Comedian Harmonists (Film)

Comedian Harmonists is a 1997 Austrian- German produced feature film from director Joseph Vilsmaier. The plot is based - with some artistic freedom - in the history of historical vocal group Comedian Harmonists. The film was a popular success with over three million moviegoers and received major awards.

Action

The unemployed arranger Harry Frommer man looking in 1927 by newspaper advertisement singer to put together a vocal group, modeled on the U.S. barbershop group The Revelers. The bass Robert Biberti responds to the notification and shall Frommer man the other singer in the later group before. After intense and grueling rehearsals and first failures, they finally find their style and become one of the most successful music groups in Germany.

The group is subjected to several ordeals. After the seizure of power by the National Socialists in 1933 get Frommer man and his Jewish colleagues also novel Cycowski and Erich Collin problems because the Nazis begin to put pressure on them. In addition, Frommer man and Biberti interested in the same girl, the bold student Erna. Cykowski, Polish Jew, on the other hand marries Mary, who for the sake of about kicks him to the Jewish faith.

During a concert in Nuremberg, they learn that they enjoy far the goodwill of the bekennendsten anti-Semite Nazi Julius Streicher ( publisher of the striker ). But since they do not want to pay him homage, the end of the group is essential.

An appearance in the U.S. irritates some members to stay there and thus to escape the political problems in Germany. But especially Biberti do not want to leave his home - mainly because his mother, who would not leave their home. Because the group underestimated the actual risk and the threat of the Nazis does not take more seriously, they finally return back to Germany together.

There they find a short time later by her stage ban. The team will be permitted to give a final concert. Following the concert, the group will frenetically celebrated by the audience.

The Jewish members then leave Germany.

Production

The film was recorded in summer 1997 in Vienna, Bad Fischau -Brunn, Prague, Munich and Berlin. The main producer was the Viennese Dor Film, minority producers, the German film companies Perathon film, film Iduna, Bavaria Film, Senator Film and Televersal film ( see also co-production agreement Austria - Germany ).

Reviews

" Joseph Vilsmaier draws the characters of the Comedian Harmonists by extremely precise. In dense image sequences it conveys the atmosphere of the time and takes a stand for the then political situation. One at least - (...) Vilsmaier with Comedian Harmonists managed a largely entertaining film that does not dripping with apparent problem solving and alleged ' dealing with the past ' but brings the tragedy of individual artists unvarnished and clear against the background of the tragedy of a whole people expressed provided the critical knowledge about the Third Reich. Instead hasty defense he provokes in the viewer (again) questions. Approximately how it was possible for that followers as diehard Nazis could be impressed by the group and that they have not even then stepped in as the idols, which they cheered wholeheartedly, were banned from performing. That was in 1934, long before the Kristallnacht. "

" The ambitious director, cinematographer and producer in personal union gave his tribute a piece of cinema that has it all: humor, drama, glamor and history, even if it has to go under one or other dramatic detail at the sheer mass of the material. "

" The anecdotal designed entertainment film describes with some external costs, but also with many supposedly grippy ' clichés musical careers in an eventful years ', which merely serves as a screen for neat superficialities. "

"In highlighting the personal fates of individual members of the Comedian Harmonists and their public career Vilsmaier manages an elaboration of the political situation. "

Awards

  • Bavarian Film Award 1998: Directed by: Joseph Vilsmaier
  • Special Price: Ben Becker, Heino Ferch, Ulrich Noethen, Heinrich Schafmeister, Max Tidof and Kai Wiesinger
  • Best Picture
  • Best Actor: Ulrich Noethen
  • Best Supporting Actress: Meret Becker
  • Best Editing: Peter R. Adam
1997 in film Screenplay Film score Harald Kloser Pasadena Roof Orchestra Fictional film Barbershop music Bavarian Film Awards Herbstmilch (Film) Brother of Sleep Marlene (2000 film) The Last Train (2006 film) Nanga Parbat (film) Integrated Authority File
198556
de