What's the matter with Willi?

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Movie
Original title What's the matter with Willi?
What is going on with Willi Logo 001.svg
Country of production Germany
original language German
Publishing year 1970
length 82 minutes
Age rating FSK 6
Rod
Director Werner Jacobs
script Eckart Hachfeld
production Rialto Film ( Horst Wendlandt )
music Heinz Alisch
camera Karl Löb
cut Walter von Bonhorst
occupation

What's the matter with Willi? is a German feature film from 1970 based on the play Whom God gives an office by Wilhelm Lichtenberg . Heinz Erhardt can be seen in the main role , Ralf Wolter , Rex Gildo , Willy Reichert and many other well-known actors and singers from the 1970s have other appearances . The world premiere took place on July 17, 1970.

action

Tax inspector Willi Winzig is only a small tax officer, but he has a big heart for his "customers". In particular cases of hardship, the files of the insolvent or unwilling tax debtors simply disappear in the closet. After all the cupboards have been filled, Willi simply throws the documents into the wastebasket. Unfortunately, the cleaning lady discovers the files and puts them on the desk, Willi's superior, the strict councilor Motzmann. Three weeks before his retirement , Willi's behavior comes to light, and Motzmann wants to use disciplinary proceedings to ensure that Willi loses his pension rights .

Fortunately, Willi's friend Felix has a good idea: Willi should play “crazy” so that he cannot be held accountable for his actions. Accordingly, Willi stirs up Motzmann's office, who promptly thinks he is a madman. At this very moment, Motzmann receives a visit from State Secretary Kuhländer, who completely misunderstands Willis' spontaneous outburst - he considers him to be the "most normal official" in the whole house, because, according to Kuhländer, everyone has to let off steam once.

Of course, Willi won't let that sit on him. In order to be “broken” for good, he smuggles himself to a state reception and causes a serious scandal by first insulting a foreign investor and then slapping the unsuspecting cool country in front of the greedy lenses of the assembled press. Kuhländer, who wanted to get rid of his unpopular job anyway, is - to Willi's horror - overjoyed and appoints Willi to the senior government council before he resigns. In this position, Willi transfers funds that were intended for the Kubin animal shelter to a children's aid project. After he is supposed to be released again, the new State Secretary decides to make a profit from it himself and to promote Willi to the Ministerial Councilor in front of the press . Kuhländer humorously comments on this process with the comment that Willi will definitely take it to the finance minister. The formerly unfaithful officer has to refuse this, because he would like to retire - “ full board ”, so the final word.

main characters

Willi Tiny

Willi Winzig is a character from the comedy Whom God gives an office by Wilhelm Lichtenberg. Heinz Erhardt had already played Winzig more than 500 times on stage. In 1962, the episode film Willi Winzig was broadcast as part of the Heinz Erhardt Film Festival in the first . On January 1, 1971, a production of the play with Erhardt in the main role was also broadcast under the title This has now been broadcast by the northern program theater guest plays as a recording of the ZDF on television. The story of Tiny 1971 was continued in the film Our Willi is the Best .

Heinz Erhardt portrays the taxman Willi Tiny and ticks all the Kalauerns . He describes his hated boss Motzmann as a Schwotte (mixture of Schwabe and Schotte ), who only heats in July and August because then the oil is cheapest. The typist Annie Engel also gets her fat off - she is a “big white bird”, which he justifies with the fact that the lady would immediately run to the union if he dubbed her “stupid goose”.

Felix Klein

Willis "Sidekick" Felix Klein ( Ralf Wolter ) is not only his roommate in Mrs. Stirnima's house, but also his work colleague with whom he shares an office. Felix has to fend off the entire film over Annie Engel's advances, with the two finding each other at the end of the film.

Annie Engel

Annie ( Ruth Stephan ) is a secretary in the tax office, but at the same time fooled into Felix Klein. Her advertising falls on deaf ears, until she finally persuades him to visit her at her karate club. At the end of the film she finally succeeds and Felix gives in to her wooing.

Helga Tiny

Helga ( Stella Mooney ) is Willi's niece and has just escaped from home to meet her friend Frankie ( Rex Gildo ), a beat musician . She finds accommodation with her uncle Willi and sneaks out of the house at night to watch Frankie perform live in a disco. Willi and Felix embark on an adventurous journey through Munich's nightlife, which of course ends with a lot of alcohol and without the hoped-for find.

Frank Kuhländer

Frankie ( Rex Gildo ), the beat musician, is not only Helga's friend, but also the son of State Secretary Kuhländer. He is responsible for the background music for the film and contributes some songs. He also successfully applies for Helga's hand - but not before Uncle Willi has been promised a retirement from his father.

Mrs. Stirnima

Helen Vita plays Frau Stirnima, Felix and Willi's landlady. She secretly raves about Willi, which she would never admit openly. Her name is probably from the hit at the time Gruezi, Frau Stirnimaa! derived from the Minstrels group . The minstrels can also be seen and heard in the film.

Reviews

  • “Finanzbeamtenossse with punchlines and deeper meaning.” (Rating: 2 stars = average) - Adolf Heinzlmeier and Berndt Schulz in the dictionary “Films on TV” (extended new edition). Rasch and Röhring, Hamburg 1990, ISBN 3-89136-392-3 , p. 902
  • “A Heinz Erhardt comedy that is only a little exhilarating and unrealistic.” - “ Lexicon of international film ” (CD-ROM edition), Systhema, Munich 1997
  • “A nice idea was partly overused, partly diluted into a hit movie. About 10 and over without recommendation. ”- Evangelical film observer (Ev. Presseverband München, review no. 299/1970)

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