Petronella (film)

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Movie
Original title Petronella
Country of production Germany , Switzerland
original language German
Publishing year 1927
length approx. 124 (1927), 94 (sound version 1931) minutes
Rod
Director Hanns Schwarz
script Max Jungk
Hanns Schwarz based
on the novel of the same name (1912) by Johannes Jegerlehner
production Ernst Brand
Albert Heininger
Johannes Jegerlehner
for Helvetia-Film, Berlin-Bern-Glarus
music Walter Ulfig
camera Alfred Hansen
occupation

and Hugo Döblin , Sybill Morel , Hermann Picha , Robert Leffler , Paul Rehkopf

Petronella is a silent film from 1927 by Hanns Schwarz with Maly Delschaft and Wilhelm Dieterle in the leading roles.

action

Valais in 1801, at the beginning of the Napoleonic-French uprisings against Europe. The French Soldateska encountered unexpected resistance on their advance near the village of Brunegg. All locals, even women and children, bravely defend themselves against the Welschen attackers. If they lose a lot, they get an unexpected victory. Pia Schwiek, a particularly brave fighter, sees her husband fall on the barricades against the overwhelming odds. The young Josmarie Seiler also has to endure a heavy loss, he loses his father, the old armorer of the village, in the fray. To make matters worse, the community's lucky charm, a bell named after the local patron saint, "Petronella", disappears. Two farmers who had disappeared since the battle had previously taken them to a hiding place in the mountains so that the bell would not fall into the hands of the enemy, which would certainly have brought great harm to Brunegg. But nobody knows exactly where.

Then the disaster comes after all, because the "Petronella" has disappeared: An epidemic kills several villagers, whereas even the miracle healer Tschäderli is unable to do anything. Pia Schwiek, now a widow, is the “winner's prize” at the center of a competition between two men, Josmarie (with whom Pia has been in love for some time) and the sturdy farmer Fridolin, both of whom are vying for the young woman. The next misfortune happens immediately: In the duel between the lead cows, Fridolin wins the duel, but his joy in it doesn't last too long. Because in the midst of the stormy turmoil, Fridolin injured himself fatally with his own knife. Thereupon Josmarie is expelled according to the decision of the local council, with the threat that he would be killed on return. Josmarie wanders around in the mountains and finds the missing "Petronella" in the crevice of a ravine. Josmarie dares to return to the Dörfli with the bell in her arms and, in view of his gift, is pardoned just as quickly as he was banished. Now nothing stands in the way of a marriage between him and Pia.

Production notes

Petronella was created in July and August 1927 in the UFA studios in Neubabelsberg (indoor shots) and in Switzerland (outdoor shoots in Arolla, Evolène, Les Haudères, Les Collons and Alp Praz-Gras). The six-act act with a length of 3116 passed the censorship on October 11, 1927 and was released for the youth. The world premiere took place on November 21, 1927 in the Splendid cinema in Bern. After the first performance in Zurich two days later, the German premiere took place on November 28, 1927 in Berlin.

The buildings were designed by Uwe Jens Krafft , the costumes were designed by Professor CR Reiner. Eigil Wangøe was responsible for the still photos. Marlene Dietrich's husband, Rudolf Sieber , was one of two unit managers for this production.

In 1931, a sound version that had been shortened to 2570 meters was brought to (Swiss) cinemas.

The author of the novel, Johannes Jegerlehner (1871–1937), who was also a co-producer of the film, was a full-time high school professor in his home town of Bern.

The central battle scene at the beginning of the film was filmed at Arolla . About 300 extras, who were recruited from the local farmers and Jegerlehner's high school students, were called in for this purpose. 52 mules were required to transport the required film material (technology, props, costumes, cameras, etc.) to the non-navigable Alp Praz-Graz .

Assessment and criticism

In Hervé Dumont's Die Geschichte des Schweizer Film (The History of Swiss Films) , it says: “In changes of settings, the plasticity of the compositions and the precision of the montage, Schwarz develops a feeling for space and exciting dynamics: the advance of the French in the hail of bullets, the invisible mountain people who are ambushed by their wives Ammunition are supplied, the confusion of the collision caused by the gunpowder vapor - in short, different, brilliantly drawn scenes give Petronella a visual note of real quality. (...) The 'discerning' press and viewers unanimously acknowledge the excellent workmanship of the work ... and the laudable efforts of Helvetia to escape the clichés and enthusiastic excesses of popular mountain films by replacing melodrama with legend and artificiality with simple and sober representation. "

"Theatrical-melodramatic film adaptation from the silent film era, with grandiose landscape shots."

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Hervé Dumont: The history of Swiss film. Feature films 1896-1965. Lausanne 1987. p. 104
  2. ↑ The history of Swiss film. Film No. 71, p. 104
  3. ↑ Petronella on kabeleins.de

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