Fita Benkhoff Movies

The Beggar Student is based on Der Bettelstudent, the evergreen operetta by Carl Milloecker (previously filmed in 1936). Set in the 18th century, the story focuses in on the Countess Laura (Waltraut Haas), who has spurned the affections of wicked Colonel Ollendorf (Gustav Knath). Seeking revenge, the Colonel flimflams the Countess into marrying an impoverished student named Symon (Gerhard Riedmann). Little does he know that the beggar student is really of noble lineage (in this, he's three steps behind the audience). The Beggar Student is highlighted by the dancing of the Kessler Twins, a shapely duo then enjoying a vogue of popularity on American TV. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A retired circus clown overcomes the pain of his past to reach for the stars once again, only to find his dreams of success fading when his young performing partner is summoned back home to the United States. Six year old Ulli believes Teddy Lemke to be his real father, and Teddy is more than happy to indulge the wide-eyed youngster his fantasy as the pair take up residence in Miss Biermann's boarding house. Then, one day, Ulli discovers a children's clown outfit in the attic of the boarding house, prompting Teddy to finally come clean about his past. Back in the day, Teddy and his son were a famous father/son clown team who entertained the masses under the name "Teddy and Teddy." When the younger Teddy died in a tragic accident, his grieving father went into early retirement. But Ulli is convinced Teddy still has what it takes to be an entertainer, and before long the duo has begun performing together, successfully recapturing the spirit of the original "Teddy and Teddy." Just as the pair approaches the pinnacle of their success, however, everything threatens to fall apart when Ulli receives word that his mother has remarried, and wants her son to be a part of her new life in America. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Also known as General House Cleaning, this is the story of an enterprising young girl who starts a housekeeping service. While plying her trade in a high-toned mansion, she makes the acquaintance of a wealthy young man, dressed up as common laborer for a masquerade. Never guessing the lad's true identity, our heroine falls in love with him on the spot, leading to complications that should be familiar to any fan of screwball comedy. The American salability of Gross Reinemachen was enhanced by the fact that its star, Anny Ondra, was the wife of former heavyweight champion Max Schmeling. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Ein Stelldichein im Schwarwald (Rendezvous in the Black Forest) is a curious amalgam of music, romance and slapstick farce. Anticipating many a Hollywood musical of the 1940s, the story is motivated by a "battle" between popular tunes and the classics. Two young composers, Paul (Harald Paulsen) and Peter (Hugo Schrader), try to peddle their tunes to an old-fashioned song publisher named Kuehlmann (Theo Lingen). One of the boys also attempts to woo and win the publisher's pretty daughter Lenox (Magda Schneider). What plot there is merely serves as an excuse to parade a series of lavish musical highlights across the screen. Incidentally, leading lady Magda Schneider was the mother of 1960s film favorite Romy Schneider. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Diener Lassen Bitten (Dinner is Served) was adapted from a stage comedy by Toni Empekoven. When low-born British whiskey manufacturer James Potter (Joe Stoeckel) purchases stately Castle Bluehill, he sends his snootily aristocratic neighbors into an uproar. It is especially galling when the bluebloods are forced to treat Potter's new wife Henriette (Fita Benkhoff), formerly the Castle Bluehill's housemaid, as an equal. The subsequent romance between Potter's daughter Mary (Rose Stradner) and Lord Spiller (Josef Eichheim) seems doomed thanks to the snobbery of the bluebloods, but the Potters' faithful servants -- most of them old pals of Henriette -- come to the rescue. The "democratic" aspects of the storyline are rather surprising, considering that the film was produced during the Hitler regime. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The English-language title of this German comedy is Dissatisfied Woman. That's putting it mildly: Lisa Brandt (Fita Benkoff) is not only dissatisfied but downright contemptuous of her old-fashioned husband Paul (Johannes Riemann). She wants to modernize their home, but he can't bear to part with such vestiges of the past as a worn-out radio, an ancient car, and the gas stove in the bathroom. On the advice of her friends, Lisa tries to "cure" her husband by pretending she doesn't recognize him any more and by treating him as a total stranger. When wifey caps her deception by pretending to make love to the family doctor, hubby is snapped out of his antiquated ways immediately! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Leading Milan opera tenor Alessandro Zillani stars in the comic operetta Koengin der Liebe (Queen of Love). Zillani is cast as Mario Cavallini, a handsome singer who is zealously guarded from predatory females by his overprotective sister Angelina (Fita Benkhoff). When Angelina momentarily lets her guard down, Mario slips off to join a travelling theatrical troupe where he falls in love with aspiring songstress Jeanette (Carola Hoehn). The lovers conspire to dispose of Angelina by pairing her off with a comedy-relief composer (Rudolf Plaite). The leading characters over-act outrageously, as if worried that the audience won't realize that the film is supposed to be funny. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide