For most Americans, the cinema of Nazi-era Germany consists primarily of the propaganda epics of Leni Riefenstahl and a few hideous anti-Semitic productions. But German films made between 1933 and 1945 were diverse in content, ranging from lavish musicals to mild melodramas to historic extravaganzas. Rüdiger Suchsland, who documented German cinema from 1919 to 1933 in the acclaimed nonfiction film From Caligari to Hitler (VL-11/15), considers the Nazi-era output in this fascinating yet somewhat frustrating presentation. Nazi censorship policies limited certain offerings—most notably feminist dramas and, oddly, science-fiction—while the defection of Jewish and Hitler-hating Christian artists resulted in a noticeable creativity void (the few comedies of the era were truly dreadful). Also, there were heavy-handed themes throughout these films, including the nobility of death, the favoritism of teamwork over individualism, and the glorification of nationalist fervor. Still, some surprises could be found: a young pre-Hollywood Ingrid Bergman appeared in the 1938 trifle The Four Companions, while G.W. Pabst, who was unable to emigrate, helmed the 1943 drama Paracelsus, which included a bizarre interpretative dance sequence designed to symbolize the coming of the 16th-century post-Black Death plague in Germany. Considering the scope of the subject, Suchsland is here only able to share bits and pieces of narrative film segments, with very little newsreel footage, and no animation from the period. And in the narration by German actor Udo Kier, heavily accented line readings often sound phonetic (the film also has a German voiceover option). Still, this is overall a compelling follow-up to Suchsland’s earlier film. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)
Hitler’s Hollywood
(2018) 105 min. In English & German w/English subtitles. DVD: $29.95 ($349 w/PPR from www.kinolorberedu.com). DRA. Kino Lorber (avail. from most distributors). Closed captioned. Volume 33, Issue 5
Hitler’s Hollywood
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