Christine Kaufmann Movies
In German films from the age of eight, sad-eyed leading lady Christine Kaufmann gained international recognition when she essayed the demanding role of a teenaged rape victim in 1961's Town Without Pity. The press of the period was less concerned with Kaufmann's histrionic skills than with the revealing bikini which she wore in her early scenes (some historian has incorrectly claimed that Kaufmann was the first actress ever to bare her navel on screen). While playing the heroine of the big-budget Taras Bulba (1962), Kaufmann fell in love with her co-star, Tony Curtis. They were married in 1963, then appeared together in the frothy Universal comedy Wild and Wonderful (1964). Briefly retiring from films after this project, Kaufmann returned to acting following the breakup of her marriage. Since 1976, Christine Kaufmann has accepted choice supporting roles in major German films; her best showing was in the Percy Adlon-directed cult favorite Bagdad Cafe (1987). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A classic story of a young girl skipping school, a hiker that she has a romance with until they are found out. This was filmed on location in the Schwarzwald, and is in German only. ~ All Movie Guide
This German presentation tells the story of a widower with five children who keeps very busy until a neighbor comes to help! ~ All Movie Guide
- 1952
This musical slapstick comedy has everyone chasing everyone! A re-make of a 1960 movie, this is available in German only. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1958
Christa Winsloe's novel Maedchen in Uniform was first filmed in Germany in 1933. The story, about a sensitive schoolgirl's lesbian attachment to her headmistress, was handled tastefully, albeit with remarkable frankness for its period. The 1958 remake is somewhat toned down and the material directed in a routine fashion, though technically the production has fewer frayed edges than the 1933 version. Romy Schneider stars in the old Hertha Thiele role as the student, while Lili Palmer takes over from Dorothea Wieck as the older woman. Made in 1958, the remake of Maedchen in Uniform was not released in the U.S. until 1965, possibly because it went against the production code edict concerning "suicide as a plot solution." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lilli Palmer, Romy Schneider, (more)
- 1958
Based on the popular Franz Werfel novel, Der Vernuntreute Himmel (The Embezzled Heaven) was deftly directed with both eyes on the box office by operetta specialist Ernst Marischka. Annie Rosar heads the cast as the naively pious Aunt Teta, who is certain that she will be assured a place in heaven by performing one good deed. That deed is to bestow her life savings upon her spoiled-rotten nephew Mojmir (Kurt Meisel) so that he may be able to afford to study for the priesthood. Of course, Mojmir has no such intentions, but he's certainly not above taking Aunt Teta's money. The melodramatic machinations of the storyline are largely forgotten during the film's spectacular climax, largely shot on location inside the Vatican. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Annie Rosar, Hans Holt, (more)
- 1960
This was ironically the last film made by director Mario Bonnard, and it follows the pattern of the classic Italian costume dramas about macho or mythic heroes, in this case, a certain Glaucus (Steve Reeves, the glorious Greco-Roman past could not occur without him). Taking the cue from its larger-than-life hero, the story, set in 79 A.D., bounds from one spectacle to another without undue concern for nuanced dialogue or subtleties of character. Glaucus has to single-handedly tackle the brutal thugs that are taking over Pompeii and is forced to fight off a lion and a crocodile -- though not all at the same time. He overcomes wounds and enemies in preparation for his toughest fight, that of rescue and survival when Mt. Vesuvius blows its top, the biggest and final spectacle in a series of battleground fireworks. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steve Reeves, Christine Kaufmann, (more)
- 1960
The Fabulous Fraud is the alternate title for the 1958 syndicated TV series Colonel Humphrey Flack. Based on a series of Saturday Evening Post short stories by Everett Rhodes Castle, the property began as a live, weekly half-hour sitcom on the old DuMont Network. Alan Mobray stars as Colonel Flack, a likeable con artist who, in the manner of Robin Hood, fleeced other, less likeable tricksters and gave the money to the poor and deserving. Frank Jenks co-stars as the Flack's neurotic sidekick "Patsy" Garvey. Five years after the original Colonel Flack ran its course, the series was revived on film. Thirty-nine episodes were produced under the watchful eyes of producers Wilbur Stark and Jerry Layton, with both Alan Mobray and Frank Jenks repeating their roles. Though it was only in production for a year, Colonel Humphrey Flack remained in syndication well into the early 1960s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
An attorney and his amorous daughters provide the focus of this drama. The story begins as the lawyer begins searching for his lost teenage daughter and learns that she has run away with an older man. He and his daughter's friend take off after the fugitive lovers. Along the way, the lawyer and the young girl become lovers themselves. Eventually, they discover that she has dumped the older man for a lover her own age; they then find her in bed with said lover and drag her home. There they discover that the lawyer's other daughter too is involved with a much-older man. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gabriele Ferzetti, Jean Valerie, (more)
- 1961
Roberto La Rocca (Jean-Paul Belmondo) is an ex-gangster whose friend Xavier (Pierre Vaneck) has been unjustly thrown in prison. Indeed, local gang leader Villanova is the one who framed Xavier. La Rocca confronts the mobster and kills him. Later, while helping his mistress (Beatrice Altariba) to fight off an American gang of racketeers, Roberto is caught by the police and is put in the same prison with Xavier. Then the two volunteer to clear land mines left from the last war, hoping to receive a pardon and to buy a quiet farm. The same novel by José Giovanni was later filmed by the author himself as La Scoumoune, again starring Belmondo. ~ Yuri German, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean-Paul Belmondo, Pierre Vaneck, (more)
Gene Pitney's hit title song for this courtroom drama became a bigger and more enduring success than the film in which it was repeatedly sung. The story takes place in postwar Germany in the village of Neustadt. A group of four drunken American soldiers come upon a teenage girl, Karin Steinhof (Christine Kaufmann), in the woods outside town. She had been trying to seduce her boyfriend, Frank Borgmann (Gerhart Lippert), but the inexperienced young man got flustered and left. The soldiers take advantage of the situation and are charged with rape. Karin's father Herr Steinhof (Hans Nielsen) wants the death penalty. Major Steve Garrett (Kirk Douglas), the attorney whom the military brings in to handle the defense, bullies Karin's parents, warning that he will put her on the stand. He also talks to townspeople and finds out that Karin has a reputation for standing undressed in front of windows as people pass by. Garrett builds a strong case, leading to a dramatic trial and a shocking conclusion. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kirk Douglas, E.G. Marshall, (more)
- 1962
Director Akos von Rathony, perhaps best known for his 1960 Mrs. Warren's Profession, guides a talented cast of American and German actors in this entertaining comedy that pokes fun at cultural morés on both sides of the Atlantic. Helmut (Michael Hinz) is an orphan with plenty of Yank friends, enough to make him desperate to get to the U.S. To that end, he nabs an Air Force uniform and the proper credentials and then makes a brave attempt to hop on an American military jet. In the meantime, Inge (Christine Kaufmann) has her own ideas about Helmut's future and they do not include any trip that takes him away from her. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christine Kaufmann, Michael Hinz, (more)
- 1962
Based on an actual escape from East to West Germany staged on January 28, 1962, this routine docudrama by director Robert Siodmak re-enacts the tale. Kurt Schroeder (Don Murray) is a chauffeur, the young East Berliner who gets the idea of digging a tunnel underneath the Berlin Wall. Thus well-assured that no guards will be able to see him escaping, Kurt carefully implements his plan. But he is not thinking of himself alone, and when the time comes to use the tunnel and leave East Germany behind, he takes his family and a few dozen other people along with him. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Don Murray, Christine Kaufmann, (more)
- 1962
This is a typical costume drama and adventure story with plenty of fencing, and swash and buckle but not much ingenuity. Based on a story by Anthony Marshall, a swordsman by the name of Thomas Stanwood (Stewart Granger) finds himself fending off a multitude of attackers before he is captured and realizes he was defending himself against the very duke, Don Carlos (Riccardo Garrone), that he is supposed to be helping. The Duke overlooks the mistake and puts Thomas to guard his intended spouse, Orietta Arconti (Sylvia Koscina). She is a cold, arrogant woman who immediately antagonizes Thomas -- until he begins to realize a few things. Orietta's father was killed by the Duke when he took over their city, so how could she really be on the side of Don Carlos? As certain as night follows day, Thomas and Orietta are going to make an unbeatable pair when it comes to righting the wrongs of the past. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stewart Granger, Sylva Koscina, (more)
The spectacular hordes of Cossack horsemen flying across the steppes to do battle with first one enemy and then another are the highlights of this otherwise thinly scripted costume drama set in the 16th century in the Ukraine. After the Cossack leader Taras Bulba (Yul Brynner) makes a pact with the Poles to join forces against the Turks and drive them from the European steppes, victory brings betrayal as the Poles then turn on their ally and force the Cossacks into the hills. From there, Taras Bulba decides that one of his sons, Andrei (Tony Curtis), will be sent to Polish schools to better learn the nature of their enemy. While away from home and hearth, the adult Andrei falls in love with a Polish noblewoman, Natalia (Christine Kaufmann, who would become the second Mrs. Curtis). As time progresses, the tensions between father and son, loyalty and love, ethnic identity and assimilation steadily increase until they end in tragedy. Taras Bulba was nominated for a 1963 Academy Award for "Best Music", scored by Franz Waxman. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tony Curtis, Yul Brynner, (more)
One of the many Italian sword-and-sandal adventure stories roughly depicting historical events -- sometimes too graphically -- this drama by director Lionello de Felice has its merits. The action moves along at a good clip, as Constantine's (Cornel Wilde) rise to power is depicted, amidst battling armies and political intrigue. All the well-publicized, old Roman entertainments such as feeding Christians to the lions are shown in more detail than might be necessary, leading to one of the main points of featuring Constantine at all -- he was the emperor who gave Christians the freedom to worship as they pleased. His cronies and his enemies, his loves and his successes all have their moment in the sun. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cornel Wilde, Christine Kaufmann, (more)
- 1964
In this comedy, a Yankee musician is working in Paris when he encounters a movie star chasing after her naughty French poodle Monsieur Cognac. The name is most apropos for the little doggy is quite the lush when it comes to booze. This suits the hard-drinking musician just fine and the two go out on a bender. Later the star and her father find the toasted twosome. The star begins falling in love with the musician. Despite her father's objections, the two get married. Unfortunately, Mr. Cognac accompanies them on the honeymoon. He becomes quite jealous of the woman's new husband and ruins their wedding night. Because she refuses to relinquish the dog, their new marriage is nearly destroyed. They separate until the husband manages to bring home Pink Poupee, a charming female poodle. Suddenly Mr. C forgets all about his jealousy. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tony Curtis, Christine Kaufmann, (more)
- 1964
In this German comedy-melodrama, the exploits of a plucky WW II orphan as he moves from foster family to foster family are chronicled. He is first taken in by a Yankee pilot who subsequently dies during the Korean War. As a teen, he is then adopted by a German family and soon falls for his step-sister. He really wants to join the US Air Force, so he steals a uniform and fakes the appropriate documentation to get in. With the help of an understanding sergeant, the ploy works, but just as he is about to be sent Stateside, the truth is exposed and he is booted out. Later the sergeant offers to adopt him, but the youth decides to stay in Germany with his love. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1965
In this German crime drama, a young woman is kidnapped by one of her two jealous lovers. Later the kidnapper is killed by her father. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1971
- PG
The fourth film to explore Edgar Allan Poe's classic tale, this clever adaptation takes some rather broad liberties with the source material. A flamboyant Jason Robards plays Cesar Charron, owner of a Grand Guignol theatre in 19th-century Paris, who is launching a stage adaptation of "Murders in the Rue Morgue" -- much to the dismay of his young daughter Madeleine (Christine Kaufmann), who is tormented by nightmares filled with images from the play. A spate of gruesome murders among the theatre's regular stable of actors leads Charron to suspect the return of his deranged, disfigured former partner René Marot (Herbert Lom), who had been presumed dead after the murder of Charron's wife. Madeleine's nightmares eventually come true when Marot makes his presence known and reveals his intentions to her on the eve of the production's opening night. Director Gordon Hessler's creative handling of the dreams-vs.reality premise is rendered a bit confusing thanks to AIP's sloppy re-editing, but the overall production is still effectively chilling. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
