Counterfeiter (film)

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Movie
Original title Counterfeiters
Country of production Germany
original language German
Publishing year 1940
length 87 minutes
Age rating FSK none
Rod
Director Hermann Pfeiffer
script Per Schwenzen
Walter Maisch
production Eduard Kubat for Terra Filmkunst GmbH, Berlin
music Michael Jary
camera Walter Pindter
cut Alexandra Anatra
occupation

Falschmünzer is a German crime film from 1940 directed by Hermann Pfeiffer .

Today it is a reserved film from the Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau Foundation . It is part of the foundation's portfolio, has not been released for distribution and may only be shown with the consent and under the conditions of the foundation.

action

Fake banknotes appear in Germany. By comparing them with flowers that come from Italy , the criminal police quickly recognize that they are from the same manufacturer. The counterfeit money was introduced to the people by a foreigner named Juliette Balouet; she acted on behalf of her compatriot Gaston de Frossard, the boss of an international gang of counterfeiters. The latest trick of the crooks is the production of a 1000- franc note. But the counterfeiter Nico, who was ultimately a little nervous and nervous in his work, made a small mistake, which as a layman can hardly be seen with the naked eye.

Juliette now receives the order to sell this first franc note, while Frossard decides to replace Nico with another graphic artist. Frossard's buddy Gernreich knows exactly the right man for the job. There is only one catch: the person concerned, the German Herbert Engelke, is law-abiding through and through. Gernreich remembers an incident that Engelke has long forgotten: Back then, when he was a graphics student, he forged a banknote just for fun, which Gernreich later brought to the people. Herbert Engelke is torn when he realizes how much damage counterfeit money can cause: A toilet man who saves every penny to get his children through has hanged himself because he unknowingly accepted a false hundred.

Engelke then goes to the police and reports what offer the money forger gang made to him. In the meantime, Juliette met her Italian lover, Professor Bassi, who had no idea of ​​his girlfriend's crooked business, in Zurich and gave him the fake 1000-franc note in order to "wash" it in this way and the equivalent in Italian To receive lire . In the meantime, she too had scruples about what she was doing, and she would like to break free from Frossard's gang. The 1000-franc note is quickly revealed to be a forgery, and the police interrogate Bassi, who can provide valuable information to Juliette. A little later the police strike: the gang of forgers is arrested, Juliette kills herself. Herbert Engelke, on the other hand, was spared, he behaved impeccably.

Remarks

In the opening credits it says that the film is based on real events.

Karin Himboldt made her film debut here, playing Herbert Engelke's friend Hanna Weidling.

The shooting began on May 25, 1940 (exterior shots) and June 15, 1940 (studio shots). The world premiere took place on November 19, 1940 in two Berlin premiere theaters.

The production cost was around 594,000 RM , until January 1942, counterfeiters already recorded 1,290,000 RM.

The film was banned from youth.

The only music track that was played was a Walloon folk song, Many beautiful stars are shining .

criticism

After the end of the Second World War, all copies of the film were confiscated by the high command of the victorious Allied powers and the performance was banned. Today the Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau Foundation claims the evaluation rights. The film is classified as a reserved film because of its content, which contradicts the idea of international understanding . Since then, its public performance has only been possible to a limited extent.

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ cf. Ulrich J. Klaus: Deutsche Tonfilme, 11th year 1940/41, p. 39 f., Berlin-Berchtesgaden 2000

Web links