A "master" discovers the things in life - German-Spanish war film with Joachim Hansen and Marianne Koch
What are we dealing with here? Is this just misrepresentation of history? Or even glorification of war? Or just stupid and naive?
It tells the story of the German pilot Jochen Marseille, who achieved some fame in the Nazi regime by shooting down other pilots numerous times during the Second World War. The attractive actor Joachim Hansen (1930-2007) portrays him as a hyperactive child who simply lands his plane on the highway to ask people for directions. As a Luftikus who constantly gets into trouble with his superiors, which his friend Robert Franke (Hansjörg Felmy) has to get him out of. In the desert camp at the time of the war, the Berlin jet man, who was so successful in shooting down other planes and causing death to other pilots, was simply a good friend to his comrades (including Horst Frank). He even treats his colored servant Mathias (Roberto Blanco), who is actually more of a slave, with warmth. This super guy with ADHD problems can't even be deterred by a wise billiards player (Erich Ponto) in Paris. And during a visit to his old school, in the presence of the director (Siegfried Schürenberg), he doesn't act like Paul Bäumer from Erich Maria REMARQUE's novel ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT, as he had secretly hoped, but instead talks very well about the desert sand. The only thing missing is the autograph session...
Only the lovely Marianne Koch as the young teacher Brigitte can ignite the smart enforcer for the beautiful things in life, but by then it is already too late. So much stupidity simply shouldn't be rewarded!
The film was directed by Alfred Weidenmann and written by Herbert Reinecker. The premiere was on August 13, 1957 in Hanover. The impressive aerial photos were taken with the support of the Spanish Air Force. The exterior shots in Berlin, Munich, Rome, Seville and the Canary Islands were extremely well done. The desert scenes were filmed in Poland, on the largest sand dune in Europe.
This film was a breakthrough for the young actors Joachim Hansen, Hansjörg Felmy and Horst Frank. And it was fine like that! As a result, a new tone and a different physical play came to West German screens. Nevertheless, when you see this film you can't help but think of the film within the film "Pride of the Nation" from "Inglourious Basterds" (2009). GOLDEN GLOBE nominee Daniel Brühl in the role of Frederick Zoller as an eerie revenant of Joachim Hansen and Jochen Marseille. It's a bit scary!
