GOING AGAINST THE GRAIN ALL THE WAY
As always going against the grain Käutner made another film that was not appreciated by Goebbels; this one was allowed showing only outside Germany. Main reason: German sailors and women do not act as shown in the film.
From directing till script, from acting till (Agfa colour) photography this is a brilliant film, with everyone involved giving best of their talents. What we see is a compelling drama, well balanced, psychologically well conceived and at the same time a film that is great fun to watch over and over again. In this film there are only people and their lives who are not up to standard Nazi definition. There are also great songs, including the bitter "Beim ersten Mal tut's noch weh'", sung superbly by Hilde Hildebrandt.
There is one minor distraction: Käutner is beside the mark with the dream sequence, with which we could have done without. On the other hand, who cares: this film is made from the heart. With Romanze in Moll and Unter den Brücken this is the best of Helmut Käutner.
From directing till script, from acting till (Agfa colour) photography this is a brilliant film, with everyone involved giving best of their talents. What we see is a compelling drama, well balanced, psychologically well conceived and at the same time a film that is great fun to watch over and over again. In this film there are only people and their lives who are not up to standard Nazi definition. There are also great songs, including the bitter "Beim ersten Mal tut's noch weh'", sung superbly by Hilde Hildebrandt.
There is one minor distraction: Käutner is beside the mark with the dream sequence, with which we could have done without. On the other hand, who cares: this film is made from the heart. With Romanze in Moll and Unter den Brücken this is the best of Helmut Käutner.
- J. Steed
- Feb 12, 1999