Berlin-Alexanderplatz (1931 film)

Berlin-Alexanderplatz
Directed byPhil Jutzi
Written by
Based onBerlin Alexanderplatz by Alfred Döblin
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography
Edited byGeza Pollatschik
Music byAllan Gray
Production
company
Distributed bySüd-Film
Release date
  • 8 October 1931 (1931-10-08)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryGermany
LanguageGerman

Berlin-Alexanderplatz or The Story of Franz Biberkopf (German: Die Geschichte vom Franz Biberkopf) is a 1931 German drama film directed by Phil Jutzi and starring Heinrich George, Maria Bard and Margarete Schlegel. It was adapted from the 1929 novel of the same title by Alfred Döblin, who also co-wrote the screenplay.[1]

Plot

A blue collar Berliner and small-time criminal recently released from prison finds himself being drawn into the Berlin underworld of the 1920s after his prostitute lover is murdered.

"Yet, despite social upheaval, ...the good among the working class still prove able to live an honest and decent life."[2]

Production

It was filmed on various locations around Berlin including the Alexanderplatz. Jutzi cut out much of the novel's complex story, preferring to focus on just one character.[3]

The Film Review Board released the film on 30 September 1931, but with the restriction that it was forbidden for young people. The premiere took place on 8 October 1931 in the Berlin Capitol am Zoo. The film was distributed by Südfilm AG (Berlin).[4]

Cast

References

  1. ^ John C. Tibbetts, and James M. Welsh, eds. The Encyclopedia of Novels Into Film (2nd ed. 2005) pp 12–14.
  2. ^ Phillips, Carson. "Berlin Alexanderplatz: the story of Franz Biberkopf" (PDF). holocaustcentre.com. Sarah and Chaim Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  3. ^ Reimer & Reimer p. 167
  4. ^ Zhu, Feng (December 2015). "Deutsches Filminstitut – DIF e.V./Deutsches Filmmuseum, Frankfurt am Main (ed.) (2015), Films and Games: Interactions, Berlin: Bertz + Fischer Verlag. 256pp". Film-Philosophy. 19 (1). doi:10.3366/film.2015.0063. ISSN 1466-4615.

Bibliography

Further reading

  • Slugan, Mario (2017). Montage as Perceptual Experience: Berlin Alexanderplatz from Döblin to Fassbinder. Rochester, NY: Camden House. ISBN 978-1-64014-005-9.


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