Trenck (1932)
Trenck is a German feature film by Heinz Paul and Ernst Neubach from 1932 with Hans Stüwe in the title role .
action
Prussia at the time of the Silesian Wars in the 1740s. The Prussian Guard Lieutenant Friedrich Freiherr von der Trenck, nephew of Franz von der Trenck, who is in Austrian service, also called "Trenck the Pandur", attracted some attention from Friedrich II. (Hereinafter: the Great). The Prussian king wants to appoint him his adjutant. When Trenck arrives at the court in Potsdam, he meets Princess Amalie , the king's youngest sister, on the steps of the castle . They both quickly fall in love. On the eve of the war, a roaring ball is given, with Trenck taking over the ball guard. Amalie takes the opportunity and arranges a rendezvous with her beloved Guard Lieutenant. Then Trenck has to go into the field.
At the Battle of Thrush (1745) the two Trencks collide suddenly. Trenck, the Pandur and his men completely devastated the field camp of the Prussian units. Friedrich von der Trenck and Leutnant von Rochow then, contrary to the order, want to turn the other Trenck over, but fall into Austrian hands. Rochow dies and the Prussian Trenck is disarmed. Von der Trenck vehemently rejects the suggestion to overflow, and finally he and his dead comrade return to his unit. Trenck's arbitrariness has serious consequences for him, and he is sentenced to imprisonment in Glatz for insubordination . After the peace of Dresden he felt forgotten by his own people and therefore escaped from prison. Now he is also being wanted for desertion. At this point, of all times, Princess Amalie, who has meanwhile become abbess at the Quedlinburg Abbey , succeeded in persuading her brother to pardon Friedrich von der Trenck.
A restless life now begins for Trenck, always on the run from King Friedrich's captors. At first he felt safe in Russia, later he came to Danzig, at that time not under Prussian rule. Nevertheless, it is handed over to the hands of Prussian soldiers who bring Trenck to the fortress of Magdeburg on the king's orders. In a dark cellar dungeon he is chained up like an animal by the vengeful monarch for years. On royal orders, none of the guards are allowed to exchange a word with him. Princess Amalie tries to free him, but this attempt to escape fails because the prisoner is already exhausted.
Only after the lost battle near Kunersdorf in 1759 does Friedrich remember him and after seventeen years in prison he ordered Trenck's release, but banished his former favorite from Prussia forever. After Friedrich's death in 1786, his successor Friedrich Wilhelm II repealed this verdict. At Monbijou Castle , the two visibly aged lovers Trenck and Amalie meet again after around thirty years. Trenck gives his former love his memoir, which, despite all the bad experiences and torments suffered, is entirely dedicated to the spirit of Friedrich II.
Production notes
Trenck , sometimes under the full title Trenck - The novel of a great love and sold under The King's Favorite , was created in the Jofa studios in Berlin-Johannisthal from September 12, 1932 and was shot in a few weeks. The film had nine acts and was 2,774 meters long. The censors released him on October 24, 1932 for the youth. The premiere took place on October 28, 1932 in Berlin's Titania Palace and in the atrium.
Hans Conradi was production manager, Alfred Greven was production assistant. The film structures were made by Erich Czerwonski , the costumes by Leopold Verch. Hermann Birkhofer and Erich Lange set the tone. The dances were contributed by Rudi Haffner. The texts for Hans May's music were provided by co-director and screenwriter Ernst Neubach.
The general manager Herbert Silbermann (born 1897), a native of Breslau, was the older brother of the later well-known artist agent Elli Silman .
Historical background
Friedrich von der Trenck came from a noble family that can be traced back to the 13th century. He joined the Prussian army in 1740 and became an orderly officer of Frederick the Great in 1744. He was arrested for the first time the following year. Whether his incarceration is actually connected, as the film insinuates, to an affair with the Crown Princess Amalie, Friedrich's youngest sister, has not yet been proven. After a turbulent life between imprisonment, flight, re-arrest and release, Trenck died in Paris in 1794, guillotined by French revolutionaries.
Further films
- Trenck, der Pandur (1940) with Hans Albers in the title role and as Friedrich von der Trenck
- The strange life story of Friedrich Freiherrn von der Trenck (1972) with Matthias Habich in the title role
- Trenck - Two hearts against the crown (2002) with Ben Becker in the title role
Reviews
“Hans Stüwe is more Prince of Homburg than Trenck, a little too theatrical but a favorite of women in dressy costumes. Dorothea Wieck offers a beautiful, still picture as Princess Amalie, who is addicted to longing and melancholy, a cool and proud beauty as a loving abbess at the end of the film. Strong and haunting Theodor Loos as Frederick the Great - in the fight against the film image of the great king that Otto Fee has forced upon us forever. Here is a new Fridericus Rex! A sometimes erring, unjust monarch. But that is precisely the advantage of this film, that its Fridericus can also be bilious, tyrannical and unjust. With Bruno Frank it is precisely this inhumanity of the great king who, as a vengeful family despot, is capable of such an incomprehensible power justice against Trenck. "
Paimann's film lists summed up: "In the film book, the story is only a foil for individual fates; if it is often bent over, it at least has the probability of its own, portrays the milieu and time quite realistically. It could be more closed, the direction tighter, the dialogue a nuance less pathetic Stüwe's Trenck extremely genuine, Loos as Friedrich very noble. Discreet background music, beautiful photography, mostly satisfactory sound. As a history film above average, for friends of patriotic themes. "
Individual evidence
- ↑ Trenck in Paimann's film lists ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
Web links
- Trenck in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Trenck at filmportal.de