Hermann Speelmans Movies
- 1953
The title of this German romantic melodrama translates to A Heart's Foul Play. O. W. Fischer stars as Peter van Booven, an opportunistic young rake who intends to marry a wealthy young lady named Sybilla (Ruth Leuwerick), who is suffering from a terminal illness. At first interested in Sybilla only for her money, Peter eventually falls truly in love with her. Through her courageous and selfless example, Peter undergoes a moral regeneration. Though maudlin in the extreme, Ein Herz Spielt Falsch performed well at the box office in Germany and the rest of Europe, thanks in great part to the popularity of O. W. Fischer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- O.W. Fischer, Ruth Leuwerik, (more)
- 1947
Originally In Jenen Tagen, In Those Days was the first postwar directorial contribution by Germany's Helmut Kautner. The film is an episodic recollection of life under the Third Reich, told from the viewpoint of an automobile. Kautner introduces the audience to the car's various owners, each of whom is in one way or another a victim of Nazism. The most poignant vignette concerns a businessman whose life and career are destroyed by the Nazi persecutors of his Jewish wife. Because of a shortage of studio space, most of In Jenen Tagen was lensed out-of-doors, adding a realistic, documentary-like veneer to the proceedings. Though held in low esteem by American film critics, In Jenen Tagen was deemed worthy enough to be entered into the 2nd International Film Festival at Locarno; the film was later released in the U.S. as Seven Journeys. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Erich Schellow, Winnie Markus, (more)
This 1943 film, produced at the UFA studios in West Germany, was refurbished by Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau Foundation to mark the 50th anniversary of that studio. The Nazi director of propaganda, Joseph Goebbels, wanted a big internationally acceptable production to celebrate the studio's 25th anniversary, and the Münchausen story was chosen. It was thought suitable for Germans of the time, because of the ridiculous light in which it shows other nationalities. Baron von Münchausen (1720-97) was an eccentric figure in European history, whose tall tales about his adventures rival anything to be found in the legends of Paul Bunyan, or of the classical figure of Odysseus; they are similar in tone to the stories in Gulliver's Travels. The Baron's tales have been favored reading by the young-at-heart for centuries. This film recounts some of the episodes from the Baron's "autobiographical" stories, which are set in the world of the eighteenth century. In the story, the Baron's 1940s descendant narrates some of the Baron's famous tales; it gradually becomes clear that the original Baron attained immortality, and that his modern descendant is actually the original Baron. The American-born director Terry Gilliam made another film based on these tales in 1988, also titled The Adventures of Baron Münchausen. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hans Albers, Brigitte Horney, (more)
- 1936
Herman Speelmans plays the title character in the German comedy Ein Ganzer Kerl (A Regular Fellow). The plot is hardly new: young go-getter Karl Grosse (Speelmans) bluffs his way into a big-time business firm, rescuing the organization from bankruptcy with his brash, bold new ideas. He also wins the boss' daughter, played by Lien Deyer. But for its setting, a German sausage factory, and the Teutonic character names, Ein Ganzer Kerl could have been a typical get-rich-quick Hollywood comedy, ideally suited for the likes of James Cagney or Robert Young. Like many German comedies of the 1930s, Ein Ganzer Kerl was designed to keep the viewer's minds off their problems, so all temptations to propagandize on behalf of the Third Reich are avoided. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joe Stoeckel, Erika Glaessner, (more)
- 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
A Certain Mr. Gran is the English-language title of this fast-paced espionage drama. Things literally start with a bang when a car is forced off an Alpine road and the driver is killed in a fiery crash. The assailant grabs a suitcase stuffed with secret papers from the wreckage, and the chase is on. The head villain, international spy Tschernikoff (Albert Basserman), manages to cover his tracks by posing as a harmless antiques dealer. But Tschernikoff ultimately proves to be no match for "a certain Mr. Gran" (Hans Albers), an undercover secret-service agent. Albers' portrayal of Mr. Gran as a wisecracking fashion plate with an eye for the ladies is a fascinating precursor to the James Bond school of spydom. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Germaine Aussey, Olga Tschechowa, (more)
- 1933
Also known as Unsere Fahne Flattert Uns Voran (Our Flags Lead Us Forward), this aggressively pro-Nazi tract was based on a novel by R. U. Schenzinger. Brought up in a communist household, young Heini Votter (billed in the cast simply as "A Hitler Youth") is shown the light by his youthful National Socialist comrades. The film rather stacks the deck by depicting the Votter home as a den of scrungy, verminlike cretins, while the Nazi kids are raised in an atmosphere of purity and cleanliness. The climax arrives when Heini betrays his parents to the Nazi hierarchy, preventing an anarchist attack and preserving the Hitlerian status quo. Filmed in 1933, Hitlerjugende Quex might be laughable were it not for the Nazi-sponsored horrors to come. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Heinrich George, Berta Drews, (more)
- 1933
This deluxe German/British production was originally released as simply F.P. 1. The story and characterizations take a back seat to the massive sets and state-of-art (for 1933) special effects. The floating aerodrome which provides the film's centerpiece is a truly impressive creation, far more so than the penny-dreadful espionage plotline involving plans to sabotage the mid-Atlantic airport. Among the scripters were future directors Curt Siodmak, Walter Reisch and Robert Stevenson, all of whom flourished in the dual Berlin/London market that would be broken up with the emergence of Hitler. Retitled F.P. 1 Doesn't Answer, the film was released in the U.S. by Hollywood's Fox Studios, which bestowed top billing upon American actor Leslie Fenton--over and above the more illustrious Conrad Veidt. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hans Albers, Paul Hartmann, (more)
- 1932
A robbery and a betrayal begin this convoluted crime drama. Following a robbery, jewel thieves Dr. Sandegg and Klotz demand that the corrupt jeweler behind their latest heist give them a bigger cut of the take, but he cannot as he has already spent the loot. Instead, he gives them the key to his ex-wife's hotel room so they can steal her large diamond ring. Sandegg does the dirty work. Unfortunately another crook, Diehl, steals the ring from him. Diehl is involved with the ex-wife and after teaming up with Sandegg and Klotz, informs them that the ring they took was a fake. Diehl devises a complex plan to get the real stone. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Heinz Salfner, Karl Ludwig Diehl, (more)
- 1931
Robert Siodmak's second solo directorial effort was the breathless comedy-melodrama Der Mann, Der Seinen Moerder Sucht (Looking For His Murderer) In the face of ever-mounting debts, Heinz Ruhmann arranges for his own murder to be committed within the next 12 hours. During this period, Ruhmann falls in love and gains a whole new lease on life. Frantically, he seeks out the man whom he has hired to bump him off -- only to find out that the latter has sold his "contract" to another fellow -- who in turn has sold it to a third party. Eventually, the whole mess is wrapped up with a Keystone-like car chase. Famed composer Friedrich Hollander shows up in a minor role, complete with patently phony mustache. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Heinz Rühmann, Lien Deyers, (more)
- 1931
Nie Wieder Liebe (Never Again Love) is based on Dover to Calais, a stage play by Julius Bertral. Having nearly bankrupted himself through a series of a disastrous love affairs, hero Harry Liedtke promises that he will not come anywhere near a woman for five years. To strengthen his resolve, he backs up his promise with a $500,000 bet. With the help of his valet, Liedtke successful eludes every female within touching distance -- but just before the five-year time limit is up, he is obliged to rescue gorgeous Lilian Harvey from a fate worse than death. It turns out that Harvey was hired to make certain that Liedtke would lose his bet, but just before she kisses him as planned, she realizes that she's fallen in love with him -- whereupon she dedicates herself to seeing that Leidtke will keep his promise, and his money after all. Director Anatole Litwak (later billed as Litvak) also helmed the French-language version, Calais-Douvres. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lilian Harvey, Harry Liedtke, (more)
- 1931
This slow-moving German comedy was adapted from The Man Who Keeps Silent, a play by Fritz Friedmann-Frederich (who also directed the film version). Popular farceur Max Adelbert stars as the titular finance director, who finds that the future of his livelihood hinges upon his silence. The problem, of course, is that Adelbert loves to hear the sound of his own voice. But he also loves money, and thereby hangs a tale. Reviewers in 1931 carped that Der Herr Finanzdirektor looked more like a photographed stage play than a film, but this criticism could have been levelled against 75 percent of all films released that year. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Max Adalbert, Elga Brink, (more)
- 1931
In this drama, set in Germany during the reign of Kaiser Wilhelm, a practical joker cons a town. It is based upon the true tale of a daring shoemaker who dons a captain's uniform and leads a troop of soldiers into a small town of Koepenick. He immediately places the mayor and the treasurer under arrest and absconds with the town coffer. When the townfolk learn that they have been the butt of a joke that criticized their blind acceptance of anyone in uniform they are angry. The cobbler confesses his action and is sent to prison. The Kaiser, a man with a sense of humor, gives him a pardon. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Max Adalbert, Willi Schur, (more)
- 1931
This pre-WW II German costume drama chronicles the French Revolution with a particular focus upon Danton, Robespierre, and Marat. They are seen preparing for and executing the revolution. The film also presents an interesting, if not historically inaccurate, portrayal of Louis XVI. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fritz Kortner, Gustaf Gründgens, (more)
- 1931
Kinder von Gericht was predicated on a real-life courtroom controversy. The question: Should children's depositions be taken seriously in court, and can a verdict be contingent upon a child's testimony. This film takes the opposing viewpoint; so far as director George C. Klaren is concerned, children should be seen but not heard -- even in the hallowed halls of justice. To illustrate his thesis, Klaren offers an instance in which a child's lies cause tragedy for the falsely accused hero (Hermann Speelman). It's not likely that the film's viewpoint would hold water in the 1990s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carla Barthell, Ellen Schwannecke, (more)
