Ellen Schwiers Movies

Bernardo Bertolucci's 255-minute 1900 was a gargantuan undertaking, requiring the resources of three European countries and a trio of American movie studios. Set in the Italian town of Parma, the film's continuity backtracks from Liberation Day in 1945 to the occasion of composer/patriot Giuseppe Verdi's death in 1901. We follow the lives of two men born on that day in 1901, who grow up to be Alfredo Berlinghieti (Robert De Niro) and Olmo Dalco (Gérard Depardieu). Wealthy Alfredo sinks into dissipation, while poverty-stricken Olmo becomes a firebrand labor leader and communist. After WWI, Alfredo is allowed to peacefully retain his land holdings by playing nice with the burgeoning fascists; Olmo, on the other hand, engages in a long-standing battle against the minions of Mussolini. The two protagonists are reunited when Alfredo returns to Parma to preside over Olmo's trial for "political crimes." Co-star Burt Lancaster is cast as Alfredo's wealthy grandfather, who hates to see the old values buried beneath the social travails of the 20th century. Many American prints of 1900 were shortened to 243 minutes, rendering the story hard to follow at times. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When a German gangster uses a scientist's formula to render himself invisible, he sets out on a crime spree. ~ All Movie Guide

This third film version of the Curt Siodmak scare piece Donovan's Brain stars Peter Van Eyck as an overly dedicated scientist. When a powerful and ruthless financier dies in a plane crash, Van Eyck keeps the tycoon's brain alive in his laboratory. Gradually, the brain takes over the doctor's mind, forcing him into all sorts of evil chicanery. In a twist not found in the Siodmak original, the brain compels Van Eyck to seek out the financier's murderer. Anne Heywood costars as the dead man's daughter. A strong mulinational supporting cast distinguishes this Anglo-German coproduction. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A vengeful ex-con, framed and sentenced to eight years on for arson, heads to Sweden to look for the real guilty party. This Swedish drama his search. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Based on a novel by Trygve Gulbranssen about a feud reminiscent of the Hatfields and McCoys, this conventional drama in a rural setting is aptly directed by Gustav Ucicky and stars Mai-Britt Nilsson as Adelheid, a woman sought after by young Dag (Hans Nielsen). Although the everyday concerns and problems of peasant farmers are a prominent part of the story, the focus lies in the machinations of some unfriendly neighbors. Even when the large rift between neighbors looks like it can be healed over, there is one disagreeable woman who specializes in squelching any deals. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

For some reason, European filmmakers are irresistibly attracted to the notion of sex and betrayal under the big top. The Austrian/German Hippodrome stars Gerhard Riedmann as a circus tiger trainer, hopelessly in love with ballerina Margit Nunme. The girl plays up to Riedmann so that she can join his act. The trainer is transferred to another circus, so Margit takes up with sharpshooter Willy Birgel. When Riedmann returns, the jealous Birgel drugs his tigers, then kills himself when he's found out. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Cow and I is purportedly based on the wartime experiences of its star, French farceur Fernandel. The horse-faced comedian plays a French farmer stuck in Germany strong-armed into working for the Nazis. Deciding to escape, Fernandel and his faithful cow walk across Deutschland to his home in France. After a series of picaresque adventures, the farmer and his bovine buddy make it to French soil, only to run afoul of collaborators. The Cow and I was originally released as La Vache et le Prisonnier. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This sequel to the phenomenally successful German film 08/15 details the further exploits of a German army outfit during the early years of WW II. The first film concentrated on the basic-training period, while the sequel catches up with the protagonists at the dreaded Russian Front. O.E. Hasse, one of Germany's more popular leading men, stars as the unit's commanding officer. Among the returnees from the first film is Hans-Christian Blech, who rose to prominence as a result of the two 08/15 endeavors. American audiences may find it a bit off-putting that director Paul May was able to extract moments of humor from a subject as relentlessly grim as the war in Russia, but by and large he is successful. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide