Kameradschaft
Encyclopedia
Comradeship (1931
) is a dramatic film
with socialist overtones directed by German director Georg Wilhelm Pabst
. The French
-German
co-production drama is noted for combining expressionism and realism (predating the Italian
neo-realist films).
The picture tells of a mine disaster where German
miner
s rescue French
miners from an undergound fire and explosion. The story takes place in the Lorraine/Saar region, along the border between France and Germany.
, due to the Treaty of Versailles
, an old German mine is split in two because of the new border, and the mine is closed off at the border, including an underground mine. The economic downturn and employment situation adds to tension between the two countries as German workers seek employment with the French but are turned away.
In the French part of the mine a fire breaks out and they try to contain the fire by building brick walls. The Germans continue to work on their side.
Nonetheless the fire gets out of control, causing an explosion that traps many French miners. In response, Wittkopp (Ernst Busch
) appeals to his bosses to send a rescue team. As they ride out of town to help, the leader of the German rescue effort explains to his wife that the French are men with women and children and he would hope that they would come to his aid in similar circumstances.
Meanwhile, a trio of German miners breaks through a set of steel bars that mark the 1919 border. On the French side, an old retired miner (Alex Bernard) sneaks into the shaft hoping to rescue his young grandson (Pierre-Louis).
The miners forget their nationalities and past troubles and try to build a new camaraderie on the foundation of human solidarity.
The Germans successfully rescue the French miners, not without some interesting difficulties. After all the survivors are rescued, there's a big party with speeches about friendship between the French and Germans. The film shows a new idealistic unity between the miners, despite the political and nationalistic obstacles that still remain.
At the end, ironically, French officials rebuild the mining gate, and return to the status quo ante.
, France, where rescue efforts were hampered by the lack of trained mine rescuers. Expert teams from Paris and Germany (miners from the Westphalia region) came to the assistance of the French miners. There were 1,099 fatalities, including children.
means a bond between soldiers or those who have similar opinions and are in friendship. The word is similar to comradeship.
When the film was released in the United States in 1932
, Mordaunt Hall
, film critic for The New York Times
, reviewed the film and liked the realism and the screenplay, writing, "[Kameradschaft is] one of the finest examples of realism that has come to the screen...[the] scenes in the mine are so real that one never thinks of them as being staged...[and] [t]hroughout the length of this tale of horror one feels as though one were permitted through some uncanny force to look into all parts of the mine...[and] all the noises and sounds are wonderfully natural."
The staff at Variety
magazine also gave the film a positive review. They appreciated the direction, story, and cinematography, writing, "Pabst has made it a powerful recounting and accentuates more the happenings than the men...Photography and architecture are excellent and the sound is clear. Picture sometimes abrupt and there are some superfluous scenes but this is an outstanding film."
1931 in film
-Top grossing films:-Academy Awards:*Best Picture: Cimarron - MGM*Best Actor: Lionel Barrymore - A Free Soul*Best Actor: Wallace Beery - The Champ*Best Actor: Fredric March - Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde...
) is a dramatic film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
with socialist overtones directed by German director Georg Wilhelm Pabst
Georg Wilhelm Pabst
-Biography:Pabst was born in Raudnitz, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary , the son of a railroad employee.Returning from the United States, he was in France when World War I began...
. The French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
-German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
co-production drama is noted for combining expressionism and realism (predating the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
neo-realist films).
The picture tells of a mine disaster where German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
miner
Miner
A miner is a person whose work or business is to extract ore or minerals from the earth. Mining is one of the most dangerous trades in the world. In some countries miners lack social guarantees and in case of injury may be left to cope without assistance....
s rescue French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
miners from an undergound fire and explosion. The story takes place in the Lorraine/Saar region, along the border between France and Germany.
Plot
After the end of World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, due to the Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...
, an old German mine is split in two because of the new border, and the mine is closed off at the border, including an underground mine. The economic downturn and employment situation adds to tension between the two countries as German workers seek employment with the French but are turned away.
In the French part of the mine a fire breaks out and they try to contain the fire by building brick walls. The Germans continue to work on their side.
Nonetheless the fire gets out of control, causing an explosion that traps many French miners. In response, Wittkopp (Ernst Busch
Ernst Busch (actor)
Ernst Busch was a German singer and actor.Busch first rose to prominence as an interpreter of political songs, particularly those of Kurt Tucholsky, in the Berlin Kabarett scene of the 1920s...
) appeals to his bosses to send a rescue team. As they ride out of town to help, the leader of the German rescue effort explains to his wife that the French are men with women and children and he would hope that they would come to his aid in similar circumstances.
Meanwhile, a trio of German miners breaks through a set of steel bars that mark the 1919 border. On the French side, an old retired miner (Alex Bernard) sneaks into the shaft hoping to rescue his young grandson (Pierre-Louis).
The miners forget their nationalities and past troubles and try to build a new camaraderie on the foundation of human solidarity.
The Germans successfully rescue the French miners, not without some interesting difficulties. After all the survivors are rescued, there's a big party with speeches about friendship between the French and Germans. The film shows a new idealistic unity between the miners, despite the political and nationalistic obstacles that still remain.
At the end, ironically, French officials rebuild the mining gate, and return to the status quo ante.
Cast
- Alexander GranachAlexander GranachAlexander Granach was a popular German actor in the 1920s and 1930s.- Biography :Granach was born Jessaja Granach in Werbowitz to Jewish parents and rose to theatrical prominence at the Volksbühne in Berlin...
as Kasper - Fritz KampersFritz KampersFritz Kampers was a German film actor. He appeared in 261 films between 1913 and 1950.-Selected filmography:* Westfront 1918 * Dreyfus * Die Bräutigamswitwe * Kameradschaft...
as Wilderer - Ernst BuschErnst Busch (actor)Ernst Busch was a German singer and actor.Busch first rose to prominence as an interpreter of political songs, particularly those of Kurt Tucholsky, in the Berlin Kabarett scene of the 1920s...
as Wittkopp - Elisabeth Wendt as Frau Wittkopp
- Gustav Puttjer as Kaplan
- Oskar Hocker as Obersteiger
- Daniel Mendaille as Jean Leclerc
- Georges Charlia as Emile
- Andree Ducret as Francoise
- Alex Bernard as Grand-Pere, Le Vieux Mineur
- Pierre-Louis as Georges - Le Petit Galibot
- Helena MansonHéléna MansonElena Eugenia Manson was a French film actress. She appeared in 95 films between 1925 and 1989.-Selected filmography:* Le Corbeau * Return to Life * Clear the Ring...
as Rose, La Femme Du Mineur Blesse - Gerhard Bienert
- Marguerite Debois
- Adolf Fischer
- Friedrich Gnass
- Georg Guertler
- Willem Holsboer as Ingenieur Des Deutschen Bergwerks
- Marcel Lesieur as Albert
- Palmyre Levasseur
- Marcel MerminodMarcel MerminodMarcel Merminod was a Swiss film actor. He appeared in 21 films between 1930 and 1970. He starred in the 1970 film Black Out, which was entered into the 17th Berlin International Film Festival.-Selected filmography:...
- Teddy Michaud
- Naupel
- Reinhardt
- Rortais
- Franz Schier
- Theo Tony
- Georges Tourreil as L'Ingenieur
- Richard Weichert
- Fritz Wendhausen as Direktor Des Deutschen Bergwerks
Background
Pabst took an actual historical event, a mining accident in 1906 in CourrièresCourrières
Courrières is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:An ex-coalmining commune, now a light industrial and farming town, situated some northeast of Lens, at the junction of the D46 and D919 roads and next to the A1 autoroute...
, France, where rescue efforts were hampered by the lack of trained mine rescuers. Expert teams from Paris and Germany (miners from the Westphalia region) came to the assistance of the French miners. There were 1,099 fatalities, including children.
Title
Kameradschaft in GermanGerman language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
means a bond between soldiers or those who have similar opinions and are in friendship. The word is similar to comradeship.
Critical reception
Film critic Daniel Curran calls the film "A heartfelt plea for peace and internationalism." While calling the narrative over-sentimental, Curran appreciated the film, writing, "Pabst's plea for a peaceful future is both noble and honest, his direction of the heartbreak and devastation [is] enhanced by the brilliant cinematography by Fritz Arno Wagner and Robert Baberske, and the frighteningly real set design by Erno Metzner and Karl Vollbrecht."When the film was released in the United States in 1932
1932 in film
-Events:*Cary Grant's film career begins*Katharine Hepburn's film career begins*Shirley Temple's film career begins*Disney released Flowers and Trees, the first cartoon in three-strip Technicolor film.*Santa, first sound film made in Mexico released....
, Mordaunt Hall
Mordaunt Hall
Mordaunt Hall was the first regularly assigned motion picture critic for The New York Times, from October 1924 to September 1934....
, film critic for The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, reviewed the film and liked the realism and the screenplay, writing, "[Kameradschaft is] one of the finest examples of realism that has come to the screen...[the] scenes in the mine are so real that one never thinks of them as being staged...[and] [t]hroughout the length of this tale of horror one feels as though one were permitted through some uncanny force to look into all parts of the mine...[and] all the noises and sounds are wonderfully natural."
The staff at Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
magazine also gave the film a positive review. They appreciated the direction, story, and cinematography, writing, "Pabst has made it a powerful recounting and accentuates more the happenings than the men...Photography and architecture are excellent and the sound is clear. Picture sometimes abrupt and there are some superfluous scenes but this is an outstanding film."
External links
- Kameradschaft at Film Reference
- Kameradschaft at Cinegraph (GermanGerman languageGerman is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
)