Shots from the violin case
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Shots from the violin case |
| Original title | Shot from the violin case / Jerry Cotton G-man agent CIA |
 | |
| Country of production | Federal Republic of Germany , France |
| Publishing year | 1965 |
| length | 90 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 12 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Fritz Umgelter |
| script | Georg Hurdalek |
| production |
Constantin Film , Studio Hamburg ( Gyula Trebitsch ), Allianz Film ( Heinz Willeg ), Société Nouvelle des Films Astoria |
| music | Peter Thomas |
| camera | Albert Benitz |
| cut | Klaus Dudenhöfer |
| occupation | |
| |
Shots from the Violin Case ( Jerry Cotton Case No. 1 ) is a Franco-German crime film that was shot in early 1965 under the direction of Fritz Umgelter . It is the first of a total of eight Constantin Film films based on the crime novel series G-man Jerry Cotton by Bastei Verlag Gustav H. Lübbe . The black and white film premiered on May 6, 1965 in the Lichtburg in Essen .
action
An unscrupulous gang of criminals, disguised as a band, commits brutal robbery of the pop singer Vivian Bennett and the music publisher James P. Martin in Pasadena, as well as the farmer couple Jackson near Chicago . In this way, the perpetrators steal the contents of a safe and several gold bars. FBI Chief Mr. High hires Jerry Cotton and Phil Decker to clear the cases. A first clue was given by several phone calls from worried Mary Springfield, who claimed that her sister Kitty was hanging out with a dangerous gangster. Shortly afterwards, Jerry watches as Mary Springfield is the victim of an accidental murder. Before she dies in the ambulance, the woman is able to tell the investigator that her sister's friend owns a bowling alley near Pennsylvania Station . She also warns of an impending crime in which a house with children will be blown up.
Disguised as tramp Jimmy Logan, Jerry Cotton ensures a powerful appearance in the bowling alley. Gangster boss Christallo unceremoniously makes Jerry a member of his gang and assigns him to drive his girlfriend Kitty Springfield to the airport the next day. There the two are supposed to wait for the criminals to flee with them after an attack to Rio . On the way to the airport, Jerry reveals his true identity to Kitty. When she learns of the violent death of her sister Mary, she informs the FBI man that Christallo has already planned a gas explosion in a school in a few minutes in order to distract from a simultaneous attack on the antique collector Everett.
At the last second, Kitty and Jerry prevent the school from exploding. Christallo's gang was able to carry out the robbery and flee with the loot to a hiding place in Brooklyn . Jerry follows the gangsters, but is outwitted by them and forced to call the FBI, where he is supposed to give a wrong address. When Jerry calls the right place on the phone and runs away, the criminals get into an argument, in the course of which Christallo is told by his accomplice Dr. Kilborne is shot. He and the rest of the gang escape via the subway to an unknown location.
FBI boss Mr. High reveals to Jerry Cotton and Phil Decker the tremendous suspicion that his long-time friend Mr. Hamilton could be an informant for the gangsters. As a lawyer, he had connections with the antique collector Everett and the music publisher James P. Martin. He also probably knew about the gold bars hidden on the Jackson couple's farm. Jerry and Phil find Hamilton's mansion abandoned. Then Jerry discovers a clue that the lawyer is the former father-in-law of the unscrupulous Dr. Kilborne is. In order to keep Mr. High's name clean and because Jerry believes in Hamilton's innocence, the two investigators single-handedly follow the trail of the killers. Jerry can overpower Kilborne on a yacht and free Hamilton. He then rescues Phil, who has been ambushed by the gangsters, with the help of a helicopter from a burning dock. A wild chase follows, in the course of which the gangsters are overpowered by Jerry, Phil and the police who have been summoned.
In the evening, Jerry and Phil arranged to meet Mr. High's secretary Helen for dinner. Just as they are about to agree on a suitable restaurant, they are called off by Mr. High for their next assignment.
History of origin
prehistory
The first Jerry Cotton - Heftroman was published in 1954 under the title I searched the gangster boss in the series Bastion detective novel of the Bastion publishing Gustav H. Lubbe . Delfried Kaufmann is considered to be the inventor of the FBI man. On March 26, 1956, the novel I hunted the diamond shark started its own series under the title G-man Jerry Cotton . This marked the beginning of the triumphant advance of the most commercially successful crime novel series in the German-speaking world . It is assumed that to date over 100 authors have contributed to the novels and paperbacks published anonymously under publishing pseudonyms such as Jerry Cotton .
Even before he switched to WDR in 1963, Gerhard F. Hummel , program advisor at Constantin Film , advised his boss Waldfried Barthel to acquire the film rights to the Jerry Cotton novels. As with the Edgar Wallace and Karl May films marketed by Constantin Film, the aim was to make an entire film series. In the subsequent preparatory phase, an agreement was reached with Bastei-Verlag, which had secured a say, on the title of the first Jerry Cotton film: Shots from the violin case .
Script and cast
A new story was created for the film that was previously neither in booklet format nor as a paperback. As a screenwriter, was George Hurdalek contracted consisting of the treatment developed a screenplay. At the same time Herbert Reinecker , who was also mentioned in the announcements for the first film, was commissioned to write a Jerry Cotton adventure. His script was given the working title Case No. 2 .
Since the director Rudolf Zehetgruber mentioned in the announcement in the Constantin distribution program in 1964/65 was not available, the choice fell on Fritz Umgelter . Although he mostly worked for television, he also had experience directing feature films.
The casting of suitable actors for the film was also carried out with care. However, the supporting actors Ann Smyrner , Werner Peters , Fritz Tillmann and Kai Fischer named in the announcement text for the 1964/65 cinema season did not become involved. Instead, Helga Schlack was hired for the role of FBI secretary Helen and Richard Münch as FBI chief Mr. High. This was followed by the casting of the role of Phil Decker , Cottons service partner. Constantin Film spread the message that its actor Heinz Weiss had been selected from 20 applicants. It is more likely that director Fritz Umgelter influenced this decision. He had previously shot the successful multi-part TV series So Far den Fußführung (1959) with Weiss .
In order to find a perfect actor for the main role of Jerry Cotton, a search was made for suitable actors from Germany, Italy, France and the United States. Constantin Film started a press campaign and a large-scale casting campaign . Apparently the primary goal was to advertise the first Jerry Cotton film in advance. Because the producers wanted a real Hollywood actor early on .
“Well-known European film actors applied for the role of Jerry Cotton. But the producers rightly said: It has to be an American under all circumstances. The casual demeanor of a born American cannot be trained. "
Probably due to the success of the television series Shannon clears up (original title: Shannon ) with the German television audience, the decision was made in late 1964 for the American actor George Nader .
“I had shot in Europe before, and I really liked Rome, where I later lived. At that time, my television series Shannon was also running successfully - in Germany too. Perhaps Manfred Barthel from Constantin caught my attention. You were probably very happy to hire an American actor, and so I was invited to Munich. After I was informed about the success of the Jerry Cotton novels, we signed a contract for four films. "
With Nader, the producers had found the ideal cast for the role of the fictional FBI investigator.
“George Nader finally gave Jerry Cotton a face. Not only did he play the famous FBI agent in the cinema, his face has also appeared on countless magazine novels, Cotton books and radio play covers. Even today, George Nader is Jerry Cotton for readers! "
production
Constantin Film commissioned the German production company Allianz Film , which Heinz Willeg and Mohr von Chamier had founded in West Berlin in 1964, to produce the film . As part of an exclusive contract, the company made films exclusively for Constantin until 1974. In addition, these were Studio Hamburg by Gyula Trebitsch and the French production company Astoria in the production of the first Jerry Cotton film involved.
The shooting of Shots from the Violin Case took place from January 18 to March 12, 1965 in Hamburg and the surrounding area. The studio recordings were made in the Hamburg studio in Hamburg-Tonndorf . A small team around director Fritz Umgelter and producer Heinz Willeg in New York City made further recordings, including for several rear projections . The US General Post Office can be seen as the FBI headquarters in New York. However, some New York recordings came from the archive. The couple Mathias Matthies and Ellen Schmidt were hired as film architects . Anneliese Ludwig created the costumes. Production manager was Hubert Fröhlich , production manager Lilo Pleimes.
Film music
The music for the film was made by Peter Thomas , who was also to be responsible for the other seven parts of the film series. The Jerry Cotton March , which has now achieved cult status , was created while filming.
“When the first film in the series, Shots from the Violin Case , was coming up , Waldfried Barthel, head of Constantin Film, asked me to come over and surprised me with a very precise assignment:“ I want you to march as a topic, it must be completely American sound and always come when the good wins. «[...] I then sat down at the piano ad hoc and composed what is still reminiscent of the Cotton films in many ears today. I played it to Consul Barthel on the phone. However, he said that there was still a certain "kick" missing, which is why he had hired me. I took that literally. I recorded the swinging "Jerry Cotton March" with the "Peter Thomas Sound Orchestra" and four superficial trombones that did not come from Jericho, but sounded just as great. Then I had the number played back in the Bavaria studio and grouped the musicians around a microphone. Eighteen musicians now trailed casually to the rhythm of the well-rehearsed march and whistled, " River-Kwai-March " - according to. But with the melody and the sound of the PT! "
The soundtrack includes the following music tracks, among others:
- Hello Jerry! (Theme music) 1:44
- Take It, Jerry 2:27
- Crime Doesn't Pay (vocals: Marie France and James D. Atterley) 2:01
- Jerry Cotton March (Jerry Cotton Marsch) 3:16
- Always Jerry (Red Sportscar) (saxophone: Klaus Doldinger ) 2:10
- Cristallo Cristallo (Quasi Shearing) 2:46
- Cotton kicks 0:19
- Jewelery Party (Jewels Party) 2:01
- Sweedy Pye 0:51
- Cotton Cool 0:52
- Wild Western Violins 2:02
- Charming Jerry 2:12
- Three Two One Zero 0:27
- Jerry Cotton Theme 0:22
- Walking on the 'Dachfirst' (Let's Get Out) (vocals: James D. Atterley) 1:06
- Organ in handcuffs 0:47
- Big Troubles (Clap Clap) 1:06
- Mr. FBI (vocals: James D. Atterley) 1:29
- Alert Red 0:59
- Gasolin Barrels 0:54
- Final exit 0:49
- Snappy End (closing music) 0:34
The titles Jerry Cotton March and Jewelery Party appeared on a single ( Polydor 52 516) and were re-released several times in the following years. In addition, numerous pieces on the 1965 long-playing record Jerry Cotton - original film music from the Constantin film "Shots from the Violin Case" (Polydor 237 493) as well as some with different title names are included on later CD compilations .
synchronization
Most actors can be heard in this film with their own voices. Other actors were dubbed by the following speakers :
| role | actor | Voice actor |
|---|---|---|
| Jerry Cotton | George Nader | Heinz Engelmann |
| Babe | Hans Waldherr | Friedrich Schuetter |
reception
publication
The FSK were shots from the violin case on April 28, 1965. 16 years free. The premiere in Essen's Lichtburg and the German theatrical release took place on May 6th of the same year. Then George Nader and Helga Schlack went on a premiere tour through the Federal Republic. At the same time as the cinema release, Bastei-Verlag published a special volume of the same name in the booklet series by an anonymous author. Shots from the violin case turned into an extraordinary success. During its premiere, the film had around 2.5 million viewers in Germany. In the surveys carried out by the trade journal Filmecho / Filmwoche at the time , in which cinema visitors rated current films on a scale from 1 (excellent) to 7 (very bad), shots from the violin case received a grade of 2.5. For comparison: The crime films The Seventh Victim (3.6), The Betrayers' Gate (3.3) and News from the Witcher (2.9), also published in the 1964/65 cinema season . Shots from the violin case started in France on January 7, 1966 under the title Jerry Cotton G-man agent CIA There the film was seen by more than 480,000 viewers.
The film Shots from the Violin Case was marketed in other countries and ran there under the following titles, among others:
- Brazil : Jerry Cotton, O Agente Secreto
- Denmark : G-Man Jerry Cotton løser mysterium no. 1
- Finland : Jerry Cotton - FBI: n asiamies n: o 1
- Greece : Mystikos practitioner Jerry Cotton, epiheirisis Thyella
- Italy : Agent segreto Jerry Cotton operazione Uragano
- Spain : La jungla de los gángsters
- United Kingdom : Tread Softly
- United States : The Violin Case Murders
Due to the convincing work of Fritz Umgelter, the film distributor also provided the director for the production of the next Jerry Cotton film under the planned title The Howling Death . The project, which was finally renamed Mordnacht in Manhattan , was realized from the beginning of August 1965 under the direction of Harald Philipp .
For theatrical performances in youth performances, an application was made for shots from the violin case in 1974 for a rating of 12 or more. This age rating was complied with subject to the following reductions:
- Cut the brawl after Jerry Cotton is forced to speak on the phone to the toughest of blows.
- Cut the fight between Jerry Cotton and Dr. Kilborne for a few rough blows on the ship's deck.
- Cut to the brawl between Phil Decker and one of the gangsters before Jerry Cotton puts him in the handcuffs for the toughest blows.
Previous broadcasts on television, as well as the publication on video cassette and DVD , were based on analog scanning, in which the original colored opening credits are reproduced in black and white.
Reviews
“The shots from the violin case are hard to beat in terms of the joy of shooting and daring climbing tours over New York skyscraper roofs. [...] The film will undoubtedly find its audience, albeit hardly among those who demand more from a crime thriller than wild shootings, breathtaking criminal hunts and wild brawls. "
"A plot with criminal details, except for the connections narrated in the end, [...] cleverly cut New York exterior shots [...]."
“Fortunately, in this first Jerry Cotton film from the Hamburg studio there are no silly jokes and no artificial secrecy. Fritz Umgelter serves FBI's fight against the American underworld in a dry and quick manner and adheres to the style that Americans use in their crime thrillers in terms of camera, editing and scene composition. It benefits the tension and also the actors […]. Peter Thomas composed electrifying music for it. "
“Nader is doing well, but still does not have a sharp contour. Perhaps it will gain color in the sequels to be expected. In terms of type, he could fill the figure of Jerry Cotton. Backpro and backgrounds were handled skillfully. In parts the impression actually arises that this film was made in New York as a whole. "
“The plot has speed, the music is sweeping. As dangerous as the situation may be for Cotton, nothing happens to him. Uncracked, he survives wild fights, a car accident, an explosion, and at the crucial moment he shoots faster. Many a forgotten gag (shots from the violin case) are honored again. After all, the story is cleverly mixed together. The tension is maintained almost continuously and covers the sequence of improbabilities. Adult moviegoers may enjoy this crime thriller. "
“So this would be the first German Jerry Cotton film. Case no. 1 - and it must be said that this is a very quick start. Although the script is a bit weak on the violin case, it turned out to be an exciting and tough story. Special praise is due to cameraman Albert Benitz, who took excellent photos at breathtaking speed and thus contributed to the success of this company. A crime series was started here and we are looking forward to its continuation. "
"Cotton case no. 1 primarily suffers from its inadequate design and offers only moderate tension."
“Jerry Cottons first cinema adventure in which the FBI agent of the dime booklet of the same name single-handedly liquidates a dozen gangsters. Unintentionally funny and prudish morality. "
"Largely exciting crime entertainment with the usual improbabilities and exaggerations."
Web links
- Shots from the violin case in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Shots from the violin case at filmportal.de
Individual evidence
-
↑ Original version 1965: 90 minutes for cinema projection (24 images / second), 86 minutes for television reproduction (25 images / second), film length: 2450 meters,
FSK-12 version 1974: 88 minutes for cinema projection (24 images / second), 84 minutes for television playback (25 images / second), film length: 2405 meters - ↑ Ingo Löchel: JERRY COTTON - The booklet novel series: An introduction . at: zauberspiegel.de
- ↑ a b c d e Joachim Kramp : The story of the Jerry Cotton films . In: Joachim Kramp, Gerd Naumann (Hrsg.): The Jerry Cotton Films . When Jerry Cotton came to Germany. ibidem-Verlag, Stuttgart 2011, ISBN 978-3-8382-0213-6 , pp. 19-34 .
- ↑ Ingo Löchel: The Jerry Cotton Films - SHOTS FROM THE VIOLIN CASE . at: zauberspiegel.de
- ↑ a b c Booklet of the G-man Jerry Cotton DVD box . Cinema world . 2004.
- ↑ Uwe Huber: Interview with George Nader . In: Joachim Kramp, Gerd Naumann (Hrsg.): The Jerry Cotton Films . When Jerry Cotton came to Germany. ibidem-Verlag, Stuttgart 2011, ISBN 978-3-8382-0213-6 , pp. 77-85 .
- ↑ Peter Thomas : Jerry and I - A foreword by Peter Thomas . In: Joachim Kramp, Gerd Naumann (Hrsg.): The Jerry Cotton Films . When Jerry Cotton came to Germany. ibidem-Verlag, Stuttgart 2011, ISBN 978-3-8382-0213-6 , pp. 7-6 .
- ↑ shots from the violin case in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- ↑ Shots from the violin case. In: old.filmarchiv.at. Paimann's Filmlisten , No. 2937-39_2, May 12, 1965, accessed on October 13, 2016 .
- ↑ Shots from the violin case. In: Abendblatt.de. Hamburger Abendblatt , May 13, 1965, accessed on October 13, 2016 .
- ↑ Review No. 176/1965.
- ↑ Shots from the violin case. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .
