Fritz Odemar Movies
- 1950
The reminiscences of a maid provide the basis for this German drama. The story is told via flashback. The maid recalls the affair between she and the employer who fell in love with her. They are separated, but then they come back together. All of this is from the imagination of the screenwriter who while sauntering about looking for inspiration, sees a couple walking on the street. His resulting story is interspliced with an actor who interprets the story. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hildegarde Neff, Willy Fritsch, (more)
- 1941
This historical recap of Dr. Carl Peters tells of the founding of Deutsch Ostafrika, which covered parts of present-day Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. Winner of several awards it its day, this video is available in German only. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1938
Ratsel um Beate (Beate's Mystery) was adapted from a play by Alfred Moller and Hanz Lorenz, which originally starred Dorothy Wieck. The film version features Lil Dagover in the leading role of Beate Kaiserling, an impressionable young woman who gets involved in a village scandal. Despite her protestations of innocence, poor Beate cannot stem the steady stream of misinformation from her gossiping neighbors. Critics in 1938, liked the film, noting that it was a distinct departure from the usual bombastic German drama of the period. The film was Lil Dagover's first effort since being appointed State Actress of Germany in 1937. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lil Dagover, Albrecht Schoenhals, (more)
- 1937
This melodious Beniamino Gigli movie vehicle was released in the U.S. as The Voice of the Heart. The famed Italian operatic tenor is cast as Gino Mari, a famed Italian operatic tenor. Falling in love with the regal Princess Helene (Geraldine Katt), Mari moves heaven and earth to be near her. While arranging a romantic tete-a-tete with the Princess, Mari makes the acquaintance of plain-Jane American tourist Mary Smith (Gina Falckenberger). He rebuffs her, only to discover after several reels of devastating setbacks that Mary is the true love of his life. And just in time, too: Princess Helene was on the verge of losing her true love, Prince Konstantin (Ferdinand Marian). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Beniamino Gigli, Ferdinand Marian, (more)
- 1936
Ein Walzer Fuer Dich (A Waltz For You) once again combines the talents of singer Louis Graveure and the ethereally beautiful Camilla Horn. Graveure plays Antonio, a prince-in-exile who gains success as a tenor on the concert stage. Comes the revolution, and Antonio returns to the throne, marrying the equally musical Princess Stefanie (Horn), whose regime has been overthrown. Much to the surprise of their subjects, Antonio and Stefanie both give up their royal raiments to resume their singing careers! Ein Walzer Fuer Dich is so typical of its genre that it borders on self-parody. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Camilla Horn, Heinz Rühmann, (more)
- 1936
Ein Seltsamer Gast (A Strange Guest) was based on a novel by Kurt Heuser. The story concerns the theft of a valuable necklace, which leads to a baffling murder. Alfred Abel heads the all-star cast as Bruneaux, a mysterious art dealer whose connection with the robbery and murder are made clear only in the final reels. Most of the action takes place in a "respectable" Parisian hotel room, which by film's end has more traffic than the Champs Elysses. Given the methodical nature of mid-1930s German films, it's no surprise that the country turned out so many above-average murder mysteries. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alfred Abel
- 1936
Knock-Out is a form-fitting movie vehicle for world heavyweight boxing champion Max Schmeling. Through a masterstroke of casting, Schmeling plays a boxer, named Max Breuer. Allowing success to go to his head, Breur finally comes to his senses through the love of a good woman. If Max Schmeling seems more animated than usual during his love scenes, it may be because his leading lady is his real-life wife Anny Ondra. One wonders if Knock-Out received much attention after Schmeling was defeated in a single round by Joe Louis in 1938. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anny Ondra
- 1935
Mild-mannered German bank clerk Lutz Kobin (Hermann Speelmans) yearns to live a life of adventure. He gets his wish sooner than he expects when a mysterious character commits suicide. This leads Kobin into a Byzantine plot to separate several valuable works of art from their rightful owners. Our hero's exploits whisk him from Berlin to Prague, where he must protect his wife Monika (Dorit Kreysler) from the evil machinations of criminal mastermind Count de Bary (Walter Steinbeck). Complicating matters is Kobin's best friend Kurt (Fritz Obemar), who also has designs on the toothsome Frau Kobin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hermann Speelmans, Dorit Kreysler, (more)
- 1933
The title of this German musical comedy translates as Night of the Great Love. Czechoslovakian opera star Jarmila Novotna plays a famed diva who falls in love with much-younger naval officer Gustav Froehlich. Alas, Novotna is compelled to wed an elderly diplomat for the sake of her daughter Christiane Grautoff -- who is likewise smitten by Froelich. Surprise of surprises, Grautoff and Froelich aren't paid off in the final scene. Nacht der Grossen Liebe was filmed by the still-thriving German division of Universal Pictures. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jarmila Novotna, Gustav Fröhlich, (more)
- 1933
The most popular of Reinhold Schuenzel's German directorial efforts, Viktor und Viktoria is a spoof of such music-hall "male impersonators" as Vesta Tillie. Unable to get a show-business job, would-be singer Renate Muller is urged by her somewhat epicene friend Hermann Thimig to adopt a brand-new stage persona. Our heroine re-invents herself as a cross-dressing entertainer, posing as a man (Viktor) who poses as a woman (Viktoria)! The fun begins when Muller falls in love with Adolf Wohlbrueck, who can't quite understand why he's so attractive to the aggressively male "Viktoria." Viktor und Viktoria was remade in England by Jessie Mathews as First a Girl (1936), then of course by Blake Edwards as the 1981 Julie Andrews vehicle Victor/Victoria. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Renate Mueller, Hermann Thimig, (more)
- 1932
Though Lillian Harvey is the star of Quick, the title character is played by the versatile French character actor Jules Berry. The story is set among an acting troupe, with leading lady Harvey falling in love with a clown. However, she loves him only when they're on stage together; offstage, Harvey barely acknowledges Berry's existence. It takes a lot of work on Berry's part before the heroine finally learns to love him for himself, and not just for the character he plays. Quick is the French-language version of the German musical drama of the same name, in which Lillian Harvey co-starred with Hans Albers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lilian Harvey, Jeanne Fusier-Gir, (more)
- 1932
The full title of this German musical was Ich Will Nicht Wissen Wer Du Bist, which translates as I Care Not What You Are. Gustav Froelich stars as Bobby, an impoverished baron who takes a job as a chauffeur. Alice (Liane Haid), the niece of Bobby's employer, falls in love with the handsome car jockey, but Uncle will have none of it; he insists that Alice marry someone on her same social level. Amused by the situation, Bobby doesn't reveal his true identity until he is certain that Alice loves him for himself and not his lineage. Originally running 95 minutes, Ich Will Nicht Wissen was cut by a full reel before its American premiere. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Liane Haid, Gustav Fröhlich, (more)
