Cabal and Love (1959)

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Movie
Original title cabal and Love
Country of production GDR
original language German
Publishing year 1959
length 108 minutes
Age rating FSK 12
Rod
Director Martin Hellberg
script Martin Hellberg
production DEFA
music Wilhelm Neef
camera Karl Plintzner
cut Ursula Rudzki
occupation

Kabale und Liebe is a German film adaptation of DEFA by Martin Hellberg from 1959. The film is based on the drama of the same name by Friedrich Schiller .

action

A German duchy in the 18th century: the son of Walter's president, Ferdinand, loves Luise, the daughter of town musician Miller. While the father sees the connection critically and suspects that the improper relationship cannot have a future, Luise's simple-minded mother is convinced of the daughter's future happiness. When Wurm, the president's secretary, appears again at the Miller house to ask for Luise's once promised hand, Mrs. Millerin tells him that her daughter has found a better match in Ferdinand. Wurm delivers this news to the President, who reacts angrily. He wants to put Ferdinand to the test to find out whether there is any truth in this rumor. He tells him that he intends to marry him to Lady Milford, the Duke's mistress. Horrified, Ferdinand refuses, referring to his good reputation, but also refuses a morally impeccable game with another noble lady.

President von Walter has the vain and gossip-addicted Court Marshal von Kalb announce the final marriage between Ferdinand and Lady Milford in the city. Ferdinand, in turn, goes to Lady Milford and makes it clear to her that he does not love her and that he would not voluntarily consent to marriage. She sends him duped and he rushes to Luise. He promises to fight for her with his father when he appears again at Miller's house. He mocks Luise as a whore and gives orders to arrest her father, who defends his child with sharp words. Mother and Luise are also to be thrown into dungeon and Ferdinand, who cannot do anything, threatens to tell the world “how to become president”. The danger of his machinations being uncovered makes President von Walter refrain from arrest. Lady Milford's eyes, in turn, are opened shortly afterwards when she receives a valuable jewel from the Duke from a servant - which was paid for by selling forcibly recruited soldiers to America.

At Wurm's suggestion, von Walter now uses a ruse. He allegedly arrests father and mother Miller on behalf of the Duke. Wurm, in turn, appears at Luise's and tells her that only she can save her parents from death. She should write a love letter that he dictates to her in the pen. In her need, Luise obeys and has to swear not to reveal anything about the forged letter to anyone. In turn, Court Marshal von Kalb receives the letter, who inconspicuously loses it to Ferdinand. Who in turn believes Luise is cheating on him. When she cannot reveal her innocence in the direct confrontation because she is bound by her oath, Ferdinand poisons herself and herself. Only in the face of death does Luise admit the schemes that Ferdinand's father and his associates had forged. Luise and Ferdinand die in quick succession, whereby the dying son can still condemn his father who has hurried up for his actions. The worm, shaken by Luise's death, is furious and threatens to bring all of the President's intrigues to the public. He is arrested and taken to prison with the soldiers marching towards America.

production

Most of the film was shot in Weimar , although cuts were made in contrast to the play on which it was based. Instead, however, scenes of the sending of German soldiers to America and the reactions of citizens and workers to them were emphasized.

Kabale und Liebe , which was shot in Totalvision , had its world premiere on November 9, 1959 in the Theater des Friedens in Weimar and in the Palast Theater in Jena .

criticism

The contemporary criticism found that one experiences in the film Schiller "in a way that is at the same time familiar and yet also startlingly new and contemporary."

The lexicon of international films called Kabale und Liebe an “outdated… but well-crafted… stage film adaptation by DEFA. The staging remains committed to the linguistically pathetic style of Schiller's youthful poetry, but knows how to incorporate the poem's political environment through cleverly dramatic insertions. Great actors complete the positive overall impression. "

For Cinema , the film was an “[a] elaborate Eastern adaptation of the Schiller drama. Conclusion: nicely equipped and played with verve ”.

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Wolfgang Joho: The scene became a tribunal . In: Sonntag , No. 48, 1959.
  2. ↑ Cabal and Love. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed August 6, 2018 .Template: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used 
  3. ↑ Cabal and Love. In: Cinema . Hubert Burda Media , accessed on August 6, 2018 .