The Juggler (film)
Encyclopedia
The Juggler is a drama film
about a survivor of the Holocaust, played by Kirk Douglas
. The screenplay was adapted by Michael Blankfort
from his novel of the same name.
, a German named Hans Müller (Kirk Douglas) is one of a shipload of refugees who debark at Haifa
in 1949. Like many other concentration camp survivors, Hans has psychological problems, including survivor guilt
. At one point, he confuses a woman and some children for his murdered family.
At the first opportunity, he sneaks out of the refugee camp and goes into the city. When he spots a policeman, Hans reacts by fleeing. The policeman chases him down and begins questioning him. He becomes very agitated and attacks, leaving the man unconscious in the street. Hans flees and ends up sleeping in the countryside, where he is found by a teenage orphan Sabra
, Yehoshua "Josh" Bresler (Joey Walsh). Hans pretends to be an eccentric American, out to see Israel
firsthand. Josh offers to be his guide. During their journey, Hans reveals that he was a professional juggler
; Josh persuades him to pass on his knowledge.
Meanwhile, police detective Karni (Paul Stewart
) sets out to track the fugitive down.
On their journey, Josh is injured when he wanders into a minefield
. He is taken to a hospital at a nearby kibbutz
; fortunately, he has only broken his leg. While Josh recovers, Hans becomes acquainted with one of the residents, Ya'El (Milly Vitale
). They are attracted to each other, but he at first strongly resists her attempt to persuade him to remain at the kibbutz. He reveals to her that he had ignored warnings from friends to flee Nazi Germany
before it was too late, making the fatal mistake of counting on his fame and popularity to protect his family. Gradually, however, he begins to settle in.
Karni finally tracks Hans down and tries to take him into custody. Hans panics again and barricades himself in Ya'El's room with her rifle, but Ya'El and Karni get him to admit he needs help and to give himself up.
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
about a survivor of the Holocaust, played by Kirk Douglas
Kirk Douglas
Kirk Douglas is an American stage and film actor, film producer and author. His popular films include Out of the Past , Champion , Ace in the Hole , The Bad and the Beautiful , Lust for Life , Paths of Glory , Gunfight at the O.K...
. The screenplay was adapted by Michael Blankfort
Michael Blankfort
Michael Blankfort was a Jewish-American screenwriter, author and playwright. He served as a front for the blacklisted Albert Maltz on the Academy Award-nominated screenplay of Broken Arrow . Among his own screenplays were The Juggler and The Caine Mutiny...
from his novel of the same name.
Plot
After World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, a German named Hans Müller (Kirk Douglas) is one of a shipload of refugees who debark at Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
in 1949. Like many other concentration camp survivors, Hans has psychological problems, including survivor guilt
Survivor guilt
Survivor, survivor's, or survivors guilt or syndrome is a mental condition that occurs when a person perceives themselves to have done wrong by surviving a traumatic event when others did not...
. At one point, he confuses a woman and some children for his murdered family.
At the first opportunity, he sneaks out of the refugee camp and goes into the city. When he spots a policeman, Hans reacts by fleeing. The policeman chases him down and begins questioning him. He becomes very agitated and attacks, leaving the man unconscious in the street. Hans flees and ends up sleeping in the countryside, where he is found by a teenage orphan Sabra
Sabra (person)
Sabra is a term used to describe a Jew born in Israeli territory; the term is also usually inclusive of Jews born during the period of the establishment of the state of Israel. The word "sabra" is Arabic and Hebrew. Immigrants to Palestine began using it in the early 1930s, according to the The...
, Yehoshua "Josh" Bresler (Joey Walsh). Hans pretends to be an eccentric American, out to see Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
firsthand. Josh offers to be his guide. During their journey, Hans reveals that he was a professional juggler
Juggling
Juggling is a skill involving moving objects for entertainment or sport. The most recognizable form of juggling is toss juggling, in which the juggler throws objects up to catch and toss up again. This may be one object or many objects, at the same time with one or many hands. Jugglers often refer...
; Josh persuades him to pass on his knowledge.
Meanwhile, police detective Karni (Paul Stewart
Paul Stewart (actor)
Paul Stewart was an American character actor known for his tough, guttural voice. He frequently portrayed villains and mobsters throughout his lengthy career....
) sets out to track the fugitive down.
On their journey, Josh is injured when he wanders into a minefield
Land mine
A land mine is usually a weight-triggered explosive device which is intended to damage a target—either human or inanimate—by means of a blast and/or fragment impact....
. He is taken to a hospital at a nearby kibbutz
Kibbutz
A kibbutz is a collective community in Israel that was traditionally based on agriculture. Today, farming has been partly supplanted by other economic branches, including industrial plants and high-tech enterprises. Kibbutzim began as utopian communities, a combination of socialism and Zionism...
; fortunately, he has only broken his leg. While Josh recovers, Hans becomes acquainted with one of the residents, Ya'El (Milly Vitale
Milly Vitale
Camilla "Milly" Vitale , daughter of conductor Riccardo Vitale and choreographer Natasha Shidlowski, was an Italian actress....
). They are attracted to each other, but he at first strongly resists her attempt to persuade him to remain at the kibbutz. He reveals to her that he had ignored warnings from friends to flee Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
before it was too late, making the fatal mistake of counting on his fame and popularity to protect his family. Gradually, however, he begins to settle in.
Karni finally tracks Hans down and tries to take him into custody. Hans panics again and barricades himself in Ya'El's room with her rifle, but Ya'El and Karni get him to admit he needs help and to give himself up.
Cast
- Kirk DouglasKirk DouglasKirk Douglas is an American stage and film actor, film producer and author. His popular films include Out of the Past , Champion , Ace in the Hole , The Bad and the Beautiful , Lust for Life , Paths of Glory , Gunfight at the O.K...
as Hans Muller - Milly VitaleMilly VitaleCamilla "Milly" Vitale , daughter of conductor Riccardo Vitale and choreographer Natasha Shidlowski, was an Italian actress....
as Ya'El - Paul StewartPaul Stewart (actor)Paul Stewart was an American character actor known for his tough, guttural voice. He frequently portrayed villains and mobsters throughout his lengthy career....
as Detective Karni - Joseph WalshJoseph WalshJoseph Walsh , was a Representative from Massachusetts....
as Yehoshua Bresler - Alf KjellinAlf KjellinAlf Kjellin was a Swedish film actor and director, who also appeared on some television shows.He was well established as a film actor when he occasionally took on roles in television shows. For example in 1965 he prominently guest-starred as Stalag Luft Kommandant Col...
as Daniel - Beverly Washburn as Susy, a young refugee girl Hans befriends in Haifa
- Charles LaneCharles Lane (actor)Charles Gerstle Levison , better known as Charles Lane, was an American character actor seen in many movies and TV shows, and at the time of his death may have been the oldest living professional American actor. Lane appeared in many Frank Capra films, including You Can't Take It With You , Mr...
as Rosenberg - John BannerJohn BannerJohn Banner , born Johann Banner, was an American film and television actor, who was born and died in Vienna, Austria....
as Emile Halevy, the sole witness to Hans' assault on the policeman - Richard BenedictRichard BenedictRichard "Pepe" Benedict was an Italian-born television and film actor and director.He appeared in dozens of television programs and movies from the 1940s to the 1960s, most notably Ace in the Hole , directed by Billy Wilder...
as Police Officer Kogan - Oskar Karlweis as Willy Schmidt