Rudolf Schundler Movies

Lena Stolze stars as Sonja, a young Bavarian woman whose submission to an essay contest explores her hometown's affiliation with the Third Reich; as she learns more and more of the truth, she is increasingly victimized by her fellow townspeople, who do not want the scars from their past ripped open anew. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi

This West German film chronicles the trials of a group of people fleeing the invading Russian army in 1944-45 in the area of Pomerania in eastern Germany. Caught in the dead of winter, several men, women and children load themselves and their belongings onto horse-drawn wagons to start their journey to safety. At one point, the group reaches a farm where everyone in the family has committed suicide, and at another juncture they are hiding in the basement of a house when some Soviet soldiers come to the door looking for refugees. The French POWs who were in the house try to send the soldiers away, but they fail -- the soldiers discover the refugees and are about to rape the women when the Soviet officer in charge prevents that atrocity. These and other stories of a fictional group of refugees were taken from real accounts at this time. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

The West German Just a Gigolo has little to do with the popular song of the same name. Its central character, played by David Bowie, is a World War I-era Prussian aristocrat. Living by his wits throughout Europe, Bowie uses his sexual prowess with beautiful women (and powerful men) to advance himself. The leering lothario eventually comes to grief in the decadent Berlin of the 1920s. We don't know how he did it, but director David Hemmings managed to corral some of the most stellar sex goddesses in film history to play cameos in Just a Gigolo: Kim Novak, Maria Schell, and even Marlene Dietrich. The film was originally released as Schoner Gigolo, Armer Gigolo. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This comic melodrama celebrates the fairly graceful life of prostitute Anita Drögemöller (Monique van de Ven) and her happy clientele of businessmen and small-time politicians. Working in the all-business climate of the Ruhr valley, famous for its industrial production and pollution (and not much else), she eases the lives of sundry lonely men. In one scene, her client is the vice-president of the United States. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

A candy-colored nightmare from Italian terror maestro Dario Argento, Suspiria weaves a menacing tale of witchcraft as a fairy tale gone horribly awry. From the moment she arrives in Freiberg, Germany, to attend the prestigious Tans Academy, American ballet-dancer Suzy Banyon (Jessica Harper) senses that something horribly evil lurks within the walls of the age-old institution. Ill at ease as the result of her fellow student's peculiar behavior and increasingly terrified following a series of gruesome and spectacular murders, Suzy slowly begins to unravel the dark history of the academy. Convinced that the occult roots of the school and the horrific tale of its founding mother may hold an unthinkable secret, she begins a hallucinatory journey into the black heart of one of the most powerful witches ever known to exist. As Suzy edges ever closer to a secret that may hold the answers to all of her nightmares, the coven's grip on her soul begins to tighten until there is seemingly no escape. Will Suzy solve the mystery of the cursed academy before the fearsome Black Queen consumes her, or will she finally reveal the secret that has forever haunted the lavish corridors of the academy and bring an end to the Black Queen's terrifying reign? ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

This German comedy is basically a star vehicle for Heinze Erhardt, a comedian so deeply beloved by German audiences that the content of this film is of secondary importance to the fact that he appears in it. The character he plays is a very agreeable retired financier, a "soft touch," who is perpetually short of money. He decides to take a job to help keep up with his debts and chooses to be a salesman. He keeps at it despite being fired a few times, and things eventually turn out well. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

This comedy finds a group of students playing a practical joke on the school director (Theo Lingen). His twin brother Taft went to Africa and struck it rich, and the two have not seen each other for 40 years. The students send him a letter stating his brother has passed away and he will inherit the fortune if he can adhere to certain conditions. They include taking care of a monkey, spending three weeks in jail, and letting the students pass the rest of their tests. Comedy ensues as he tries to meet the conditions of the bogus will as the students take advantage of the gullible educator. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

In this crime comedy, Herbert Zaenker (Martin Held) is the retired judge who is called on to monitor the movements of a shady criminal masking as a boxing promoter. Bruno "Dandy" Steigler (Mario Adorf) has just returned to Berlin and plans a series of robberies with his criminal cronies. Herbert uses his experience to recruit former criminals to thwart the efforts of the gang, who manage to stay one step ahead of the puzzled Dandy. Herbert continues to befuddle the crime boss as the legal dragnet tightens around the gang. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

Dr. Peter Bach (Peter Alexander) is sent to a city school when his small village school burns down. The liberal and progressive instructor soon gains a large following among the student. He alternately makes enemies among his fellow teachers who resent his methods. Heintje, one of Germany's most popular child singers, plays his nephew Jan. The students play tricks on the teachers but leave Bach alone in this musical that features the singing of both Heintje and Alexander. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

This situation comedy finds a television reporter posing as a teacher in order to get a story on the younger generation. He falls for the pretty sister of one of his students, the daughter of a wealthy and influential pillar of the community who happens to hate teachers. The report deals with the fallout from daddy dearest and stuffy administrators in this continuation of the film, directed by Werner Jacobs, that often pokes fun at the educational system. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

A female reporter masquerades as a high school student to write a story on the youth of today. The students spend the majority of their time playing practical jokes on their peers and teachers. The reporter falls for Dr. Wagner, the idolized and idealistic educator who is the favorite of the student body and who, out of respect from the students, is usually exempt from their pranks. Other teacher types that nearly every high school student has encountered are accurately portrayed: there's the severe disciplinarian, the narcissist, the reactionary, and the one just hanging on hoping to retire with no further trouble before the pension goes into effect. At one point in the movie, the journalist/student is subjected to a mild spanking at the hands of her peers for a minor infraction, hence the title of this light comedy. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi