The situation is hopeless - but not serious
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | The situation is hopeless - but not serious |
| Original title | Situation Hopeless - But Not Serious |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1965 |
| length | 97 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 12 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Gottfried Reinhardt |
| script |
Silvia Reinhardt based on the novel “The Hiding Place” (1960) by Robert Shaw |
| production | Gottfried Reinhardt |
| music | Harold Byrns |
| camera | Kurt Hasse |
| cut | Walter Boos |
| occupation | |
| |
The situation is hopeless - but not serious is an American war comedy from 1965 with Alec Guinness in the lead role.
action
Germany 1944. In the late phase of the Second World War, the Allied bomber units have long since gained air sovereignty over the Reich. When the plane of the two US aviators Hank and Lucky is hit, they have to jump from an ejector seat and land with parachutes on hostile terrain, in a sleepy small town. They are lucky in misfortune because they do not fall into the clutches of furious citizens or brutal SS thugs. Rather, they are downright picked up by Wilhelm Frick, a meek, a little elderly and slightly strange gentleman, who immediately declares himself ready to take the two men as his "personal prisoners" in his basement until the end of the war Has access to hide. Frick, a single, lonely man, runs a small shop. He is all the more delighted that he is getting company with the two Americans again after a long time. The German "host" does everything to make it as comfortable as possible for the two of them. He organizes kirsch for them and regularly brings them food, which drives the two GIs to swing like monkeys through the cellar prison out of exuberance and joy.
Frick even takes care of female company to keep his forced "guests" happy. The German likes the time with the two more and more, and so he withholds the important news that the war is suddenly over. While Hank and Lucky gradually begin to get bored and sometimes romp around like little children in the Frick basement, their guardian delays the moment of truth into infinity. Seven years have passed since the end of the war, and the doomed Nazi Reich has long since become a slowly prosperous post-war nation, the Federal Republic of Germany. In order to avoid suspicion, Wilhelm Hank and Lucky told that the fortunes of war had turned for Germany since their capture and that they had been going from victory to victory since 1944. But one day the two US boys' urge for freedom is greater than all of Frick's efforts to maintain the building of lies and to offer his two “prisoners” a comfortable home. The escape attempt succeeds, and Captain Hank and Sergeant Lucky enjoy their regained freedom in the deepest, Federal Republican peace.
Production notes
Situation hopeless - but not serious was shot in the Munich Bavaria Studios in 1964 and premiered on October 13, 1965 in New York. The German premiere was on January 21, 1966.
The outdoor shots were taken in Neckarsteinach , among others . In the film, the main street and the Hinterburg ruins are clearly visible.
The buildings were designed by Rolf Zehetbauer and Werner Achmann and executed by Herbert Strabel . Ilse Dubois was responsible for the costumes. Walter Rühland took care of the sound, Michael Bittins was the unit manager.
For director Gottfried Reinhardt this was the last film direction. The screenwriter Silvia Reinhardt was his wife.
Reviews
“Perhaps one shouldn't blame the producer and director Gottfried Reinhardt too much for his comedic approach to Mr. Shaw's exciting character study. But the lightness that Mr. Reinhardt instigated by his wife, the screenwriter Silvia Reinhardt and the editor Jan Lustig, has diluted a large part of the tension and the character analysis of the original. In any case, this "situation" has Sir Alec Guinness as a brilliant attribute in the central role of the friendly, quirky and utterly lonely German druggist who holds two crashed US planes prisoner ... Sir Alec gives delicacy and nuance in his portrayal of Mr. Frick. "
In the lexicon of the international film it says: "A comedy that is originally original, but after the first third it already seems implausible and over-the-top."
The Movie & Video Guide wrote: "Interesting characterization by Guinness but flat film".
Halliwell's Film Guide characterized the film as follows: “Flat little comedy that leaves little room for maneuver for a talented cast”.
The Protestant film observer drew the following conclusion: “An idea that was actually usable was overstretched and rudely dissolved here. Alec Guinness also unfortunately remains weak. From 14 without any special recommendation. "
Individual evidence
- ↑ Situation hopeless - but not serious. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed August 30, 2015 .
- ^ Leonard Maltin : Movie & Video Guide, 1996 edition, p. 1194
- ^ Leslie Halliwell : Halliwell's Film Guide, Seventh Edition, New York 1989, p. 924
- ↑ Evangelischer Presseverband München, Review No. 38/1966
Web links
- Situation Hopeless - But Not Serious in the Internet Movie Database (English)