Survey of German Film

Germ 3160 MW 2pm-3:20pm

Wednesday, September 24, 2003

• Discussion papers from der Blaue Engel returned. Clips from the English version shown. The story changes slightly: Lola is English, which explains why she speaks in English. Shooting was done concurrently with the German and many scenes were used in both, thus the cost was kept to a minimum.
  • Foreshadowing pointed out in certain clips: the warning foghorn, gauze over the entrance to the Blue Angel (like a spider web).
  • The cluttered frame was typical of von Sternberg; it showed the chaotic and messy lifestyle of the show.  Clutter also added more depth to the screen world.
• Nazi Film (1933-1945)
  • After the Nazis took power in 1933, they slowly started to take over the film industry and its projects.  By 1935, the Nazis had taken complete control of the films being produced.
  • Approximately 1100 movies were made, and most were not heavy propaganda.
  • What made a movie a Nazi film?
    • Subsidization from the gov’t (money)
    • Nazi themed films
    • The Ministry of Propaganda oversaw all films made during the Third Reich
  • Four types of film:
    • Propaganda, not always the most popular with the public.
    • Entertainment, made for the purpose of entertaining the public; competition with Hollywood movies.
    • Propaganda/entertainment, gave the public what they wanted to see with some subtle push to support the Reich.
    • Documentaries/Newsreels.
  • Not all films had the propaganda in the movie itself. Newsreels and short doc.s were shown before the feature.
  • Joseph Goebbels was minister of propaganda.  Micro-managed filmmaking.
  • Clip from Glückskinder (Lucky Kids) 1934-35. No subtitles. German version of It Happened One Night. Comedy/musical. Entertainment.
  • Clip from Woman of My Dreams 1940. Entertainment (as distraction from war). Starring Marika Rökk, a Hungarian version of Hollywood’s Jeanette McDonald, a very popular actress/singer. She sang a song that went:”...Schau nicht hin, schau nicht her, schau geradeaus (Don’t look this way or that, look straight ahead), mach dir nichts heraus.”
    (don’t worry about it).