The eleven devils

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Movie
Original title The eleven devils
Country of production Germany
original language German
Publishing year 1927
length restored version: 98 minutes
Age rating FSK 0
Rod
Director Zoltan Korda
script Walter Reisch
production Carl Boese -Film GmbH
music Pasquale Perris
camera Leopold Kutzleb and Paul Holzki (sports recordings)
occupation

The eleven devils is a German feature film from 1927 and one of the first " football films " in German cinema. The premiere of the silent film took place on October 20, 1927 in Berlin.

action

The penniless but committed soccer club "Linda" trains on a spartan club area on the outskirts of the city. The club's “eleven devils” - workers, taxi drivers, waiters, teachers - indulge in sport after work under the guidance of their player coach, the welder Tommy. The girl Linda is the good soul of the association and Tommy's future fiancée.

One day, Mac Lawrence, coach of the rich football club “International”, appears unexpectedly, accompanied by the seductive vamp Vivian, an “enthusiastic supporter of sport and athletes” and tries to poach Tommy as captain. Tommy succumbs to the call of money and the charms of the seductive Vivian, leaves his "eleven devils" and his beloved Linda and signs a well-paid contract as a professional with "International". The first intoxication of social advancement in the affluent football club with a luxurious clubhouse and cocktail parties is quickly followed by disenchantment when he realizes that Vivian has ensnared him out of pure calculation, namely because of the club change. When he then learns that he is going to compete against his former club with "International" as part of a city championship, he gets into serious conflicts of conscience and has to decide - for money, luxury and a career or for the camaraderie and down-to-earthness of the working class and for his bride Linda.

meaning

The eleven devils is the first pure “football film” in German cinema that puts sport and its protagonists at the center of the action. He anticipates a development that still determines football today and divides its fans: the competition between poor and rich clubs, the conflict between idealism, tradition and loyalty to the club on the one hand and commerce and buyability on the other. Particularly noteworthy are the numerous football scenes in the film. A moving camera and fast cuts convey the dynamics and tension of the game very well. In terms of sport history, it is of course also interesting to observe the sportswear and the style of play at the time (e.g. how heavily the goalkeeper was allowed to be attacked in the penalty area, even with an intercepted ball).

Gustav Fröhlich , known as Freder Fredersen from Fritz Lang's film Metropolis , plays the charismatic lead role of the captain. Willi Forst is the goalkeeper of the club “Linda” and takes care of the comic scenes of the film with some slapstick interludes.

Remarks

In the cinema season 1927/28, another football film was successfully shown in German cinemas under the title “ The King of Central Strikers ”.

A version of the film restored by the Munich Film Museum was released on DVD in 2006 with music newly recorded by the pianist Joachim Bärenz , together with the silent football film “ The King of Central Strikers ” and original documentary recordings of the Germany - Italy international match that took place in Duisburg in 1924 .

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