The Kaiser of California
Encyclopedia
The Kaiser of California, better known as "The Emperor of California" (German Der Kaiser von Kalifornien), is a 1936 film that has the unique distinction of being the first western film made in Nazi Germany
. Some exterior scenes were even shot on location in the United States at Sedona and the Grand Canyon in Arizona and at Death Valley in California.
The film follows the life story of John Sutter
, or Johann Augustus Suter, the owner of Sutter's Mill
, famous as the birthplace of the great California Gold Rush
of 1848.
While the basic story of Sutter's life is retained, the producers inserted some notable changes reflecting the political environment of the film's creation: though Sutter was a Swiss-German, the film emphasizes his German ethnicity and though he changed his name to John Sutter when he came to the United States, throughout the film he retains the name Johann Suter.
The film opposes the "easy" money of gold-digging with the wealth and values created by hard work, as the Gold Rush
eventually destroys Suter's fortunes and creates social disintegration and the loss of solidarity and companionship.
In the final scene the aged and impoverished Sutter is shown in Washington, where he has a vision of America's future industrial might, seeing a land full skyscrapers and factories.
Unlike most American Westerns of the thirties, The Kaiser of California offers a sympathetic portrait of the Indians
, whom Sutter respectfully befriends. In this it follows the Karl May
tradition of German Western stories, which often featured noble Indians and German immigrants turned pioneers and gunmen.
The film won the 1936 Mussolini Cup for best foreign film at the Venice Film Festival
. It was screened as part of the "Venice Days" series at the 68th Venice International Film Festival
in September 2011.
The film was written and directed by Luis Trenker
, who also starred as Johann Sutter. Trenker had previously directed Der verlorene Sohn (The Prodigal Son, 1934), the story of an Alpine
immigrant in New York
, which is the only other film produced in Nazi Germany with scenes photographed on location in the United States.
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
. Some exterior scenes were even shot on location in the United States at Sedona and the Grand Canyon in Arizona and at Death Valley in California.
The film follows the life story of John Sutter
John Sutter
Johann Augus Sutter was a Swiss pioneer of California known for his association with the California Gold Rush by the discovery of gold by James W. Marshall and the mill making team at Sutter's Mill, and for establishing Sutter's Fort in the area that would eventually become Sacramento, the...
, or Johann Augustus Suter, the owner of Sutter's Mill
Sutter's Mill
Sutter's Mill was a sawmill owned by 19th century pioneer John Sutter in partnership with James W. Marshall. It was located in Coloma, California, at the bank of the South Fork American River...
, famous as the birthplace of the great California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
of 1848.
While the basic story of Sutter's life is retained, the producers inserted some notable changes reflecting the political environment of the film's creation: though Sutter was a Swiss-German, the film emphasizes his German ethnicity and though he changed his name to John Sutter when he came to the United States, throughout the film he retains the name Johann Suter.
The film opposes the "easy" money of gold-digging with the wealth and values created by hard work, as the Gold Rush
Gold rush
A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers to an area that has had a dramatic discovery of gold. Major gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and the United States, while smaller gold rushes took place elsewhere.In the 19th and early...
eventually destroys Suter's fortunes and creates social disintegration and the loss of solidarity and companionship.
In the final scene the aged and impoverished Sutter is shown in Washington, where he has a vision of America's future industrial might, seeing a land full skyscrapers and factories.
Unlike most American Westerns of the thirties, The Kaiser of California offers a sympathetic portrait of the Indians
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, whom Sutter respectfully befriends. In this it follows the Karl May
Karl May
Karl Friedrich May was a popular German writer, noted mainly for adventure novels set in the American Old West, and similar books set in the Orient and Middle East . In addition, he wrote stories set in his native Germany, in China and in South America...
tradition of German Western stories, which often featured noble Indians and German immigrants turned pioneers and gunmen.
The film won the 1936 Mussolini Cup for best foreign film at the Venice Film Festival
Venice Film Festival
The Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...
. It was screened as part of the "Venice Days" series at the 68th Venice International Film Festival
68th Venice International Film Festival
The 68th annual Venice Film Festival, held in Venice, Italy, took place from 31 August to 10 September 2011. American film director Darren Aronofsky was announced as the Head of the Jury. American actor and film director Al Pacino was presented with the Glory to the Film-maker award on 4 September,...
in September 2011.
The film was written and directed by Luis Trenker
Luis Trenker
Luis Trenker was a German-language South Tyrolian film director, architect, and actor.-Biography:...
, who also starred as Johann Sutter. Trenker had previously directed Der verlorene Sohn (The Prodigal Son, 1934), the story of an Alpine
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
immigrant in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, which is the only other film produced in Nazi Germany with scenes photographed on location in the United States.
See also
- List of films made in the Third Reich
- Nazism and cinema
External links
- http://www.arizonaslittlehollywood.com/