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The film industry in Germany can be traced back to the late 19th century. German cinema made major technical and artistic contributions to early film, broadcasting and television technology. Babelsberg became a household synonym for the early 20th century film industry in Europe, similar to Hollywood later.
DEFA was the state-owned film studio of the German Democratic Republic throughout the country's existence.
Ernst Thälmann is an East German film in two parts about the life of Ernst Thälmann, leader of the Communist Party of Germany during much of the Weimar Republic, directed by Kurt Maetzig and starring Günther Simon in the title role. The first part, Ernst Thälmann - Sohn seiner Klasse, was released in 1954. It was followed by the 1955 sequel. Ernst Thälmann - Führer seiner Klasse.
The DEFA Film Library at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is the only archive and research center outside of Germany devoted to a broad spectrum of filmmaking from and related to the former East Germany. DEFA was the state owned film company of the GDR. The non-profit organization houses an extensive collection of 35mm and 16mm prints, dcps, DVDs, books, periodicals and articles. Students are involved in all aspects of the archive's research, outreach and teaching activities and also gain valuable non-academic experience in subtitling and library, conference and arts management. In order to fulfill its dual mission—to make DEFA films available and better known, and to broaden understanding of filmmaking in the GDR by interdisciplinary critical scholarship—the DEFA Film Library undertakes a range of scholarly and support activities.
Jacob the Liar is a 1975 war drama film directed by Frank Beyer, adapted by Beyer and Jurek Becker from the latter's novel of the same title. Set in Nazi-occupied Poland during the Holocaust, the film centers on Jakob Heym, a Polish Jew who attempts to raise the morale inside the ghetto by sharing encouraging rumors that he claims he has heard on an (imaginary) radio. The film was a co-production between East Germany and Czechoslovakia. It premiered on East German television on 22 December 1974, and was released theatrically on 18 April 1975.
Trace of Stones is a 1966 East German film by Frank Beyer. It was based on the eponymous novel by Erik Neutsch and starred Manfred Krug in the main role. After its release, the film was shown only for a few days, before being shelved due to conflicts with the Socialist Unity Party, the ruling communist party in the German Democratic Republic. Only after 23 years was the film shown again, in November 1989.
Girls in Gingham —sometimes called Beaverskin—is a 1949 German drama film directed by Kurt Maetzig.
Five Cartridges is a 1960 East German film directed by Frank Beyer and starring Erwin Geschonneck, Armin Mueller-Stahl and Manfred Krug.
Ehe im Schatten is an East German film melodrama. Directed by Kurt Maetzig, it was released in 1947 by DEFA. The film was described as an "attempt to confront the German people about the morals of the past", being the first film to confront the people about the persecution of the Jews and the atrocities conducted during World War II.
The Blue Swords is a 1949 East German historical drama film directed by Wolfgang Schleif and starring Hans Quest, Ilse Steppat and Alexander Engel. It sold more than 3,299,432 tickets. The film portrays the life of Johann Friedrich Böttger, an alchemist of the early eighteenth century who was held prisoner by the Elector of Saxony in order to discover the secret of gold production. Failing to accomplish this, which he knows to be impossible, he instead works to develop porcelain. The title refers to the symbol of Meissen, a pair of crossed swords. His story had previously been turned into a 1935 film The King's Prisoner, released during the Nazi era.
Der Rat der Götter is an East German black-and-white film, directed by Kurt Maetzig. It was released in 1950.
Story of a Young Couple is an East German film, directed by Kurt Maetzig. It was released in 1952.
A Berlin Romance is a 1956 East German neo-realist romantic drama film about youth urban life in the divided city of Berlin, directed by Gerhard Klein. It was produced by the DEFA film company. It stars Annekathrin Bürger, Ulrich Thein and Uwe-Jens Pape. The script was written by Wolfgang Kohlhaase with a score composed by Günter Klück. The film was the second collaboration between Klein and Kohlhaase; the first was Alarm in the Circus, released in 1954 and third came in 1957 with Berlin - Ecke Schönhauser. These films were noted for their strong criticism of consumer culture in Berlin after World War II and the Americanization of the capital and are amongst DEFA's best known films.
Divided Heaven is an East German drama film directed by Konrad Wolf. It was released in 1964.
The Rabbit Is Me is an East German dramatic film directed by Kurt Maetzig. It was filmed in 1965, and based on the novel by Manfred Bieler.
Professor Mamlock is an East German drama film. It was released in 1961.
Sun Seekers is an East German film, directed by Konrad Wolf during 1958. It was banned and subsequently released only in 1972.
Hands Up or I'll Shoot is an East German crime comedy film directed by Hans-Joachim Kasprzik, who wrote the script along with Rudi Strahl. Rolf Herricht starred as officer Holms.
Manfred Richter is a German writer, scriptwriter and dramaturg.
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Claudia H. L. Fellmer (September 2002). Stars in East German Cinema (PhD thesis). University of Southampton. pp. 34, 95–96.
- ↑ Fernando Ramos Arenas (2019). "From Stalinism to Cinephilia: The Emergence of East German Film Culture in the 1950s". Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television. 39 (2): 275. doi:10.1080/01439685.2018.1527066. S2CID 159216395.
- ↑ Henry Lowood. "East German Popular and Material Culture". Stanford University Libraries. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- ↑ Seán Allan (1999). "DEFA: An Historical Overview". In Seán Allan; John Sandford (eds.). DEFA: East German Cinema, 1946-1992. New York; Oxford: Berghahn Books. p. 45. ISBN 978-1-57181-753-2.
