Paul Kemp Movies
- 1990
- R
The tapes referred to in the movie title contain evidence revealing a chemical-weapons industry sanctioned by a Soviet-block country; they are filled with computer statistics of the African natives who have succumbed to the illegally dispensed chemicals. The evidence fall into the unwitting hands of an American journalist and her small son. An American special agent is sent to recover the tapes and rescue the endangered journalist from the intrigue. Meanwhile, ruthless Libyan agents intend to secure the tapes at any cost. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1950
Despite its sinister title, the German Gefaehrliche Gaeste (Dangerous Guests) is a romantic comedy. It all begins when Peter Anders (Wolf Albach-Retty) puts his house up for sale. Enter three small-time crooks, who pose as servants to case the joint. Also on a house-hunting expedition is toothsome heroine Inge (Vera Molnar), whose wealthy family the crooks hope to fleece. The film manages to accommodate a couple of antiseptic musical numbers, one of these performed by pianist Paul Kemp, cast as Inge's uncle. This is the sort of escapist fare that was so popular in Germany during the Hitler era; after the war, however, audiences demanded a bit more realism in their entertainment. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wolf Albach-Retty, Vera Molnar, (more)
- 1949
Had it ever been released in the U.S., the Austrian Lambert Fuchlt sich Bedroht would have been retitled Lamber is Threatened. The film is what could be described as an existential murder yarn. The main character, played by Leopold Rudolph, kills a man out of revenge. Upon learning that no one really knew his victim, he assumes the dead man's identity. It takes an out-of-town private eye to get the facts straight and see that justice is done. The detective is played by Curd Juergens, soon to gain worldwide fame as Curt Jurgens. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hannelore Schroth, Leopold Rudolf, (more)
- 1947
Das Singende Haus (The Singing House) was financed in Germany but filmed in Vienna. The heroine (Herta Mayen) is the daughter of a hidebound classical musician (Paul Kemp). She prefers jazz music, but he prefers that she stay locked up at home far away from such music. In true Hollywood B-musical fashion, the old man is won over to his daughter's musical point of view, while she finds romance in the arms of a handsome swing musician (Hans Moser). Future international star Curt Jurgens (here billed as Kurd Jurgens) plays a supporting role. Chances for an American release of Das Singende Haus were hurt by the questionable political status of writer-director Franz Antel. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hannelore Schroth, Susi Nicoletti, (more)
- 1947
This Austrian adaptation of Aristophanes' satirical comedy Lysistrata was retitled Triumph of Love for American consumption. Left unchanged is the original premise of the centuries-old play: To bring a long and destructive war to an end, the womenfolk of Athens vow to withhold sex from their husbands until the men come to their senses. This "love strike" has widespread political ramifications, many of which are given a contemporary slant by screenwriter Kaspar Loser. For obscure reasons, the settings in Triumph of Love are appropriately Athenian, but the costuming is inappropriate and anachronistic. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Judith Holzmeister, O.W. Fischer, (more)
- 1936
Paul Kemp plays the ironically named title character in the German comedy Der Mutige Seefahrer (The Brave Seaman). The joke, of course, is that Berthold Jebe (Paul Kemp) is anything but brave, especially on the ocean. Thus, he refuses to board a luxury liner in order to collect a huge inheritance in America, losing not only his legacy but also whatever money he happens to have at present. Somehow, Jebe emerges from these setbacks as a happier man and even wins the girl (Grete Englisch). Most of the comedy is conveyed in pantomime, enabling Der Mutige Seefahrer to rake in bucks in non-German communities. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Kemp, Maria Krahn, (more)
- 1936
Glueckskinder (Children of Fortune) serves as yet another sprightly vehicle for European film favorites Lilian Harvey and Willy Fritsch. Unlike the stars' previous musical concoctions, this one takes place in New York City (or a reasonable facsimile constructed on the UFA back lot). To save Ann Garden (Harvey) from going to jail, reporter Gil Taylor (Fritsch) pretends to be married to her. Gallantly, he hides her identity from his own newspaper's society columnist, and gets fired as a result. The rest of the picture finds Ann and Gil trying to "play house" without such niceties as a steady income. Near the end, the story goes off on a new tangent when it is suspected that Ann is the long-lost niece of a millionaire; she isn't, but Gil's coverage of the story gets him his job back, and everyone lives (presumably) happily ever after. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lilian Harvey, Willy Fritsch, (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)
Jan Kiepura and Marta Eggerth, a pair of gifted opera singers who were also husband and wife, were at the height of their fame in 1936 when they starred in this Viennese screen musical. Denise (Eggerth) is an aspiring singer whose audition for a production of La Bohème strongly impresses Rene (Kiepura), another performer hoping to land a role in the opera. Denise wins the leading role of Mimi, and Rene wins the heart of Denise as well as a part as her love interest, but their good fortune is soon shrouded in tragedy when Denise discovers that, much like her character, she has contracted a fatal disease which may prevent her from making her triumphant debut. Zauber der Boheme (aka The Charm of La Boheme) was designed to incorporate the music of Puccini's opera into a contemporary setting as a vehicle for Kiepura and Eggerth; this project marked their return to the European screen after a stay in Hollywood failed to make them into American matinee idols in the manner of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jan Kiepura, Marta Eggerth, (more)
- 1936
The titular "fugitive from Chicago" is Michael Nissen (Gustav Froelich), who arrives in Germany to take charge of an automobile-manufacturing plant. Nissen, however, is operating under false pretenses: he's posing as the genuine auto heir, who's been detained in the Windy City on a murder charge. Despite his utter lack of knowledge of the motorcar business, Nissen manages to carry the day with several moneymaking schemes, proving as worthy of his position as the man he's impersonating. Popular German leading lady Lil Dagover is surprisingly wasted in a minor role. Der Fluehctling Aus Chicago is pure escapism, with no reference whatever to the current Nazi regime in Germany (but with plenty of barbed comments about Chicago gangsterism!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gustav Froehlich, Hubert Von Meyerinck, (more)
- 1936
This operetta provides a vision of how the Nazis of Germany envisioned the Italian Renaissance. The residents of the town of Ferrara are swept up in a tide of emotion and physical passion by the writings of a Renaissance author. Before long, the town is in chaos and it becomes difficult to keep track of which characters have been involved with one another. In German with English subtitles. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Albrecht Schoenhals, Willy Fritsch, (more)
- 1936
The title translates as An Auto and No Money, which thoroughly describes the dilemma of hero Peter Knopf (Paul Kemp). A popular movie star, Peter tries to escape his fans by trading places with his chauffeur. Thing of it is, Peter is rich, and the chauffeur is flat broke. The subsequent "cultural shock" jokes are played for all they're worth, culminating in a drunk sequence right out of Chaplin. The scenes in which a champagne-benumbed Peter tries to walk an imaginary tightrope and attempts to negotiate a revolving door are priceless. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Kemp
- 1935
Die Csardasfurstin (Czardas Princess) was adapted from the Emmerich Kalmann operetta of the same name. Marta Eggerth essays the title role, a regal-looking lass named Sylva Varescu. Not technically a princess, Sylva is a music-hall singer whose beauty attracts the attention of handsome prince Weylersheim (Hans Soehnker) and playboy Count Boni Kansianu (Paul Kemp). Weylersheim is anxious to wed Sylva, but he is already engaged to a young countess (Ida Wuest). This last-named character provides a handy plot solution when she falls for the Count, leaving Weylersheim free to marry our heroine. Because of the Third Reich's "racial purity" policy, the Jewish Emmerich Kalman was unmentioned in the UFA press release for Die Csardasfurstin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marta Eggerth, Hans Söhnker, (more)
- 1933
In this thriller, a corrupt business magnate wants to buy a financially troubled oil company. He hires a hitman to kill the struggling company's president, he then plans to replace the man with an imposter who is sent to a meeting with Europa Oil, the rival buyer. The hitman also attempts to kill an engineer who escapes. He enlists the aide of another who helps him locate a photo of the real company president. Meanwhile the imposter cuts a deal with Europa Oil. Just as he attempts to cash the check, the police burst in and arrest him. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1932
Filmed in 1932, Die Verkaufte Braut is Max Ophuls' own unique spin on the Smetana opera The Bartered Bride. The film is a showcase for celebrated Czech opera diva Jarmila Novotna, whose screen appearances were unfortunately few and far between. The original libretto, involving the comic misadventures of two mismatched couples, is given a respectable amount of attention, but the film's biggest selling card is the photographic dexterity of Max Ophuls, who never met a camera crane he didn't like. Since filmed opera was seldom big box-office in 1932, Ophuls concentrates on the farcical elements of the story; especially worth noting are comic contributions by Paul Kemp and Otto Wernicke, who seldom let their German film fans down. Curiously, star Jarmila Novotna, whose "live" appearances in The Bartered Bride were much prized by contemporary critics, doesn't come off all that well in this film version. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jarmila Novotna, Paul Kemp, (more)
- 1932
Sehnsucht 202 (Longing 202) is all about a not-so-slight misunderstanding. A pretty young millionairess places an "Object: Matrimony" newspaper ad, signing herself "Longing 202." At the same time, a poor shop girl, in search of a job, places a separate classified ad -- likewise identifying herself as Longing 202. The inevitable mix-ups occur, with the millionairess landing a department store job and a handsome husband, and the shop girl landing a handsome husband and a "job" of a different sort. The film's two heroines are played by Magda Schneider (mother of Romy Schneider) and a Vienna-born newcomer named Luise Rainer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Magda Schneider, Fritz Schulz, (more)
- 1932
Gitta Alper is appropriately cast as Gitta, the singing sweetheart of composer Fred (Paul Kemp). Thanks to Gitta's considerable vocal talents, Fred's songs become world-famous, though with fame comes many a heartbreak and setback. With the help of an understanding impresario (Leonard Steckel), Gitta and Fred are reunited in the final footage. Gitta Entdeckt ihr Herz (Gitta Discovers Her Heart) was assembled for the express purpose of transforming Hungarian stage favorite Gitta Alper into a saleable movie star. The fact that it was an excellent film in its own right was as much a factor in its success as its charming leading lady. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gitta Alpar, Paul Kemp, (more)
