Der Schwarze Husar

The French are hunting down all of the Black Husars. That won't stop Captain Hansgeorg von Hochberg on his mission to rescue his duke's fiancé, who Napoleon wants to marry off with a Polish prince.

It's run-of-the-mill light adventure fare. A bit funny, a bit dramatic. And if you like that trope of "my duty above my personal feelings", you get that here too. Heck, I even thought one of the main characters was going to die!

Erroneously, I called it a musical; operetta would be a better descriptor. Barely. There's only two songs, and one reprise.

Was pleased by the lack of blatant nationalism (it's still there, but it wasn't as in your face as in *groan* Die Letzte Kompagnie). Interesting how, the year before, we saw Herr Veidt as a piggish Metternich (Metterpig?) and Napoleon being treated very favourably in Der Kongress Tanzt, and here is the complete opposite.

It was nice seeing Mady Christians again (playing another royal, no less). Very pleased to know that she was a) also a Reinhardt alumni, b) was one of the many 1930s emigrés from Germany (she opposed the regime) and c) probably queer. She's quite good!

Everyone was quite good, in fact. The characters are fun, the jokes are light, but they land. German comedy is an acquired taste for most people, but this film's comedy feels more universal?

(And because I couldn't help myself... Hansgeorg in the streets, Hanswhoreg in the sheets. But he can be Hanswhoreg in the streets if he finds the opportunity.


by faisonsunreve

This is the ONE bit everyone talks about and just... sir... she just wanted to see your wound...)

Landstraße und Großstadt

Two musicians and their lady friend rise from rags to riches, then disaster strikes.

If you told me earlier last year I would be watching this, I wouldn't have believed you. While it is just a regular drama, with themes of greed, love of art and poverty, the novelty of watching a film that has been unavailable for years doesn't get old.

This one of those "Romantic with a capital R" Connie films.

Der Mann, der den Mord Beging

Colonel Marquis of Sévigné arrives at Constantinople to insctruct the Turkish army. He meets Lord Falkland and his wife, who is mistreated by Falkland.

A very quiet affair, with uninspired dialogue. What makes it enjoyable is, despite the blah script, all actors are excellent. Connie, Trude von Molo and Heinrich George especially.

And Connie! This is the most restrained I've seen him (alongside Passing and Chess Player). He ate all the Yorkshire ham he usually brings with him. You can definitely feel Sévigné is a man struggling with his emotions, swallowing all the rage he feels regarsing Falkland's behaviour, all the love he feels for Lady Falkland.

There's some light orientalism. Murder happens only at the end. I had high hopes which were not met, if I'm going to be honest.

Ingmarsarvet

Ingmar wanted to become a schoolteacher, but during a storm, his ancestors speak to him. He decides to leave his career behind and get the farm that used to bwlong to his family. Meanwhile, a cult starts and they want to go to Jerusalem.

My knowledge of Selma Lagerlöf's work starts and stops at The Treasure. But there's an atmosphere to it that is perfectly replicated in Ingmarsarvet. What a gorgeous film! What a gorgeous restoration!

It's a slow, introspective film.

Die Andere Seite

Liutenant Raleigh is excited and bubbly, and he got transfered to the company of Captain Stanhope. Raleigh has a high opinion of Stanhope, but Stanhope is disillusioned, riddled with PTSD and alcoholism.

I... I feel empty...

Sweeping shots in the trenches are claustrophobic. Conrad Veidt fought in WWI and it shows. I think it may be my favourite performance he ever gave in a German talkie.

War is hell.

Der Gang in die Nacht

My dear Murnau!

This is the earliest film directed by Murnau that's available and it does feel like the start of something great.

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous, and angsty as hell.

Dr. Börne cheats on his fiancé Hélène with dancer Lily. He and Lily get married and go live in a little town (it's a quiet village). There's an unnamed, blind painter there, and Lily is very, very attracted to him (also scared, because of how attracted she is?). I don't blame her, have you looked at him?


by filmforfancy, sorry about the watermark, but it's what I can get.

I was disappointed about Hélène's character, who seems to disappear in the second half of the film.

Above Suspicion

I didn't want to watch this at first. It's a postumous release, and Connie was ill (you could tell, in hindsight, that he was), and I thought I was going to be brought to tears. It would be like a certain day back in June all over again.

But I was pleaseantly surprised by how fun this film was?? Sure, there's some dated elements, but it was a ride.

"Richard, we're spies :D" lives in my head now.

And I looooove Hassert "Shows Up to Save Everyone Then Leaves" Seidel, our good Austrian. He dances (those hips!), he loves toeture weapons, he's a city guide, he has a thing for being stepped on?? He noms, he snarks, he runs through the night in shorts! Connie is having the time of his life. He seldom got a break from big bad Nazis, and he got to play a chaotic good guy!

And I'm angry. So angry. He and Basil Rathbone's character (Sig) never interacted. They were friends IRL and are acting in the same film but don't even get one scene together. (Can you imagine the shenanigans BTS?)

I'm doing the ranking of all of Herr Veidt's films soon.