The eleven Schill officers (1932)
The eleven Schill officers is a German feature film by Rudolf Meinert from 1932 with Carl de Vogt as the freedom fighter Ferdinand von Schill .
action
After the enforced peace between Tilsit Prussia and Napoleon's France in 1807, the political and military situation in Prussia is desperate. While the king is maneuvering and trying to remain largely neutral, there is rumbling in the country among the patriots who are unwilling to submit to the Napoleonic knout. Everywhere in the country there are French troops harassing the people. Over time, smaller groups of upright soldiers and homeland lovers form who want to put an end to the French ghost and rise up against the occupiers. Major Ferdinand von Schill and his Freikorps, the Schill'schen Jäger, are among them. Among them is Hans Küffler, a Prussian officer who does espionage for the French. Schill's plans to build a resistance against Napoleon's Soldateska are immediately passed on to the French. Street battles with the enemy broke out in Stralsund, and Major Schill was shot. Eleven of his officers are taken prisoner and are also supposed to be fusilated as a result of the judgment of a French express court.
Karl Keffenbrink is another Schill officer , who fell from his horse during the fighting and lost consciousness. The French opponent believed the man lying motionless on the ground to be dead and therefore ignored him. When Keffenbrink regains his senses, he can flee to the Trachenberg estate. Maria von Trachenberg is his cousin and secretly married to him at the same time. A loving reunion takes place, but Keffenbrink's presence soon puts everyone in danger when a French patrol shows up. He has been noticed that he has disappeared and is now on the lookout for the Schill officer. He can escape on horseback and across the border. Keffenbrink is arrested, but is released again thanks to Maria's intervention. Meanwhile, the eleven Schill officers are being executed by the enemy in Wesel. The traitor Küffer is condemned to witness the senseless death. Badly tormented by his terrible deed, he decides a little later to take his own life.
Production notes
The eleven Schill'schen officers , a Leipzig production and a remake of Meinert's own silent film from 1926, was made between June 17 and July 6, 1932 in the Jofa studios in Berlin-Johannisthal and in Stralsund (exterior shots). The film had six acts and was 2,769 meters long. The censors released him on August 15, 1932 for the youth. The premiere took place on August 22, 1932 in the Berlin Marble House .
Ben Fett was production manager, Conrad Flockner production manager and assistant director. The film structures come from the hands of Heinrich C. Richter . Composer Karl M. May also had the musical direction. The music titles "Always when it's at its best" and "We stay comrades" were played. Emil Specht provided the sound. Count Moltke served as military advisor.
In small to small roles, often only for a second, like Carl de Vogt, a plethora of other silent film veterans can be seen, some of whom filmed before the First World War and were once celebrated stars, including Ernst Rückert , Fred Immler , Viggo Larsen , Ludwig Trautmann and Hugo Flink , Fred Goebel and Aruth Wartan .
Historical background
Major Ferdinand von Schill was a Prussian officer and free corps leader who, with his own troops, the Schill'schen Jäger , bravely resisted Napoleon's superior military forces as they advanced eastwards (Pomerania 1806/07) and 1809. Schill was killed in the battle for Stralsund on the last day of May 1809, only 33 years old.
Further films about these events
- "The heroic death of the eleven Schill'schen officers in Wesel" (1909)
- "The shooting of the eleven Schill'schen officers" (1912)
- "The Blood Money" (1913)
- "The eleven Schillian officers" (1926)
Reviews
“Rudolf Meinert's inclination has long belonged to a strong, great subject that has its place in national hero history and moves the hearts of Germans: the fate of the eleven Schillian officers. Years ago (1926) Meinert poured the same material into a silent film. Today we are now all about the sound film. Despite the new possibilities, the director finally managed to make a film from the old artisan school out of the big stuff, just a sheet of pictures from historical reportage, theatrical and trivialized. "
Paimann's film lists summed up: “Only the strong material sets the tone. (...) His characters lack warmth, just like the milieu lacks atmosphere. The direction, although simple and straightforward, is geared to externalities, emphasizing the cheerful intermezzo. Impressive ensemble play. (…) Buildings that promote impact, pictorial exterior shots. Illustration music and songs (May) are cleverly used, photography and sound clean. As a history film above average, mainly suitable for patriotic-themed circles. "
Web links
- The eleven Schill'schen officers in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- The eleven Schill officers at filmportal.de
Individual evidence
- ↑ The eleven Schill officers in Paimann's film lists ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
