The Katzensteg (1915)

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Movie
Original title The cat footbridge
Country of production Germany
original language German
Publishing year 1915
length 64 minutes
Rod
Director Max Mack
script Adolf Lantz based
on the novel of the same name by Hermann Sudermann
production Paul Davidson for PAGU, Berlin
camera Max Lutze
occupation

The Katzensteg is a German silent film from 1915 by Max Mack based on the novel of the same name by Hermann Sudermann .

action

Prussia at the time of the Wars of Liberation 1813 to 1815: The old Baron von Schranden, son of a French woman, made a pact with Napoleon Bonaparte's troops. This earned him the bitter opposition of his son Boleslav, who is loyal to the Prussian resistance. A break between father and son breaks out and Boleslav leaves his parents' castle. Meanwhile, old Schranden's love of the French takes him so far that he even commits treason. He forces the maid Regine to lead the French troops over the Katzensteg in the rear of the Prussian Freikorps that are fighting for the liberation of Germany from Napoleonic bondage.

Some time later, old Schranden's son returns to his parents' estate. The father is long dead, the French are in retreat. But the curse of paternal betrayal weighs heavily on Boleslav and the name of Schranden. At home, Regine was expelled from the village community because of her forced collaboration with the enemy. She is considered outlawed. Boleslav, who knows that the simple girl did not do the deed voluntarily, is massively committed to her. This circumstance has the consequence that his engagement to the pastor's daughter Helene has now ended.

Nolens volens, Boleslav is now becoming more and more of an outsider, only Regine sticks to him. Boleslav von Schranden wants to clear his name again and throws himself with his people into the decisive battle against the Napoleonic occupiers. At the Katzensteg there is a discussion between Boleslav and his ex-fiancée Helene. Regine runs towards him. A shot is fired, intended for Boleslav von Schranden. Regine throws herself in the way of the bullet and dies in Boleslav's arms.

Production notes and background

The Katzensteg was created in the autumn / winter of 1914/15 in the Union studio in Berlin-Tempelhof . The five-act film was banned from young people and opened on April 27, 1915.

The 17-year-old Käthe Haack made her film debut here with the pastor's daughter Helene. Hermann Fellner took over the production management, Bruno Lopinski was also the assistant director as the production manager . Paul Leni designed the film structures .

On the occasion of Sudermann's 60th birthday, the film was shown again in Düsseldorf in September 1917 .

For Sudermann's 70th birthday, Gerhard Lamprecht shot a remake of this material; In 1937, on Sudermann's eightieth birthday, a remake was made under the direction of Fritz Peter Buch .

criticism

The cinematographer wrote: “In the editing that Sudermann's novel underwent, what was cinematographically effective was peeled out with an extraordinarily sure eye, and so it was possible to turn the famous novel into a captivating film through wise restriction. This is all the more gratifying as in some circles in the industry the reaction after the hype of authors had become so strong that the term author's film was simply associated with the idea of ​​a work that was only suitable for the educated but more or less boring for the general public. The "Katzensteg" is different. It would be a good movie even if there had never been a novel of the same name. This is not least due to Max Mack's extraordinarily elegant staging, supported by artistic aspects, who nevertheless, or rather precisely because of this, implemented the gripping plot in the picture with extraordinary urgency and liveliness. In an often surprising way, it shows to what extent the director saw the scene with the painter's eye. (...) But the first picture in particular is art in itself. It provides compelling evidence that a painterly trained eye can offer moving art by means of film beyond the possibilities of painting. To go into the content of the film here is superfluous with such a well-known work of literature. On the other hand, let us briefly consider the presentation, from which especially Ferdinand Bonn stands out as the actor of old Hackelberg. Georg Lengbach as Boleslav, the main character, and Leontine Kühnberg as Regine were equally at his side; and also the young Merkel, portrayed by Ludwig Trautmann, deserves a special mention. "

Ernst Kämper judged in “Bild und Film”: “The reasons that have always spoken against auteur films are so obvious and so strong that, as long as you stick to the previous system, they are simply irrefutable. - Stage plays, novels, etc., naturally require a different technical treatment in structure and effect than the film piece. (...) In one point, at least, that I would like to confirm, one really learned from the "Katzensteg" film: The play has an inherently understandable plot. But other, artistic advantages? You will look for it in vain. (…) Psychologically, the play remains - there is only talk of film - pretty much everything. The character drawing of the actors is uncertain. The figures sway shadowily to and fro. What is carried out in the novel in a logically motivated manner seems to be drawn here by the hair. One adhered to the external action in a purely mechanical manner. So this author's film does not bring any artistic revelations. "

The Lichtbild-Bühne praised "the very beautiful pictures from a purely pictorial point of view and the excellent play of all actors under Max Mack's direction."

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The Kinematograph No. 441 of June 9, 1915
  2. ↑ Picture and Film No. 10, 1914/15
  3. ↑ Lichtbild-Bühne No. 48, from November 27, 1915

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