El escándalo Rosemarie

Although I came into the movie theater with high expectations for this film (which had been selected for my film class) I left a bit disappointed and a bit more confused. In short, I didn't like this movie. Artistically the movie was pleasing. The camera work was smooth and the shots were from creative angles (such as when Rosemarie visited her old domicile and the shot was of her feet walking in, somewhat showing how she was above that life now) and the scenes flowed nicely from one to the next. Content and plot-line were my biggest disappointments with this movie. Firstly, all of the characters in this film are static. There seems to be little character development in any of the characters. Each character interacts starkly with the next and neither seems to learn much from the next. Secondly, the plot-line in this movie was loose. The end of the film left many avenues open and some of the plot was not even tied together.

For example, the small apartment where Rosemarie lived at the beginning of the film was not explained at all during the film. Even the men who lived in the apartment weren't explained in effect or purpose. The story also switched from being somewhat comical, to stark and realistic, to unrealistic at the end. In short, this is a well-done movie that I didn't like.

"Das Mådchen Rosemarie" portrays an interesting view of a West German girl's

introduction to the capitalist society in which big companies and money

dominate. I found the film to be very interesting. I thought that the camera angles were very unique...especially in initial bar scene. I thought that moving the camera around the bar, without cutting, was a very unique way of viewing the room and all of the people in it. I think that the characters were acted out very well. Hartog was completely

stone cold. He rarely ever showed emotion on his face, other than deep

thought. Even in the end, when Rosemarie was attempting to get him to leave

his wife for her, he showed very little emotion. This was one aspect of the film that stood out to me. I particularly enjoyed the two young men who used their musical talents to help Rosemarie and later Rebecca on their way into the "big time." Although these two were essentially gold-digging scumbags, they introduced a fair amount of

humor and unique songs to the film. A perfect example of this humor was when they "tried out" various girls to see which would be the best to take Rosemarie's spot in their trio of sorts. In the middle of the movie, I thought the plot was a little shaky, but in the end it all came together perfectly. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the film and thought it portrayed capitalism wonderfully.

"Das Mädchen Rosemarie" offers a compelling tale of a West German call girl

caught up in the big money world of capitalism in the 50's. The title character is a resourceful, intelligent beauty who attempts to outwit morally corrupt

businessmen, and fails, losing her life. From the opening sequence which finds Rosemarie dancing below a hotel, "Das Mådchen" is full of vibrancy and life, containing an almost lyrical quality to the film. Singing is prevalent throughout the film, with Rosemarie's lowly

aquaintances providing social commentary with an accordion throughout the

movie. Along with this poetic quality, the film also finds strength through its stylish camera work. Full of extreme zooms and close-ups, the camera adds

real drama and a sense of urgency to the story. Nadja Tiller, as the call-girl Rosemarie, is electrifying, dominating the screen in every scene. Beautiful and resourceful, you never doubt her ability to outwit the West German

businessmen. The supporting cast is also very strong. As for weaknesses of the movie, the story does tend to drag along a bit, despite the music which is prevalent throughout. The main problem however,

is its hit you over the head method of displaying its message. The audience is constantly bombarded with messages of the ills of capitalism , most commonly displayed through the songs of Rosemaries friends , which are not-so-subtle

jabs at capitalism. While the merits of capitalism are certainly valid film topics, the constant barrage detracts from the movie. The story works on its own, and does not need the constant anti-capitalist messages. Stylistically, "Das Mådchen has echos of Hitchcock, with its dizzying camera work and morbid end. Despite this one major flaw, "Das Mådchen" is a colorful and enjoyable movie, complete with a tragic ending which lends an air of seriousness to the movie.

Das Maedchen Rosemarie was a very well-done film. It is about a call-girl,

Rosemarie, who wants to move up in the world. She begins circulating with

important capitalist business clients. Then a french client gets her to become a spy for him, and she begins to feel like she has a lot more power and influence then she really does, and becomes a threat to all of the men. In the meanwhile, all she really wants from the situation is to be an upperclass member like all of them. It's sad because, being a prostitute, she can never really be like a rich man's wife, or a member of elite society.

One unique thing they did with it was to have two musicians (the two men with whom Rosemarie initially lives and works with) sing songs throughout the movie that have to do with what Rosemarie is currently doing. Their songs reflect on the current situation and foreshadow things to come. It is sort of similar to the two male singers in "There's Something about Mary," only this movie, unlike that one, is not moronic.

The fim's being in black and white gives it another interesting effect. It does not have much background music, and reminds one of an Alfred Hitchcock movie in

that respect. It focuses on interesting (and altered/distorted to sound stranger) background noises like the whooshing sound of revolving doors, or the sound of an elevator going up. It also does interesting camera shots such as looking at the carpet (and the shadows of revolving doors) instead of the doors

themselves. It reminded me of how, in Psycho, Alfred Hitchcock chose to focus on the running water, and shadows, in the famous shower/murder scene,

instead of actually depicting the violence.

I really liked this movie, and thought it was very well done, and something

different. Aside from the technical aspects of it, the general story-line was really good in itself, and had a strong message about capitalist germany and how the business and capitalist were taking over everything, and became more

important than the personal lives of less cold-hearted, business-minded people such as Rosemarie. Even though she was a prostitute, she was sort of innocent at the same time, because she could not comprehend how hopeless it was for

her to wish to be a member of the upper class, and how most people were only

using her. She was just a luxury to them, and one more thing they could afford to buy for themselves to make their lives more interesting. They did not want for her to hold any real sway over them, or affect their lives in any way. She did not realize how dangerous it would be for her when she attempted to become a real person.

"Das Madchen Rosemarie" is about a callgirl that goes into industrial espionage. It is loosely based on the live of Rosemarie Nitribitt (1933 - 1957). Very loosely indeed, because Rosemarie Nitribitt was a prostitute and she was murdered but there is no convincing evidence of espionage, only rumors.

The film is a cynical comment on the German economic miracle after the Second World War, in the film referred to as "das Wirtschafts-wunderland". The self pronounced heroes of this miracle, the capitalists, are less a role model than they pretend to be.

Two petty criminals, with whom Rosemarie formed a vaudeville group before her "career", comment on the plot in the form of cynical songs. The film assumes thereby a Brechtonion character, sort of a "Drei Million Grochen Oper".

Rolf Thiele was a German director active from 1951 to 1977. His films are mostly sex comedies and mediocre at best. "Das Mädchen Rosemarie" is one of the best, although still not a top movie. In 1976 he made a (far worse) sequel about the daughter of Rosemarie with "Rosemaries Tochter".