Otto – Der Film
Encyclopedia
Otto – Der Film is a German comedy film
from 1985, starring Otto Waalkes
. With 14.5 million sold tickets it was the most successful German movie until it was succeeded by Der Schuh des Manitu
.
Otto, a young East Frisian
country boy, comes to the big city to make his fortune. Unfortunately, his naivety nearly ruins everything from the start as he falls victim to a loan shark
- conveniently going under the name of "Shark" - from whom he borrows the capital to start his own forwarding business; the resulting debt of 9,876 DM and 50 Pfennig
becomes a constant object of worry and temptation for Otto throughout the film.
During one of his earlier attempts to make money, Otto inadvertently saves the life of Silvia von Kohlen und Reibach, the young heiress of an enormously wealthy family. Otto is introduced to the Kohlen und Reibachs to receive their gratitude, but Otto is quick to note that he could use their wealth to pay back his debt. But every chance he gets slips through his fingers, either owing to the callings of his conscience (such as when he attempts to shoot a hare for a reward which matches his debts exactly) or by dumb luck (when the wine he receives from the Kohlen und Reibachs turns out to be quite valuable, but only after a wine lover has consumed a considerable quantity of it). Silvia and Otto also find themselves drawn to each other, but their greatest hazard against their getting together is Silvia's stern mother, Konsulin ("Consul
") von Kohlen und Reibach, who wishes her daughter to marry befitting to her status and who has selected a prospective candidate named Ernesto, a handsome South America
n millionaire.
In the end, Otto realizes his true affections for Silvia only after she and her mother prepare to depart for Rio de Janeiro
for Silvia's wedding to Ernesto. On his way to tell Silvia about his feelings, Otto gets mixed up in a bank robbery committed by disputatious Sonnemann and Haenlein. Otto later smuggles himself aboard the plane the Kohlen und Reibachs are in, but among the passengers are also the two bankrobbers. Otto, disguised as the radioman, attempts to inform Interpol
but instead hits the pilot's announcement system, prompting Sonnemann and Haenlein to hijack the plane. Unfortunately, the two break out into another argument, in which course they knock out both pilots, so they force Otto to fly. This of course wreaks havoc as Otto sends the plane rolling, subduing the two bankrobbers in the process; Otto reveals his presence and his love to Silvia, who happily joins him in the cockpit, and Konsulin von Kohle und Reichbach has to learn to her shock that "Ernesto" is really a fraud named Harald.
Otto subsequently attempts to land the passenger jet
on an aircraft carrier
, but of course fails spectacularly, thus looping back to the situation in which he is first seen at the start of the film. Fortunately, all passengers on the plane, including Silvia and her mother, reach a tropical island, where they receive a warm welcome
from the local carnival
-obsessed natives and Otto and Silvia finally become an item.
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
from 1985, starring Otto Waalkes
Otto Waalkes
Otto Gerhard Waalkes is a Frisian comedian and actor. He became famous in the 1970s and 1980s in Germany with his shows, books and movies. His perhaps most famous trademark are the 'Ottifanten' , elephant-like comic characters of his own design...
. With 14.5 million sold tickets it was the most successful German movie until it was succeeded by Der Schuh des Manitu
Der Schuh des Manitu
Der Schuh des Manitu is a 2001 German parody of western films. Directed by Michael Herbig, it is a film adaptation of the Winnetou sketches from his Pro Sieben television show Bullyparade.-Background:...
.
Plot
The film starts with debris floating in the middle of the ocean, including a toilet seat, through which Otto emerges and begins to relate how he has gotten to be in this situation.Otto, a young East Frisian
East Frisia
East Frisia or Eastern Friesland is a coastal region in the northwest of the German federal state of Lower Saxony....
country boy, comes to the big city to make his fortune. Unfortunately, his naivety nearly ruins everything from the start as he falls victim to a loan shark
Loan shark
A loan shark is a person or body that offers unsecured loans at illegally high interest rates to individuals, often enforcing repayment by blackmail or threats of violence....
- conveniently going under the name of "Shark" - from whom he borrows the capital to start his own forwarding business; the resulting debt of 9,876 DM and 50 Pfennig
Pfennig
The Pfennig , plural Pfennige, is an old German coin or note, which existed from the 9th century until the introduction of the euro in 2002....
becomes a constant object of worry and temptation for Otto throughout the film.
During one of his earlier attempts to make money, Otto inadvertently saves the life of Silvia von Kohlen und Reibach, the young heiress of an enormously wealthy family. Otto is introduced to the Kohlen und Reibachs to receive their gratitude, but Otto is quick to note that he could use their wealth to pay back his debt. But every chance he gets slips through his fingers, either owing to the callings of his conscience (such as when he attempts to shoot a hare for a reward which matches his debts exactly) or by dumb luck (when the wine he receives from the Kohlen und Reibachs turns out to be quite valuable, but only after a wine lover has consumed a considerable quantity of it). Silvia and Otto also find themselves drawn to each other, but their greatest hazard against their getting together is Silvia's stern mother, Konsulin ("Consul
Consul (representative)
The political title Consul is used for the official representatives of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, and to facilitate trade and friendship between the peoples of the two countries...
") von Kohlen und Reibach, who wishes her daughter to marry befitting to her status and who has selected a prospective candidate named Ernesto, a handsome South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n millionaire.
In the end, Otto realizes his true affections for Silvia only after she and her mother prepare to depart for Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
for Silvia's wedding to Ernesto. On his way to tell Silvia about his feelings, Otto gets mixed up in a bank robbery committed by disputatious Sonnemann and Haenlein. Otto later smuggles himself aboard the plane the Kohlen und Reibachs are in, but among the passengers are also the two bankrobbers. Otto, disguised as the radioman, attempts to inform Interpol
Interpol
Interpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
but instead hits the pilot's announcement system, prompting Sonnemann and Haenlein to hijack the plane. Unfortunately, the two break out into another argument, in which course they knock out both pilots, so they force Otto to fly. This of course wreaks havoc as Otto sends the plane rolling, subduing the two bankrobbers in the process; Otto reveals his presence and his love to Silvia, who happily joins him in the cockpit, and Konsulin von Kohle und Reichbach has to learn to her shock that "Ernesto" is really a fraud named Harald.
Otto subsequently attempts to land the passenger jet
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
on an aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
, but of course fails spectacularly, thus looping back to the situation in which he is first seen at the start of the film. Fortunately, all passengers on the plane, including Silvia and her mother, reach a tropical island, where they receive a warm welcome
Polonaise
The polonaise is a slow dance of Polish origin, in 3/4 time. Its name is French for "Polish."The polonaise had a rhythm quite close to that of the Swedish semiquaver or sixteenth-note polska, and the two dances have a common origin....
from the local carnival
Carnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
-obsessed natives and Otto and Silvia finally become an item.
Cast
- Otto WaalkesOtto WaalkesOtto Gerhard Waalkes is a Frisian comedian and actor. He became famous in the 1970s and 1980s in Germany with his shows, books and movies. His perhaps most famous trademark are the 'Ottifanten' , elephant-like comic characters of his own design...
: Otto - Jessika Cardinahl: Silvia von Kohlen und Reibach
- Elisabeth Wiedemann: Konsulin von Kohlen und Reibach
- Sky du MontSky du MontSky du Mont is a German actor. He is known for his role in Eyes Wide Shut, as "Santa Maria" in Der Schuh des Manitu and for narrating the German dub of Thomas & Friends...
: Ernesto (aka Harald) - Peter KuiperPeter KuiperPeter Kuiper was a German actor of film, theatre and television.He died in Berlin from undisclosed causes in 2007.-Selected filmography:* Derrick - Season 2, Episode 2: "Tod am Bahngleis"...
: Shark - Karl LieffenKarl LieffenKarl Lieffen , born Karel František Lifka, was a German film actor. He appeared in over 140 films on screen and television between 1949 and 1998....
: Flopmann - Tilly Lauenstein: madam
- Gottfried JohnGottfried John-Life and work:During the 1970s and early 1980s, Gottfried John played various roles in films by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, notably that of Reinhold in the epic Berlin Alexanderplatz . He is internationally known for his portrayals of General Ourumov in the James Bond film GoldenEye and Julius...
: Sonnemann - Andreas Mannkopff: Haenlein
- Lutz Mackensy: springbok owner
- Johannes HeestersJohannes HeestersJohan Marius Nicolaas "Johannes" Heesters is a Dutch actor, singer and entertainer with a -year career, almost exclusively in the German-speaking world. In Germany and Austria, Heesters is mainly known for his acting career...
: wine lover - Günther KaufmannGünther KaufmannGünther Kaufmann is a German film actor best known for his association with director Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Fassbinder directed Kaufmann in a total of 14 films, casting him in a variety of leading and minor roles...
: soldier „Bimbo“ - Panos PapadopulosPanos Papadopulos-Selected filmography:* Der rote Kreis * Tiger of Bengal * For a Few Dollars More * Fedora * Ich bin dein Killer...
: Stavros - Wilken F. Dincklage: barkeeper
- Erich Bar: rocker
External links
- Otto – Der Film at Filmportal.de