Ivan Petrovich Movies
- 1927
Hanns Heinz Ewers' grim science-fiction novel Alraune has already been filmed twice when this version was assembled in 1928. In another of his "mad doctor" roles, Paul Wegener plays Professor Brinken, sociopathic scientist who combines the genes of an executed murderer with those of a prostitute. The result is a beautiful young woman named Alraune (Brigitte Helm), who is incapable of feeling any real emotions -- least of all guilt or regret. Upon attaining adulthood, Alraune sets about to seduce and destroy every male who crosses her path. Ultimately, Professor Brinken is hoist on his own petard when he falls hopelessly in love with Alraune himself. Alraune was remade in 1930, with Brigitte Helm repeating her role, and again in 1951, with Hildegarde Knef as the "heroine" and Erich von Stroheim as her misguided mentor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The feature-film debut of famed director Louis Malle is an interesting, modern film noir with the classic theme of lovers plotting to kill the husband and make it look like suicide (reminiscent of The Postman Always Rings Twice). Jeanne Moreau, as Florence Carala, gives an astonishing performance, perverse but naive as she leads her young lover down a path that can only lead to doom for both of them. Malle and his cinematographer Henri Decae make extensive use of Paris at night, giving the film the feel of claustrophobia and desperation reminiscent of the classic noir films. The excellent score by Miles Davis adds to the entire effect of this mystery thriller. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeanne Moreau, Maurice Ronet, (more)
- 1936
The "Women's Paradise" of the title is the ironic nickname of a heavily-in-debt Vienna fashion salon. The business is taken over by Gary Field (Ivan Petrovich), a handsome young aviator. The shopgirls all swoon over Gary, especially starry-eyed little Eva (Hortense Raby), who offers to moonlight in order to pay the store's ever-mounting debts. In desperation, Eva tries to flatter the necessary funds out of a rich boor named Muehldoerfer (George Alexander) whose attentions she had once spurned. Touched by her devotion to Gary, Muheldoerfer gives her the money with no strings attached, but Gary suspects the worst and thereby hangs the rest of the tale. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ivan Petrovich, Leo Slezak, (more)
- 1948
Though the title of this German historical drama translates as The Trial, it bears no relation to the Franz Kafka novel of the same name. Instead, the film is based on a true story which took place in 19th century Hungary. When a young peasant girl commits suicide, the superstitious villagers, stirred up by the odiously anti-Semitic Baron Onody (Heinz Moog), immediately assume that she was the victim of a Jewish sacrificial ritual. Despite an utter lack of evidence (or common sense), all the Jews in town are rounded up and subjected to a mass trial. Risking his reputation and possibly his life, idealistic lawyer Dr. Eövötes (Ewald Balser) defends the Jews, forcing all of Hungary to come face to face with its blind and stupid prejudices. The first postwar effort by director G.W. Pabst, Der Prozess has been interpreted by some as Pabst's act of attrition after his reluctant professional association with the Nazis during WWII. Whatever the case, the film, which earned Pabst a Best Director award at the 1948 Venice Film Festival, remains one of the director's finest works. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ewald Balser, Ernst Deutsch, (more)
- 1936
Based on the stage favorite Lilac Time, Drei Maederl um Schubert re-creates incidents in the life of composer Franz Schubert (Paul Hoerbiger). The story concerns his romantic entanglements with three sisters: Hederl (Greti Theimer), Heiderl (Maria Andergast), Hannerl (Else Elster). All three girls have a profound effect on Schubert's work, though none of them is able to land him as a husband. The music has been adapted from Schubert's best-known compositions, with emphasis on his Unfinished Symphony. The direction of Drei Maederl um Schubert was evenly divided by E. W. Emo (from UFA studios) and Hans Sassman (from the original stage production). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Hoerbiger, Gustav Waldau, (more)
- 1929
Der Gunstling von Schonbrunn was the original title of this well-received German period picture. The story, a familiar one to European audiences, concerns the youthful romance between Austria's Queen Maria Theresa (Lil Dagover) and Hungarian aristocrat Trenck (Ivan Petrovitch). To avoid the terrible jealously of her husband the Kaiser, Maria Theresa arranges a marriage between Trenck and one of her ladies-in-waiting. It is clear, however, that the flames of passion have not entirely been dampened. A silent film, Favorite of Schonbrunn was released with a very brief dialogue sequence. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lil Dagover, Ivan Petrovich, (more)
- 1962
The trilogy on Franz Josef, Emperor of Austria and his queen Empress Elizabeth by director Ernest Marischka has been cut and spliced to make this interesting though slow-paced, two and a half-hour compilation costume drama. The tale starts out with the courtship of the future queen, known as "Sissi" (Romy Schneider, who made her screen debut in the first of the three dramas), an attractive and lively young woman. After Franz Josef (Karl Boehm) falls in loves and captures Sissi's heart, they plan their wedding and head into the topic of the second feature in the series, the coronation of Franz Josef in Budapest. Finally, Sissi is shown as being instrumental in helping to keep the peace -- or obtain it -- among the belligerent nations of Europe. The original titles of each of the three separate dramas were Sissi, Sissi, die Junge Kaiserin, and Sissi, Schicksalsjahre Einer Kaiserin. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Romy Schneider, Carl Boehm, (more)
- 1936
Girls in White is the English-language title of this German semi-musical. The title characters are students in an exclusive St. Petersburg girl's academy. The principal character is Daniella, the daughter of a now-deceased opera diva. Since Daniella is played by famed soprano Maria Cebotari, be assured that the character has inherited her mother's musical talents. Alas, Daniella's aristocratic fiance (Ivan Petrovich) refuses to allow her to pursue an operatic career, leading to a harmless but compromising situation involving opera fan Grand Duke Sergei (Georg Alexander). There's more to the story than this, but people went to see Maedchen in Weiss to see the girls, not concentrate on the plot convolutions. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maria Cebotari, Ivan Petrovich, (more)
