Dr. Crippen on board

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Movie
Original title Dr. Crippen on board
Country of production Germany
original language German
Publishing year 1942
length 86 minutes
Age rating FSK 16
Rod
Director Erich Engels
script Kurt E. Walter
Erich Engels
Georg C. Klaren (collaboration)
production Alf Teichs
Eduard Kubat for Terra Filmkunst
music Bernhard Eichhorn
camera Ernst Wilhelm Fiedler
cut Erich Palme
occupation

Dr. Crippen on board is a German crime film by Erich Engels from 1942 with Rudolf Fernau in the title role based on the novel of the same name by Walter Ebert, which in turn is based on the English trial reports. The film deals with the real criminal case of the English murderer Dr. Hawley Crippen .

action

The year is 1928. Cora Crippen is with the respected doctor Dr. Frank Crippen, a cool, clear-thinking head, married. She once worked as a trapeze artist, but is now forced to end her artistic career because of a foot injury. At one of Dr. Crippen's company calls upon the quick-change artist Prof. Morrison Cora, who was also invited, to leave her husband and go away with him. Cora is not interested in the ex-colleague and rejects him. The next morning Cora disappeared without a trace. When asked, her husband explains that Cora had probably taken a ship to Brazil because her lover lived there and she wanted to start a new life with him. In fact, a few months later a newspaper in the South American country published an obituary with Cora Crippen's name. Another of Cora's admirers, the painter Arnoldi, is more than skeptical. He doesn't believe this story and turns on the criminal police.

It turns out that Cora Crippen never left the country. Chief Inspector Düwell, who is in charge of the case, then has Crippen's garden digged up and finds Cora's remains. The artist was obviously poisoned. When Düwell Dr. Crippen wants to be arrested, he has long since left with his lover, the secretary Lucie Talbot. Both are on the liner "Montrose" - destination: Venezuela . In order not to attract attention in the event of a manhunt, Dr. Crippen disguised, while Lucie pretends to be his son in appropriate clothing. The international manhunt for Crippen, who falsely believes he is all too safe, is in full swing when Chief Inspector Düwell receives a radio message from the Montrose: “Dr. Crippen on board ” . In fact, the ship can still be stopped before it reaches the three-mile zone of Venezuela and Crippen becomes inaccessible to Düwell. The alleged murderer is arrested and brought back to Europe.

At home, Dr. Responsible for Crippen in court. His lawyer tries to beat him out with all kinds of tricks. He claims that it was not his client, but rather the rejected lover Morrison who murdered Cora. As a professional quick-change artist, it was easy for him to commit the deed in Crippen's masquerade. With the help of a film, however, Düwell can prove Crippen's murder. The act was based on a low motive. Crippen wanted to start a new life with his lover and, when his wife was in agony, suppressed any screams with a piano piece he played particularly loudly. When he tried to convince himself of his wife's death and leaned down to her, she had scratched his face with the last of her strength. Lucie, who was present at the trial, was deeply shocked by this unexpected turn of events: she never believed in his guilt. Dr. Crippen is eventually sentenced to death.

Production notes

Dr. Crippen on board is based on a factual report by Walter Ebert . The film was shot from March 19 to May 1942 (studio recordings) in Prague (Hostiwar and Barrandov studios) and from the end of May 1942 (outdoor recordings) near Berlin . The world premiere took place on November 6, 1942 in Dresden . On December 15, 1942, Dr. Crippen on board also in Berlin. In 1943 the film was also shown in Denmark, Finland and the Netherlands.

The film structures are made by Artur Günther and Willi Eplinius . Bernhard Eichhorn used music by Ludwig van Beethoven in his composition .

The production cost was about 1,130,000 RM. After half a year, in April 1943, Dr. Crippen on board already brought in 2,245,000 RM. This made the film a great box office success.

In 1957, again under the direction of Erich Engels, with Dr. Crippen lives a late sequel.

Reviews

The Lexicon of International Films writes: "Historical English criminal case at the turn of the century, in one of the best, most exciting and most successful German crime films before 1945."

In the biography of the main actor Fernau, the film's large lexicon of people pays tribute to his work: “In Erich Engels' crime thriller“ Dr. Crippen on board “Fernau played the villainous title part, a nefarious, highly intelligent wife murderer. His effective game was profoundly dangerous - Goebbels described him as a "destructive type" in the opinion of the 'Crippen' film. "

In 'Der deutsche Film 1938–1945' one can read: “A public-safe crime (almost) hit was' Dr. Crippen on board '. The fable was based on a newspaper novel, which in turn was based on a factual report from 1928/29. In the film, the viewer did not know until the final investigation whether a crime had been committed at all. Rudolf Fernau worked as Dr. Crippen excellent. "

Trivia

The ship on which the middle section of the film is supposed to take place can be seen from the outside in one shot. The name "Trier" is clearly visible in large letters on the bow. This contradicts the name “Montrose” in the dialogues and on the lifebuoys.

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Ulrich J. Klaus: Deutsche Tonfilme, Volume 12, born in 1942/43. P. 29 f., Berlin-Berchtesgaden 2001
  2. ↑ Klaus Brüne (Red.): Lexikon des Internationale Films, Volume 2, p. 684. Reinbek near Hamburg 1987.
  3. ↑ Kay Less : The film's great personal dictionary . The actors, directors, cameramen, producers, composers, screenwriters, film architects, outfitters, costume designers, editors, sound engineers, make-up artists and special effects designers of the 20th century. Volume 2: C - F. John Paddy Carstairs - Peter Fritz. Schwarzkopf & Schwarzkopf, Berlin 2001, ISBN 3-89602-340-3 , p. 652.
  4. ^ Bogusław Drewniak: Der deutsche Film 1938–1945, Düsseldorf 1987, p. 427