Fritz Kampers Movies
- 1937
The title tells all in Drei Blaue Jungs und ein Blondes Maedel, which translates as Three Sailors and a Blonde. The plot concerns three gobs on leave, each of whom pitch woo at a pretty dance-hall girl. Two of the sailors are convinced that they're the only men in the heroine's life, but it is the third, the shyest of the bunch, who wins the girl at fade-out time. Interspersed throughout the film are fascinating shots of the newly enervated German navy, engaged in all sorts of maritime maneuvers. Within a few short years, the German film industry would put the schneider on lighthearted service comedies like this one. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fritz Kampers, Friedrich Benfer, (more)
- 1937
Xavier Rossmair (Joe Stockel) is a ruddy-faced, good-hearted rural innkeeper who hopes to improve the local tourist trade. With several of his rustic friends, Xavier organizes a theatrical troupe, intending to put on plays for the entertainment and edification of big-city visitors. Alas, the members of the troupe become hopelessly stage-struck, and before long all of them are drawing up plans to leave the community and head to Berlin for fame and fortune. The would-be actors are finally convinced to stay put by a series of unexpected romances and an even more unexpected "mass marriage." Though German through-and-through in conception and execution, Spiel auf der Tenne (The Play on the Tenne) contains enough recognizable truths to appeal to an American audience. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kurt Meisel, Fritz Kampers, (more)
- 1936
Those Three About Christine is the English-language title of this compact little melodrama. Christine Biehler (Maria Andergast), a substitute teacher, is sent to an isolated village in the Black Forest. Amazingly, the petite young schoolmarm is able to keep her troublesome students in line, something none of her predecessors were able to do. Alas, she is far less successful in her own love life, unable to decide between her three most ardent suitors. When she finally does make a choice, it's the wrong one -- disastrously wrong. Die Drei Um Christine is very simple, very basic "audience" material, and quite well done. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maria Andergast, Hans Söhnker, (more)
- 1936
Marika Roekk, a favorite of German audiences if not German critics, dispenses charm by the bucketful in Leichte Kavallerie. The star is cast as Rosika, a young Budapest girl who becomes the darling of a travelling circus troupe. Ultimately, she must choose between a career in the Big Top and the love of hero Palato (Hans A. Schlettow). So far as the critics were concerned, the acting honors were stolen from the pretty but marginally talented Roekk by Fritz Kampers as Cherubini, a villainous clown. Leichte Kavallerie was based on a Hungarian stage play which, believe it or not, was just as spectacular and elaborate as the film version. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marika Rökk, Fritz Kampers, (more)
- 1936
Letzte Rose (The Last Rose) was adapted from Frederich von Flotow's opera Martha. Set in a very Teutonic-looking England, the story concerns a royal lady-in-waiting named Harriet (Carla Spletter) who is promised in marriage to an aristocrat, Lord Tristan (Georg Alexander). Alas, Harriet has fallen in love with humble peasant Lyonel (Helge Rosenwange). All seems lost for Harriet and Lyonel until Queen Elizabeth unexpectedly rules that the English peasants are now permitted to be landowners, putting Lyonel on equal footing with the huffy Tristan. Considering the fact that the film deals in individual personalities, it's surprising that most of the musical highlights in Letzte Rose are group production numbers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hanna Ralph, Huguette Duflos, (more)
- 1936
Also known as Song of Friendship, this German operetta serves as a showcase for such splendid singing talents as Charles Kullman and Leo Slezak. The story concentrates on two stonemasons (Kullman and Fritz Kampers), longtime friends who engage in a friendly rivalry over the heroine (Jessie Vihrog). Despite all manner of provocations, the friendship remains durable throughout the film. Finally, one of the two masons does the "nobility" bit by heading off to sea so that his buddy can marry the girl. La Paloma allegedly takes place in Spain, but there's more strudel and schnaps than fiestas or flamencos in this production. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charles Kullmann, Jessie Vihrog, (more)
- 1936
Der Bettelstudent (The Beggar Student) was based on the same-named operetta by Carl Miloecker. The plot is implicit in the title, as a seemingly impoverished scholar triumphs over his wealthier rivals and claims the girl of his dreams. Such German film favorites as Fritz Kampers, Ida Wuest and Marika Roekk do not disappoint their fans as they go through their customary musical paces. There's also room for some traditional comedy relief, handled in traditional fashion by Ernst Behmer. The highlight of Der Bettlestudent is the second-act ballet, splendiferously photographed by a full cadre of UFA cameramen. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marika Rökk, Fritz Kampers, (more)
- 1935
The Gypsy Baron was based on the Johann Strauss operetta of the same name. Set in the early 19th century, the story concerns Sandor Barinkay (Adolf Wohlbreuck), the black-sheep son of a wealthy Hungarian family. Sandor returns home in the guise of a gypsy to reclaim his ancestral estate from an unscrupulous pig farmer (Fritz Kampers). He is also forced to choose between a marriage of convenience with haughty Arsena (Gina Falckenberg) and a more romantic union with gypsy girl Saffi (Hansi Knoteck). Leading man Adolf Wohlbreuck later changed his nom de screen to Anton Walbrook. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anton Walbrook, Hansi Knoteck, (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)
- 1933
When jewel thief and womanizer Petrovich is caught and imprisoned he manages to escape to the Riviera where he takes up his craft until he is caught again. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hilde Hildebrand
- 1933
In this costume drama, a courageous Tyrolean fights to keep Napoleon from conquering his German homeland. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1933
Because of his Jewish heritage, fabled German singing star Joseph Schmidt was forced out of his native country in the 1930s by Hitler's minions. He moved to France, where he was likewise banished when the Nazis marched into Paris in 1940. Two years later, Schmidt died in a Swiss internment camp. Thus, the "new" 1951 release The Joseph Schmidt Story, wherein the star played himself, was not new at all but a reissue of the 1933 film Ein Leid Geht Um Die Welt (filmed simultaneously in German and English versions). The storyline is the old one about the immensely popular showbiz celeb who is unable to find lasting romantic happiness. Unlucky in love, Joseph Schmidt is incredibly fortunate in his chosen profession, and the film ends as Schmidt achieves lasting fame as a radio and recording star. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Josef Schmidt, Viktor de Kowa, (more)
- 1932
Case Van Geldern is an excellent detective thriller with some genuinely surprising plot turns. Co-adapted by Hans Hyan from his own novel, the story concerns a lawyer who is accused of murdering his wife. The only person who knows the truth is a former client of the lawyer, a career criminal currently serving a lengthy prison term. Out of sympathy for the lawyer, the crook breaks out of jail just long enough to prove his old friend's innocence and track down the genuine killer. Reviewers in 1932 enjoyed Case Van Geldern but felt that the film's song numbers were extraneous. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Richter, Ellen Richter, (more)
- 1932
The title translates as Schoeller Boarding House, which is where 95% of the film's action takes place. The hero, Phillip Klaproth (Jacob Triedke), has been borrowing heavily from his wealthy uncle Alfred (Paul Heidemann), ostensibly to finance his education but actually to pay for his hedonistic lifestyle. When Uncle shows up in town, Phillip hastily tries to put him out of the way so he won't discover the truth. He takes his uncle to a boarding house, claiming that it's a mental hospital which he, Phillip, intends to purchase. Though the boarders aren't really crazy, they're eccentric enough to convince the uncle that Phillip is telling the truth. Pension Schoeller is an agreeable entry in the screwball-comedy genre, its humor predicated almost entirely upon misunderstanding and misrepresentation. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jacob Tiedtke, Josefine Dora, (more)
- 1932
Der Stolz der 3. Kompagnie (Pride of the Third Company) is set amongst the ranks of the Prussian army. All the standard "military" cliches are in attendance, including the heroic coward, the cowardly hero, the young husband who dies just after learning he's a father, and the rest. Heinz Ruhmann leads a large and stellar German cast, all of whom deliver performances that transcend the hackneyed material. For some reason, Army films were extraordinarily popular with German audiences in the early 1930s, virtually guaranteeing a huge box-office return. The film's oddest on-screen credit was bestowed upon Robert Neppach, whose specialty was listed as "architecture"; could he have been the set designer, or did he actually build the sets? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Heinz Rühmann, Anton Walbrook, (more)
