Polikushka (1958)
Movie | |
---|---|
German title | Polikushka |
Original title | Polikushka / Polikuska |
Country of production |
Germany Italy France |
original language | German , Italian |
Publishing year | 1958 |
length | 78 minutes |
Age rating | FSK 12 |
Rod | |
Director | Carmine gallon |
script |
Max Nosseck Johannes Hendrich |
production |
Artur Brauner Carmine Gallon |
music |
Peter Sandloff Michel Michelet |
camera | Friedl Behn-Grund |
cut | Walter von Bonhorst |
occupation | |
|
Polikuschka is a German-Italian-French film drama from 1958 by Carmine Gallone with Folco Lulli in the title role. At his side, Antonella Lualdi , Ellen Schwiers and Ivan Desny can be seen in other leading roles. The film is based on the story of the same name (1862) by Leo Tolstoy .
action
Russia in the 19th century. Polikuschka is a powerful, easy knitted type at the time of serfdom as a servant to his mistress on the princely estate its drudgery duty performed. Although he is a good-natured fellow, he also occasionally throws the finger, it is rumored in the village of Pokrovskoye. One day, land manager Yegor Mikhailovich is supposed to choose three men for the upcoming military service. After two guys have already been determined, his choice falls on the clumsy and good-drinking Polikushka, but the landlady Avdotja Nikolaevna, whose word is almost law, refuses. In addition, so the argument goes, Polikushka's wife Akulina could not possibly get by alone, without her husband, with the five children. Yegor Mikhailovich gives in to the mistress's request without hesitation. Instead of Polikuschka, Ilya Dutlow is now chosen as the third man for the military.
The landlady is firmly convinced of the honesty and reliability of Polikushka and one day sends him on a trip across the country on his own. He should pick up a larger sum of money. Polikuschka, a devoted servant to his mistress, does as he is told and takes the money. But on the way back he lost the envelope with the banknotes in the amount of 1617 rubles . He quickly comes under suspicion of having long fingers again. Everyone seems against him, and Polikuschka sees only one way out: he wants to kill himself. He chooses the rope as the way of death. But the nail on which the life-battered serf tries to hang himself tears out, and to the surprise of the relatives, the one who was already believed dead returns to a life that is now showing a much better side.
Production notes
Filming of Polikushka began on April 8, 1958 and ended the following month. The film was filmed in the CCC studios in Berlin-Spandau and in Yugoslavia (exterior shots). The premiere took place on November 14, 1958 in Hamburg. The film could be seen in co-producing Italy from January 22, 1959.
Fritz Klotzsch took over the production management. Emil Hasler designed the film structures , executed by Walter Kutz . Vera Mügge designed the costumes .
useful information
Contrary to the Tolstoy model, producer Artur Brauner has pushed for a much more conciliatory film ending. While Polikuschka successfully kills himself in the novella and his wife Akulina then goes mad, the hero of the title experiences his complete rehabilitation shortly before attempting suicide.
Reviews
Der Spiegel judged: “TheGerman, Italian and French co-producers of this film also tried to profitfrom the epic power of Tolstoy, from which another film in the new cinema season draws (" Resurrection "). The German screenwriters thwarted this plan thoroughly. They belittle the tragic story and also invented a crude happy ending. (...) It is only thanks to the comedic qualities of the Italian actor Folco Lulli in therole related tothe postmaster Heinrich Georges that one can at times foresee the fullness of the Tolstoan tale. "
The film service says: "The committed portrayal of the title role cannot make up for the shortcomings of the script and the weaknesses of the director."
Individual evidence
- ↑ Polikuschka in Der Spiegel 49/1958
- ↑ Polikushka. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed December 24, 2019 .
Web links
- Polikuschka in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Polikuschka at filmportal.de