Alarm in the Circus
Encyclopedia
Alarm in the Circus is an East German crime film
directed by Gerhard Klein. It was released in 1954.
, who explains to them that in the communist east, the lack of money will not bar their way to education. The two realize the error of their ways, contact the People's Police
and help the officers hinder Klott's plans and arrest the other thieves working for him. The two remain in East Berlin.
, that was critical of the Americanization of its western side. It was followed by the sequels A Berlin Romance
(1956) and Berlin - Schönhauser Corner (1957).
, 3rd degree, for their work on the film.
The Catholic Film Service defined the film as "exciting, well-made crime film that presents the background of a divided Berlin in a highly authentic manner." Peter C. Rollins and John E. O'Connor wrote that it had "drawn a clear contrast between the city's halves that fit the official communist paradigm."
Crime film
Crime films are films which focus on the lives of criminals. The stylistic approach to a crime film varies from realistic portrayals of real-life criminal figures, to the far-fetched evil doings of imaginary arch-villains. Criminal acts are almost always glorified in these movies.- Plays and films...
directed by Gerhard Klein. It was released in 1954.
Plot
Klaus and Max are two poor boys from West Berlin, whose families are to poor to pay for their higher education. They face a bleak future. Their only hobby is boxing, and they are both desperate to purchase real boxing gloves. The two meet Klott, a gangster who owns a bar that serves American soldiers. Klott offers to pay them if they would assist him to steal valuable horses from a circus in East Berlin. The two agree and travel to the Soviet zone, where they meet a girl named Helli, a member of the Free German YouthFree German Youth
The Free German Youth, also known as the FDJ , was the official socialist youth movement of the German Democratic Republic and the Socialist Unity Party of Germany....
, who explains to them that in the communist east, the lack of money will not bar their way to education. The two realize the error of their ways, contact the People's Police
Volkspolizei
The Volkspolizei , or VP, were the national police of the German Democratic Republic . The Volkspolizei were responsible for most law enforcement in East Germany, but its organisation and structure were such that it could be considered a paramilitary force as well...
and help the officers hinder Klott's plans and arrest the other thieves working for him. The two remain in East Berlin.
Cast
- Erwin GeschonneckErwin GeschonneckErwin Geschonneck was a German actor. His biggest success occurred in the German Democratic Republic, where he was considered one of the most famous actors of the time.-Early life:...
as Klott - Uwe-Jens Pape as Jimmy
- Karl Kendzia as Batta
- Ulrich TheinUlrich TheinUlrich Thein was a German actor film director and screenwriter. He appeared in 44 films and television shows between 1953 and 1995...
as Herbert - Hans Winter as Klaus
- Ernst-Georg Schwill as Max
- Gertrud Keller as Helli
- Annelise Matschulat as Mrs. Weigel
- Siegfried WeißSiegfried Weiß (actor)-Biography:Weiss made his artistic debut on the stage of the Halberstadt Theater, at 1924. He continued his career in the theaters of Luebeck, Koenigsberg, Magdeburg, Leipzig and Berlin, where he acted in the Berlin Ensemble, among others....
as Hepfield - Peter Dornseif as Police officer
- Günther HaackGünther Haack-Selected filmography:* Alarm in the Circus * The Czar and the Carpenter * Don't Forget My Little Traudel * Das hölzerne Kälbchen * Christine -External links:...
as Catcher - Horst GieseHorst GieseHorst Fritz Otto Giese was an East German actor.-Biography:In 1945, Giese made his debut on stage at his native Neuruppin, then in the Soviet occupation zone. Later he appeared on television. His first role in a movie was at the 1954 Alarm in the Circus...
as uncredited role
Production
Alarm in the Circus was the first of the so-called "Berlin films", a trilogy of pictures that were made in collaboration between director Gerhard Klein and writer Wolfgang Kohlhaase, that were notable for their pioneering of neo-realism in German cinema and for the manner in which they reflected the reality of the city in the years before the building of the Berlin WallBerlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin...
, that was critical of the Americanization of its western side. It was followed by the sequels A Berlin Romance
A Berlin Romance
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 Deutsche Film-Aktiengesellschaft film company. It stars Annekathrin Bürger, Ulrich Thein and Uwe-Jens Pape. The script was...
(1956) and Berlin - Schönhauser Corner (1957).
Reception
Alarm in the Circus was viewed by 3.6 million people, becoming the highest-grossing East German film of 1954. Klein and Kohlhaase both won the National PrizeNational Prize of East Germany
The National Prize of the German Democratic Republic was an award of the German Democratic Republic given out in three different classes for scientific, artistic, and other meritorious achievement...
, 3rd degree, for their work on the film.
The Catholic Film Service defined the film as "exciting, well-made crime film that presents the background of a divided Berlin in a highly authentic manner." Peter C. Rollins and John E. O'Connor wrote that it had "drawn a clear contrast between the city's halves that fit the official communist paradigm."
External links
- ''Alarm in the Circus original poster on ostfilm.de.
- Alarm in the Circus on filmportal.de.
- Alarm in the Circus film-zeit.de
- Alarm in the Circus on cinema.de