Episode (film)
Encyclopedia
Episode is an Austria
n film from 1935. It belongs to the popular Austrian light romantic comedy genre known as the Wiener Film
, but also contains, for a film of this genre, unusually serious social comment. It was written and produced by Walter Reisch
. The film has a particular importance in German-language film history as the only Austrian film with a Jewish producer that was permitted to be imported and shown in National Socialist Germany after 1933 and the ban on Jews working in the film industry.
The German premiere took place on 23 August 1935 in the Gloria-Palast in Berlin
. The Austrian premiere was in a Vienna
cinema on 13 September of the same year. It was first broadcast on television by the ARD
on 2 December 1958. On 1 April 1994 it was released on VHS
video.
Through the failed speculations of the president of her bank, Valerie Gärtner, a student of applied art in Vienna, loses the small property on which she and her mother live. Torresani, an art dealer, notices her distress and buys some ceramics from her. He also offers her financial support in the form of a monthly allowance. Valerie however, in the belief that he would expect something unacceptable from her in return for this money, rejects the offer with disgust. Nevertheless, when some time later she has no further options left, she again approaches Torresani for help. He is now able to convince her that he is not looking for something in return, but is genuinely trying to help her, and in due course the two become good friends.
One day, when Torresani is unable to keep an appointment with her, he sends in his place Kinz, the tutor of his sons. Kinz believes that Valerie is Torresani's mistress and his initial demeanour towards her is therefore extremely cold. During the course of the evening however he falls in love with her. Valerie in the meantime learns from Kinz that Torresani has a wife and two children, and she decides that she can no longer accept the monthly cheques. BUt a friend of hers, who disagrees with Valerie's decision, intercepts the next cheque and cashes it in Valerie's place. The friend later regrets her deceit and visits Torresani's house to confess and put things right. But when she arrives she is unable to get a word in edgeways and is sent away again with a letter for Valerie. Valerie assumes that it is a letter of farewell from Torresani, and immediately goes to his house, where however she is received in an unexpectedly friendly way by his wife. It now appears that the letter was an invitation to a party.
Kinz had convinced Frau Torresani that her husband was having an affair. The misunderstanding is now cleared up, and Kinz himself is now put on the defensive, and at last becomes aware of his own true feelings for Valerie.
exceptionally gave permission for the film to be shown in Germany. This was the only time after the National Socialists came to power in 1933 that an Austrian film on which Jews had worked received consent to be shown in Germany.
Artistically Episode is distinguished by its setting in the economic crisis of 1922, the oppressive atmosphere of which is elevated, largely by Paula Wessely's performance as the penniless art student, into an emotionally powerful psychological depiction of the double standards of contemporary Vienna.
.
Distribution was by Syndikat-Film, and promotion by Tobis-Sascha-Filmindustrie.
, using foreign compositions from the early 1920s. The title song was composed by Robert Katscher; the director Walter Reisch co-wrote the lyrics. The Viennese music publisher Ludwig Doblinger (Bernhard Herzmansky) published three songs from the film: Ein Dirndl muß klein sein, Es kommt einmal der Augenblick and Jetzt müßte die Welt versinken.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n film from 1935. It belongs to the popular Austrian light romantic comedy genre known as the Wiener Film
Wiener Film
Wiener Film is an Austrian film genre, consisting of a combination of comedy, romance and melodrama in an historical setting, mostly, and typically, the Vienna of the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
, but also contains, for a film of this genre, unusually serious social comment. It was written and produced by Walter Reisch
Walter Reisch
Walter Reisch was an Austrian-born director and screenwriter. He also wrote lyrics to several songs featured in his films, one popular title is "Flieger, grüß mir die Sonne".-Selected filmography:...
. The film has a particular importance in German-language film history as the only Austrian film with a Jewish producer that was permitted to be imported and shown in National Socialist Germany after 1933 and the ban on Jews working in the film industry.
The German premiere took place on 23 August 1935 in the Gloria-Palast in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. The Austrian premiere was in a Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
cinema on 13 September of the same year. It was first broadcast on television by the ARD
ARD (broadcaster)
ARD is a joint organization of Germany's regional public-service broadcasters...
on 2 December 1958. On 1 April 1994 it was released on VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
video.
Plot
In Vienna in 1922 daily life is dominated by inflation and unemployment. In the evenings, the population attempt to divert themselves from the miseries of the economic situation by indulgence and excess in bars and clubs. Morale is low, and sinking further.Through the failed speculations of the president of her bank, Valerie Gärtner, a student of applied art in Vienna, loses the small property on which she and her mother live. Torresani, an art dealer, notices her distress and buys some ceramics from her. He also offers her financial support in the form of a monthly allowance. Valerie however, in the belief that he would expect something unacceptable from her in return for this money, rejects the offer with disgust. Nevertheless, when some time later she has no further options left, she again approaches Torresani for help. He is now able to convince her that he is not looking for something in return, but is genuinely trying to help her, and in due course the two become good friends.
One day, when Torresani is unable to keep an appointment with her, he sends in his place Kinz, the tutor of his sons. Kinz believes that Valerie is Torresani's mistress and his initial demeanour towards her is therefore extremely cold. During the course of the evening however he falls in love with her. Valerie in the meantime learns from Kinz that Torresani has a wife and two children, and she decides that she can no longer accept the monthly cheques. BUt a friend of hers, who disagrees with Valerie's decision, intercepts the next cheque and cashes it in Valerie's place. The friend later regrets her deceit and visits Torresani's house to confess and put things right. But when she arrives she is unable to get a word in edgeways and is sent away again with a letter for Valerie. Valerie assumes that it is a letter of farewell from Torresani, and immediately goes to his house, where however she is received in an unexpectedly friendly way by his wife. It now appears that the letter was an invitation to a party.
Kinz had convinced Frau Torresani that her husband was having an affair. The misunderstanding is now cleared up, and Kinz himself is now put on the defensive, and at last becomes aware of his own true feelings for Valerie.
Cast
- Karl Ludwig DiehlKarl Ludwig DiehlKarl Ludwig Diehl was a German film actor. He appeared in 66 films between 1924 and 1957.-Selected filmography:* The Squeaker * Rasputin, Dämon der Frauen * On Secret Service...
: Kinz, the Torresanis' tutor - Paula WesselyPaula WesselyPaula Anna Maria Wessely was an Austrian theatre and film actress. Die Wessely , as she was affectionately called by her admirers and fans, was Austria's foremost popular postwar actress....
: Valerie Gärtner - Otto Tressler: Torresani, an art dealer
- Erika von Wagner: Frau Torresani, his wife
- Hans Jürgen Tressler: Eugen, Torresani's son
- Wolf-Dieter Tressler: Toni, Torresani's son
- Friedl Czepa: Mizzi Maranek
- Walter Janssen: lawyer
- Ferdinand Mayerhofer: professor at the school of applied arts
- Rosa Albach-RettyRosa Albach-RettyRosa Albach-Retty was an Austrian movie and stage actress. Her birth name was Rosa Clara Franziska Helene Retty....
: Frau Gärtner, Valerie's mother - Fritz Imhoff: cinema announcer
- Ernst Arnold: street singer
- Lisl Handl: serving girl
- Wilhelm Heim: a suicide
- Dorothy Pool: singer in a bar
- Maria EisMaria EisMaria Eis was an Austrian actress of stage and screen.Between 1918 and 1923 Eis performed on stage at the Neue Wiener Bühne , the Renaissancebühne and the Kammerspielen...
: chamber singer
Background
The German ReichsfilmkammerReichsfilmkammer
The Reichsfilmkammer was a public corporation based in Berlin that regulated the film industry in National Socialist Germany between 1933 and 1945...
exceptionally gave permission for the film to be shown in Germany. This was the only time after the National Socialists came to power in 1933 that an Austrian film on which Jews had worked received consent to be shown in Germany.
Artistically Episode is distinguished by its setting in the economic crisis of 1922, the oppressive atmosphere of which is elevated, largely by Paula Wessely's performance as the penniless art student, into an emotionally powerful psychological depiction of the double standards of contemporary Vienna.
Production
The film was produced by the Viennese company Viktoria-Film. The sound system used was that of Tobis-Klangfilm. The set builders were Karl Stepanek and Franz Meschkan, and the designer was Oskar StrnadOskar Strnad
Oskar Strnad was an Austrian architect, sculptor, designer and set designer for films and theatres. Together with Josef Frank he was instrumental in creating the distinctive character of the Wiener Schule der Architektur...
.
Distribution was by Syndikat-Film, and promotion by Tobis-Sascha-Filmindustrie.
Versions and censor's decisions
At the censors' inspection in Germany on 8 August 1935 the film had a length of 2,893 metres. The censors found the film unsuitable for minors, and removed altogether 61 metres, so that the film went on release in Germany with a length of 2,832 metres. In Austria the film was released with a length of 2,930 metres and was declared "artistically notable".Film music
The score was composed by Willy Schmidt-GentnerWilly Schmidt-Gentner
Willy Schmidt-Gentner was one of the most successful German composers of film music in the history of German-language cinema. He moved to Vienna in 1933...
, using foreign compositions from the early 1920s. The title song was composed by Robert Katscher; the director Walter Reisch co-wrote the lyrics. The Viennese music publisher Ludwig Doblinger (Bernhard Herzmansky) published three songs from the film: Ein Dirndl muß klein sein, Es kommt einmal der Augenblick and Jetzt müßte die Welt versinken.
Awards
- Venice Film FestivalVenice Film FestivalThe 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...
1935:- Volpi CupVolpi CupThe Volpi Cups are the principal awards given to actors at the Venice Film Festival. Formal acting awards were introduced in the second festival . Initially they were called Great Gold Medals of the National Fascist Association for Entertainment. The name Volpi Cup was introduced the following year...
for Best Actress: Paula Wessely - Nomination for Mussolini Cup: Walter Reisch
- Volpi Cup
Sources
- Deutsche Tonfilme – Band 06 – 1935. Ulrich J. Klaus Verlag, Berlin 1995 ISBN 3-927352-05-5