Marika Rökk Movies
With a platinum-blonde beauty that could command as much attention on-stage as it could with a flattering close-up on a giant cinema screen, actress Marika Rökk won the hearts of Nazi Germany with roles in such features as Leichte Kavallerie and Der Bettelstudent. Miraculously surviving the post-war years despite her popularity with the Hitler regime, the multifaceted screen star would remain active onscreen until the early '60s.Rökk was born in Cairo in November of 1913, and when her family moved to Budapest shortly thereafter, the talented youngster took up dance -- a pass-time at which she quickly excelled. A move to Paris in 1924 found Rökk joining the Hoffman Ballet Company, which quickly resulted in an engagement at the Moulin Rouge. A move to Broadway and a tour of the U.S. followed shortly thereafter, and though the Hoffman Ballet Company soon disbanded, Rökk's stage career continued to flourish in Europe. In 1930, Rökk transferred her stage success to the screen with a role in the U.K. comedy Why Sailors Leave Home, with subsequent roles in Leichte Kavallerie and Und du Mein Schatz Fährst Mit only serving to blast her screen presence to stratospheric heights among Teutonic cinemagoers. A role opposite handsome German star Johannes Heesters in 1936's Der Bettelstudent proved the start of a lucrative onscreen pairing, and over the next two decades, the duo would frequently appear together in such efforts as Die Geschiedene Frau and Die Czardasfürstin. Though a temporary post-war ban from the industry found her momentarily absent from the screen, Rökk remained active on-stage by entertaining U.S. troops stationed in Germany. Rökk officially retired in 1962, notwithstanding the occasional stage role in Germany, Holland, and Belgium. On May 16, 2004, Marika Rökk died suddenly of a heart attack in her home in Baden, Germany. She was 90. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Elderly female aristocrats gather at an ancient castle to live in grand style and escape the chaos of World War II. Expecting the Russians to arrive any moment, they are instead visited by a group of Nazis who consider making a final stand against the enemy at the castle. One wealthy dowager changes from sable to a feather boa when she is informed the next group of soldiers are Americans and not Russians. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Camilla Horn, Dietlinde Turban, (more)
- 1962
A musical work by Johann Strauss first performed in 1874 provides the basis for this musical comedy set in Vienna during the late 19th-century. It tells the story of a prince who plans an enormous costume ball with Phillip, his good friend. They are holding the ball to get revenge on Alexander, another friend. As the lavish dance begins, comic mayhem ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1959
This fictional story tells of a South American dancer and her daughter who wants to marry a man from Hamburg. Mom decided to intervene and gets mixed up with drug smugglers. This is in German only. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1959
The dancing talent of Marika Roekk allows this otherwise routine musical to rise above its limited storyline and banal dialogue. Marika (Roekk) is divorced from a popular composer (Johannes Heesters) and is determined to show him she can make a name for herself without riding his coattails. Her idea is to keep at it until she achieves well-deserved recognition in a musical and dance revue. Since Marika Roekk herself came back from semi-obscurity with her preceding film, At Green Cockatoo, most Germans would easily make the connection to her role in this film. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marika Rökk, Johannes Heesters, (more)
- 1957
Nachts im Gruenen Kakadu translates roughly to At Green Cockatoo at Night. The titular bird isn't a "who" but a "what": the Green Cockatoo is a fancy nightclub, inherited by a "Miss Manners" type named Irene Wagner (Marika Roekk). Unfortunately, Irene has also inherited the nightclub's mounting debts. Unable to hire entertainment, our heroine is obliged to do all the singing and dancing herself. All of which was just fine for the many fans of veteran German-Hungarian musical comedy star Marika Roekk, for whom Nachts im Gruenen Kakadu was a long-awaited comeback. The film was directed by Frau Roekk's husband, George Jacoby. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marika Rökk, Dieter Borsche, (more)
- 1951
This fictional video looks at an average Austrian as he view for the attention of a star who is known for flings with wealthy men! ~ All Movie Guide
- 1937
Gasparone was one of several George Jacoby-directed movies designed to promote the film career of musical-comedy star Maria Rokk. Although the casting of Fraulein Rokk was at first opposed by German propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels, he eventually and mysteriously relented, though it certainly wouldn't be the last time that movie casting decisions would be made by the mercurial Goebbels. The story concerns a nationwide manhunt for a robber and woman-abductor called "Gasparone". In fact, there is no such person: Gasparone has been invented to keep the cops busy whenever restauranteur Massacio (Oskar Sima) is receiving his latest shipment of contraband coffee. Helping Massacio pull off this subterfuge is his pretty niece Ita (Rokk). The plot thickens when a handsome stranger (Johanne Heesters) is accused of being the elusive Gasparone. Appearing as Maria Rokk's screen partner is Leo Slezak, the opera-star father of Walter Slezak. Gasparone proved to be yet another hit for Rokk and Jacoby, who would later solidify their collaboration via marriage. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leo Slezak, Oska Sima, (more)
- 1936
Heisses Blut (Hot Blood) is a vehicle for musical-comedy favorite Marika Roekk, who always did better with the public than she did with critics. Set in Hungary, the story centers on a once-wealthy family, now on their uppers. Heroine Marika von Koeroessy (Roekk) is willing to give up almost everything she has to keep her loved ones out of debtor's prison. But Marika draws the line at selling her beloved horse Satan, and it is this refusal that motivates the rest of the plot. Most of the songs in Heisses Blut are traditional Gypsy tunes, of a sort that would soon be banned by the racist Hitler regime. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marika Rökk, Paul Kemp, (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
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)
- 1932
Kiss Me, Darling is the English-language title for this Hungarian comedy, the third talking feature to be produced in Budapest. A trio of well-known Hungarian authors (played by three genuine authors) converge at a private club to discuss the letters sent to them by readers, soliciting personal advice. As they start reading three of these solicitations aloud, the film dramatizes the letters' contents. In the first story, a village lad is unable to pop the question to a pretty barmaid thanks to the interference of a lecherous innkeeper. In the second tale, a maidservant teams up with her soldier boyfriend to bully and browbeat the maid's employers. And in the concluding episode, two college boys avoid paying their rent with the help of the landlady's mischievous daughter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kalman Rozsahegyi
- 1930
In this comedy, dim-bulbed Cockney Bill Biggles becomes a sailor and goes to sea. Many adventures later, he ends up running his own harem. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
