Salto Mortale (1931)
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| Original title | Somersault Mortale |
| Country of production | Germany |
| original language | German |
| Publishing year | 1931 |
| length | 84, 95 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | EA Dupont |
| script |
Rudolph Katscher Egon ice cream |
| production | Israel Rosenfeld |
| music |
Paul Dessau Artur Guttmann (songs) Walter Jurmann (songs) |
| camera |
Friedl Behn-Grund Akos Farkas |
| cut |
Wolfgang Loë Bagier Max Brenner |
| occupation | |
| |
Salto Mortale is a German fiction film from 1931 by EA Dupont with Anna Sten and Adolf Wohlbrück in the leading roles. The novel of the same name was provided by Alfred Machard.
action
Jim and Robby work rather listlessly as lion keepers in Cirkus Central. Her monotonous life changes suddenly on the day on which the young blonde artist Marina, an art rider from Russia, joins the financially ailing circus business. Things change when the circus tinkerer Grimby wants to record a new sensation, the so-called “death swing”, with which a sensational trick that focuses on the Salto Mortale is to be performed. Two artists are required for this number. Marina is fascinated by the sensational act and wants to be part of it. Finding a second artist turns out to be much more difficult. Only after some back and forth does Jim show himself ready to rehearse the number with Marina. Grimby explains the process: Both artists swing back and forth through the air in a vehicle, the death swing. At a certain point, the car comes loose from the attachment and flies across the ring through the circus tent, only to disappear into nowhere. At the highest point comes the moment when the two artists fly freely through the air and have to grab a hanging trapeze to save themselves and swing back and forth under the big top. After the first successful trial run, Marina and Jim decide to do this number together from now on. Robby's task in this number will be to turn the switch to disengage the swinging car swing at the right moment.
One day there is a serious accident in which Jim is critically injured. From now on it will no longer be operational. Out of pity Marina agrees to marry him. Jim tries to persuade Robby to do the somersault with Marina instead of him while he wants to use the release mechanism to uncouple the car. But Robby is still reluctant, especially since he is concerned that he will fall in love with Marina and as a result get into a serious conflict of conscience. In fact, Marina also falls in love with the attractive artist. She also tries to prevent anyone from hearing about it, because both fear that the disabled Jim could come up with something to get revenge on both of them. Robby can no longer bear this secrecy and tries to talk to Jim. Contrary to what he thought, Jim has absolutely no idea of either liaison, so that Robby actually has to fear the deeply injured Jim. It happens as feared: One day Jim deliberately flicks the switch too late, so that Robby and Marina free fall. While Robby still manages to grab the trapeze, Marina can cling to a flag. Robby then manages to save Marina. Understanding that he has lost Marina, Jim returns ruefully to his old job as a lion caretaker.
Production notes
With Salto Mortale , director Dupont returned to the film genre in which he had celebrated his greatest triumph with Varieté in 1925 . The shooting started on January 29, 1931 at the Busch Circus. The studio recordings began on February 16 of the same year in the UFA studios in Neubabelsberg. The world premiere took place in Vienna at the end of May 1931. The Berlin premiere was on August 14, 1931.
Jacob Lorsch and Werner Stark took over the production management, Ralph Baum the production management . Carl Zuckmayer wrote the dialogues for the script by Rudolph Katscher and Egon Eis . The film structures were created by Alfred Junge and Fritz Maurischat . The lyrics were written by Fritz Rotter . The Curt Lewinnek band played. Walter Rühland set the tone. Fritz von Friedl was a camera assistant.
The following track was played: "That which was, remains a secret".
At the same time, Dupont shot a French-language version with Gina Manès , Daniel Mendaille and Léon Roger-Maxime in the leading roles.
Reviews
The Österreichische Film-Zeitung praised the film very much and wrote under the heading “The Triumph of Talking Film” in 1931: “Interest is aroused with the first picture and grows with every scene. It was a success, and Dupont has once again fully demonstrated his eminent artisthood. Nothing like it has been seen since 'Varieté'. (...) The technical solution of the great circus sensation, which always brings new, surprising and breath-choking things, has been masterfully increased and shows us Dupont again as the sovereign ruler of the new art genre. Photography leaves nothing to be desired. Your strengths: depth and brilliance - a feast for the eyes. The music, which goes completely new ways, preserves style, is colorful and dramatic. "
The modern critics came to the following assessment: “A hybrid work from the transition from silent to sound film - and Adolf Wohlbrück's performance is also split: Sometimes it shines with sheer physical grace, sometimes he only works out the character of Robby with a few well-modulated words . (...) Flowing forms, constantly changing into light and movement. Vibrant dynamics everywhere. The black and white at Dupont, writes Lotte Eisner, has visual liveliness that comes close to a colored impression. "
Individual evidence
- ↑ "Salto Mortale". In: Österreichische Film-Zeitung , May 30, 1931, p. 4 (online at ANNO ).
- ↑ Salto Mortale on filmmuseum.at
Web links
- Somersault in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Salto Mortale at filmportal.de