Goodbye, Mascotte
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| Original title | Goodbye, Mascotte |
| Country of production | Germany |
| original language | German |
| Publishing year | 1929 |
| length | 85 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Wilhelm Thiele |
| script |
Franz Schulz based on a novella by Michael Linsky |
| production | Günther Stapenhorst for UFA , Berlin |
| camera | Nikolai Toporkoff |
| occupation | |
| |
Adieu, Mascotte is a German silent film love comedy from 1929 by Wilhelm Thiele with Lilian Harvey in the title role.
action
Artists' festival at the Paris Art Academy: a very young model collapses in the midst of the dancing pleasure. As the doctor, who was quickly called in, discovered that she was so exhausted and seriously ill that she had to go to Davos for a cure . But the girl lacks the money for that. The present Mascotte, also active as a model of the Parisian artist scene (albeit much more in demand), is determined to help and is now starting an auction of the works of art that adorn the walls of the ballroom. But the amounts achieved are hardly worth mentioning, and so she finally holds up a nude picture of herself. Mascotte hopes in this way to obtain the necessary 20,000 francs for the recovery of the still inexperienced colleague. Then one of those present shouts “10,000 francs, but for the original!”. Mascotte swallows briefly, she doesn't really want to end up as a whore. But then her altruism wins and she is ready to put herself up for auction. Jean Dardier, a writer, is also present. He doesn't want the pretty, petite girl to fall into the clutches of an old, rich and drooling old man. And so he bids until he finally wins the bid.
Dardier's personal life is currently upside down; his wife Josette cheats on him with the young, attractive Gaston Duprès, a brainless handsome and bon vivant . The morning after the curious night auction, Mascotte appears in Jean's apartment to be at his disposal for the next two weeks. There she would like to lock herself up in a room for the next 14 days, because she doesn't want to be seen as a buyer or a slut. However, through a letter from Josette in Jean's study, which Mascotte looks over, she realizes how things are in Jean Dardier's married life. Nevertheless, she thinks she recognizes in Josette's words that the adulteress still loves her husband. But it wasn't Mascotte's presence that drove Jean's wife out of the house. Rather, the 14-day move in was an ideal, pretended reason for the unfaithful to run away and settle down with her lover Gaston. Mascotte develops sympathy for the abandoned and offers Jean to play his girlfriend and lover coram publico for 14 days, in the hope that the jealous Josette will then return.
Mascotte and Jean then appear regularly in public and often come across Josette and Gaston, who are not exactly discreet in their familiarity. As expected, things turn out differently than expected, because soon the new couple gains serious feelings for each other. Neither of them admit these changes (yet). A planned farewell souper is supposed to clarify the relationship between jeans and mascottes, when, contrary to expectations, Josette, who actually only wanted to take her jewelry out of the house for a trip to Nice , bursts into the familiar tête-à-tête of the two. Jean now assumes that Josette is already cheating on him in his own four walls with the no-nonsense greyhound Gaston. The cuckold then files for divorce. A lawyer called for mediation , lawyer Giron, can no longer save anything. Since Jean wants to know exactly how far Josette has already betrayed him, he attaches himself to her heels and, accompanied by Mascotte, follows his wife on the same train towards Nice. However, Mascotte leaves this train at the next opportunity so as not to stand in the way of the last chance of a reconciliation between the couple. However, Jean notices this and hurries after her. Now the two couples are driving symbolically with two trains in mutual directions. It is now finally clear to Jean how much Mascotte means to him. Only now do the two admit their love.
Production notes and censorship issues
Adieu, Mascotte (often written without a comma), also with the second or subtitle Das Modell vom Montparnasse , was created from January to March 1929 in the film studios of UFA Neubabelsberg , UFA Berlin-Tempelhof and Staaken. The exterior shots were made in Paris and Nice. After the censorship bill of June 13, 1929, a general prohibition was issued, on the grounds: “The internally lying and feelings of disgust aroused in the image could not be permitted because of its demoralizing effect”. The chamber confirmed this judgment on the second censorship bill two weeks later. This time it said: “The auction scene was decisive for the Chamber's decision: a young girl is auctioned with the unequivocally expressed intention that she will make her body available to the auctioneer for 14 days. This scene, which is the starting point of the entire plot, is capable of poisoning the entire content of the film. "
After the new submission on July 12, 1929, Adieu, Mascotte was still allowed due to minimal cuts and only a youth ban was issued. The six-act act with a length of 2304 meters was premiered on August 2, 1929 in the Universum at Lehniner Platz. A sound version was released on April 28, 1930.
Günther Stapenhorst was in charge of production, Jacques Rotmil designed the film construction and was executed by Heinz Fenchel . Willy Zeunert served as the unit manager.
Eugen Thiele , seen in a supporting role, was the younger brother of the director Wilhelm Thiele.
Reviews
“As interesting as the problem may be, it cannot stand the many files that are used to deal with it. The emotional life of those involved is drawn out as if it were an object, and yet it is only an arabesque of insubstantiality. Lilian Harvey is the heroine, a graceful figure who shimmers over once after the Garbo and the other time after the helmet. Otherwise there would be nothing. Igo Sm is such a seductive guy, and Harry Halm can be glad that the role tells him to be silly. How will it be when people also talk? "
“The“ sweet little one ”only seems to live to be enjoyed by princes, bank directors, wealthy painters, and by all sorts of bourgeoisie, like eating roast pork or drinking champagne. In the end, the rich connoisseurs marry the poor girl, the pleasure seems to have "therefore" paid off on both sides. That the "sweetie" usually dies as a street whore, this truth does not matter to the producers of the prostitution-friendly films; the only thing they want to earn from prostitution with the means of the film is and only. The Ufa film "Adieu, Mascotte" is also at the "cultural level" of a brothel. "
“Adieu, Mascotte” is a film with a little more demands. (...) In the present case, the censorship also prevailed. It is difficult afterwards to show the true master of the prolonged lack of imagination. (...) The manuscript looks like that of a student of American chic film together with a student of the local Robert Liebmann. Knuckle of pork and ice cream. Harvey, lovely and hopeful, was otherwise lovelier and more hopeful. She is a Parisian painter's model that is being auctioned for the benefit of a sick colleague. Chaste and savory. (...) Falkenstein funny and striking in one batch. Harry Halm as a funny lover clean and effective. "
“” Adieu, Mascotte “... is a lovable, nice, entertaining, tastefully made attempt at deception. (…) As cheap and unoriginal as the processes are, they at least show consistent implementation and adequate justification, you can finally read good and decent German again in the intermediate texts. Thiele was in his previous Ufa film "Hurray, I live" ... a far more independent, stronger, bolder director. Here everything is at the level of the pretty, the pleasant, the catchy, which is never undercut, but also never broken. (…) Lilian Harvey is perhaps the only talented young star advertised for. Her talent is humorous and parodic. (...) Sentimental or even tragic passages are much less suitable for her. Even a mediocre actor like Harry Halm is finally really busy in a funny, simple-minded ... lover's role. "
Individual evidence
- ^ Adieu, Mascotte in the censorship decision of June 13, 1929
- ↑ meant, of course, "the bidder"
- ^ Adieu, Mascotte in the censorship decision of June 27, 1929
Web links
- Adieu, Mascotte at filmportal.de
- Adieu Mascotte in the Internet Movie Database (English)