Variety (April 1958)

72 JjfESgfr Wednesday, April 9, 1953 Berlin Regains Status As Film Centre ; Continued from page 63 ; of the Nazi regime. This pic didn’t make much capital, but Brauner regards it still as one of his best. (He plans to reissue it.) His next films were “King of Hearts" and “Girls Behind Bars.” In 1950, hie made three films, one year later, five films, seven in 1952, eight in 1953, twelve in 1954 and also twelve in 1955. His “The Rats” walked off as the winner (as voted by the public) at. Berlin's 1955 Film Festival, same success was registered with “Before Sundown'' one year later. His “Girls Be¬ hind Bars” won a prize at the 194ft Venice Festival,; While domestic awards were also given to “20th of July,” “Hotel . Adlon,” “Morituri,” “Don’t Play With Love” and “Sin- ,ful Border.” Brauner has own studios at Berlin-Spandau consisting; of seven stages and his property comprises some 35,000 square meters. A number of stages are constantly being, rented by other German Companies. Last year, Univer¬ sal shot most of “There’s a Time to Love and a Time to Die,” here. Berlin owes much to Brauner, who stuck here, CCC employs 400 people (without the artists), on its playroll. Its 1958-1959 list consists of 27 titles, some coproductions. of the four companies. Latter will continue producing on a separate basis, it's true, but their aim is to march to¬ gether. MELODIE-FILM Melodie-Film is another prominent Berlin producer. Headed by Peter Schaffer and Aldo von Pinelli, it dates from 1952 and has made 15 features (mainly musicals) as of end of 1957. Outfit’s 16th film, the Hildegard Neff star¬ rer, “Madeleine arid the Legionary,” was made for'UFA release. Melodie-Film, iricidentaliy, belongs to those lo¬ cal producers who are particularly eager to use big foreign names ini their films, Maurice Chevalier, Stan Kenton orch, Josephine Baker and several other prominents have been in Meiodie films. in conjunction with Sandrew Bauman Film (Stockholm), Meiodie produced ; aIso “Swedish' Girl” two years ago. Schaeffer is also the owner, of a music publishing house (w r ith branch office in N Y.) HD-FILM CENTR AL-EUROPA Central-Europa, headed by Waldemar Frank, was es¬ tablished in 1951 and produced quite a number of vidpix before it turned'entirely to theatrical product. Company; which has a branch, office in Wiesbaden, has been dedicat¬ ing itself to musical films. Its last films were “Viktor & Viktoria" (a remake) and “If Women Are Lying.” HD-Film, headed by pic director Haris Deppe (an old- timer in the German film industry), was set up in Ber¬ lin during 1952 arid produced strictly for the domestic German language market. FRITZ GENSCHOW DELOS-FILM Fritz Genschow-Film is the producer of children’s films. A number of his full-length fairy-tales have rated rec¬ ognition. REAL-FILM Delos-Film is headed by Bernhard Schmidt, was set up In 1953 and has made a dozen pix so far. One of outfit’s best remembered films is “Lili Marlene” which could be sold to several countries. Delos plans the making of “Ber¬ ry and the Chance” and “The Fathers of My Children,” both adapted from novels. Both will roll in Artur Braun- ner’s CCC studios. FONO-FILM Dr. Schwerin’s Fon.o Co. made a name via. the success¬ ful (both with critics and audiences) Lilli Palmer-Curd Juergens starrer, “Devil in Silk.” Release has already been exhibited in a number of countries and is due for U. S. exposure. Schwerin now plans a feature on Hein¬ rich Schliemann, 19th Century German archaeologist. Titled “Dream of Gold,” this film is to be made in con¬ junction with an American partner and will be a tinter. Also in prospect is “Early to Bed,” adapted from Ann Piper's book. Schwerin has film rights of Hans Fallada’s hovel, “Little Man—What Now?.” This will be a remake. Also on Schwerin's list is a comedy with Crete Weiser, his actress-wife. Last September, Dr. Schwerin’s Fono-Film signed a deal with three other independent producers; Inter-West (Berlin), Corona-Film (Munich) and Filmaufbau (Berlin) for reasons of coordination. The four firms set up. the so- called “Filmring GmbH.” Latter represents the interests : Real-Film in Hamburg was founded by Walter Koppel and Hungarian-born Gyula Trebitsch in January, 1947. To them goes credit that Hamburg became one of the three most importarit German film towns. Real’s initial pic in 1947 was “Ark Noah’’ arid it has produced 41 films until the end of last year. Real-Film, which is associated with Europa-Film (top distrib in the land), has made a number of: outstanding German film successes of which “Captain From Koepenick” and “Devil’s General” perhaps were the iriost successful with reviewers and custoiriers. The current season will see the making of at least eight pix, Carl Zuckmayer’s “Schinderhannes” of foremost men¬ tion. Under the direction of Helmut Kaeutrier, it will star Curd Juergens. To commemorate the 100th birthday, of Selma Lagerloef, famed Swedish poetess who died in 1940rReal will make a filmization of her novel, “The Girl From Moorhof.” Cast hasn’t been set; up as yet, but Gus- ..lav Ucicky will direct. Also on the list is a musical with Marika Roekk who celebrated a nearly sensational come¬ back (via “At Green Cocktatoo By Night”) last year. En¬ titled “Stage Free for Marika,” this film will again be di-. reeled by Georg Jacoby, her husband. Besides making films on its own. Real rents facilities to Other companies. It has eight stages, among the most mod¬ ern in Europe. Company’s special pride is an ultra-modern Mitchell back-pro installation which Gyuala Trebitsch bought in N.Y. last year. Besides other facilities, Real also owns three dubbing studios. Walter Koppet himself is one of the strongest personalities in the German film indus¬ try. Ackriowledging his great contributions to the latter, Koppel was awarded with the Great Federal Cross of Merit in July 1956. FREIE Speaking of Hamburg, notice is owing the newly set up Freie Filmproduction GmbH (Free' Film Production Ltd.). This company, project of three top film directors (Helmut Kaeutner, Wolfgang Staudte and Harald Braun), intends to make art-slanted pix. Some of the reasons why Hamburg was picked as headquarters are the convenient location and the up-to-date Real studios in which inter¬ iors for their films are to be made; the friendly relation¬ ship between them and Real chief, Walter Koppel; and the fact that Eurppa-Film, which is going to release their product, is also located in Hamburg. UFA Special attention must be dedicated, of. course,, to the new UFA. which has own studios here at Tempelhof. UFA hasn’t yet started its own production (except vidpix) but it has been financing quite a number of films, including “Italian Journey—Love Included,” “Star of Africa,” “Madeleine and the Legionary” and “Spring in Berlin.” UFA has regained a powerful position in this country. Dozens of cinemas are riding again under the old UFA setup, its 50th house has just been inaugurated in Hana- burg. " Although everything is going on the slow, a consider¬ able number of films are in prospect—40% based on pres¬ tige novels. Reportedly, six comedies, three musicals and nine dramas are on draughting boards. In addition, three foreign films will bear the famous UFA rhombus. Maria Schell, Vittorio De Sica, Marline Carol, Folco Lulli, Serge Reggiani and Aritonella .Lualdi (under the direction of Wolfgang Staudte, Alexandre Astruc and Ralph Habib) will appear in them. Two, possibly three of , some 18 features will be made by UFA itself, the others will be produced by other firms by order of UFA. WENZEL LUEDECKE Among the younger local producers, mention Wenzel Luedecke. He is the head of Berliner Synchron GmbH, a dubbing outfit in the huge Mosaik Labs here. He’s ser¬ viced television films and is Gerriian representative of the American CBS series “San Francisco Beat.” And, not least, he Is ttie head of the local Inter-West film produc¬ ing outfit which has made four theatrical films so far. In¬ itial film was the Maria Schell starrer “Master Ovfer Life and Death” directed by Victor Vicas. Other three were “Die Halbstarken” (The Half-Strong Ones), “Terminus- Love” and “Wet Asphalt.” Horst Buchholz, idolized star of the German teenage set, headed the cast in all three pix. Buchholz is not tinder contract With Luedecke but latter has priority rights on him. (In the U» S. Buchholz is known as Henry Bdokholt). Luedecke is mainly inter¬ ested, in making teenage exploitation features.