his next assignment, his beloved wife Emily (Jean Seberg) takes a vacation trip to Asia. Why is the American narcotics agent (Stephen Boyd) following her? She is unaware of her husband's lack of uprightness, and the adventures she stumbles into (all as a result of her Alan's connections) puzzle and frighten her. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stephen Boyd, Jean Seberg, (more)
- 1971
Adapted from a Fred Mustard Stewart novel, this offbeat occult thriller stars Alan Alda (just prior to his eleven-year stint on M*A*S*H) as journalist and burgeoning musician Myles Clarkson, whose long-sought interview with ailing concert pianist (and closet Satanist) Duncan Ely (Curt Jurgens) leads to a mysterious ritual in which Ely's soul is transferred into Clarkson's body at the moment of the elder man's death. Further complications ensue when Myles' wife Paula (Jacqueline Bisset) discovers the none-too-subtle change in her husband's behavior, and she is pulled deeper into Ely's twisted circle. The plot thickens as further soul-swapping, dark family secrets, and demonic possession come into play. A heavy sense of doom pervades this bizarre film, thanks to some offbeat cinematography and eerie music, as well as some truly shocking setpieces courtesy of prolific TV director Paul Wendkos, who helmed the excellent Legend of Lizzie Borden. The prosaic Alda lacks the dangerous edge his character demands, but Bisset's performance is chillingly effective. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alan Alda, Jacqueline Bisset, (more)
- 1971
Deported from the U.S., Henry (Charles Southwood) and his girlfriend Marie (Nathalie Delon) just want to lay low, living the easy life on a South Sea island. Instead, they are unwillingly drawn into a series of wild adventures involving wayward Nazis (including Curt Jurgens), the Mafia, and sundry other hazardous types. This adventure comedy is in French. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charles Southwood, Natalie Delon, (more)
Nicholas and Alexandra covers the rise and fall of the last of the Russian Romanovs. We first meet Czar Nicholas (Michael Jayston) and his German bride Alexandra (Janet Suzman) at their 1894 wedding. Though Nicholas is devoted to Alexandra, the Russian populace is less politely inclined to having a "foreigner" as their Czarina. Alexandra gains favor when she gives birth to the much-loved Prince Alexis (Roderick Noble). Alas, Alexis suffers from hemophilia, a disease which strikes every second generation of Alexandra's family. When all conventional medical ministrations fail, Alexandra puts the fate of her son in the hands of mystical holy man Rasputin (Tom Baker, later famous for his portrayal of Doctor Who). As Rasputin's influence and power grows, the Russian peasantry becomes more restless and disgruntled. They are now willing to listen to the speeches of such rabble-rousers as Lenin (Michael Bryant) and Trotsky (Brian Cox), who sow the seeds of revolution. Even after the murder of Rasputin, the Bolsheviks are unsatisfied: The revolution finally comes to pass in October of 1917. At first, the moderate Kerensky (John McEnery) pleads with his followers to allow the Romanovs safe passage out of Russia. But the radicals seize control, and on July 16, 1918, the royal family is summarily executed. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Jayston, Janet Suzman, (more)
