Hitchcock/Truffaut 2015

Filmmakers discuss the legacy of Alfred Hitchcock and the book “Hitchcock/Truffaut” (“Le cinéma selon Hitchcock”), written by François Truffaut and published in 1966.

The Zurich Engagement 1957

Juliane Thomas is an ambitious but unemployed young writer. After breaking up with her lover she works at a dentist friend to make ends meet. One day she instantly falls in love with one of the patients (Jean Berner) and promptly writes a movie script about the encounter in which she projects her own fantasies about how things will turn out eventually. By coincidence this movie script is picked up by a film director who happens to be Berner's closest friend and from then on things become very complicated...

Narren im Schnee 1938

The Hound of the Baskervilles 1937

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson look into reports that a huge, vicious hound has killed Lord Charles Baskerville and that Lord Henry Baskerville is the next to be killed.

Donogoo Tonka 1936

Parisians Josette and Pierre are a happy couple, but also a completely broke one. An absurd chain of events leads them to Professor Trouhadec, who is in a predicament.

Der junge Graf 1935

A young woman poses as a boy to ingratiate herself better with her strict aristocratic grandfather and to get him to better accept the new freer ways of the younger generation.

Kiki 1932

Kiki who has a walk-on part in a show, is in love with her director, who doesn't notice her at all. She settles into his home and causes him to break up with his lover, the star of the show; and finally manages to make him love her.

Him and His Sister 1931

Postman Brabec is a welcome guest of the revue theatre for his sense of humor, and he brings his director Holt letters from female admirers every day. Holt's fans include Brabec's sister Anny. The girl would like to join the theatre, but for the time being works as a maid for the actress Velden. A new revue is being rehearsed, the name of the author is secret. Veldenová will return the role just before the premiere because she doesn't like it. The quick-witted Brabec introduces the director to his sister, who knows all the parts by heart.

The Great Passion 1930

This is a real curiosity; at best a reasonable film, but also a charming little gem. There is a story (in the line of "A Star is Born"), but this merely serves as an excuse, as it is more importantly a kind of moving encyclopedia of about 35 stars making their debut in a talkie (although some of them had already made one talkie), of the technical sound possibilities and of film making. Besides all that, it is entertaining and sometimes hilarious and it has fine one-liners that split my side. The film is also remarkable for making mock of typical German film genres (like the overly sweet romances involving the military), of too heavy acting and of film making in general. I have to mention this one: a short, hysterically funny parody of "Der blaue Engel". What this film in fact says is: do not take any film too seriously. (J. Steed)

Fairground People 1930

Young Anny returns from school to her circus family, which runs a little venue at the town fair. When Anny suddenly has to fill in for one of the artists, her piano-playing not only enthrals the audience, but also theatre agent Horbes. He casts the whole family for the Apollo theatre in Berlin, where Anny quickly raises to stardom and is offered an engagement from the US.

Blackmail 1929

London, 1929. Frank Webber, a very busy Scotland Yard detective, seems to be more interested in his work than in Alice White, his girlfriend. Feeling herself ignored, Alice agrees to go out with an elegant and well-mannered artist who invites her to visit his fancy apartment.

The Manxman 1929

A fisherman and a rising lawyer who grew up together as brothers fall in love with the same woman.

Der erste Kuß 1928

Die Pratermizzi 1926