Fritz Bauer Institut · Cinematography of the Holocaust
ID |
FBW000506 Fiction |
Country / Year |
USA, 1947-1948 |
Original Title |
Berlin Express |
Other Title(s) |
Berlin Express (German) |
Directed by |
|
Produced by |
RKO (Radio Keith Orpheum) Radio Pictures, Inc., Los Angeles, CA / New York, NY |
Staff |
Producer: Bert Granet; Executive producer: Dore Schary; Production manager: Sam Ruman; Production assistance: William Dorfman; Assistent director: Nate Levinson; Script: Harold Medford; Based on: Kurt Siodmak (als: Curt Siodmak) (Originalgeschichte); Script, var: Daniel B. Ullman (Script-Supervisor); Camera: Lucien Ballard; Cameraman: Richard Davol; Special optical effects: Russell A. Cully, Harry Perry, Harold E. Stine; Still photograpy: Art Say; Editing: Sherman Todd; Sound: John C. Grubb (als; Jack Grubb), Clem Portman; Art direction: Alfred Herman, Albert S. D'Agostino; Grip: S.H. Browell (Grip); Set decoration: Darrell Silvera, William Stevens; Costumes extra: Orry-Kelly (für Merle Oberon); Makeup: Gordon Bau; Haidressing: Ruth Reeves; Music: Frederick Hollander; Musical direction: Constantin Bakaleinikoff; Choreography: Charles O'Curran |
Cast |
Merle Oberon (Lucienne Mirbeau); Robert Ryan (Robert J. Lindley); Charles Korvin (Perrot); Paul Lukas (Dr. Heinrich Bernhardt); Robert Coote (James Sterling); Reinhold Schünzel (als: Reinhold Schunzel) (Johann Walther); Roman Toporow (Lt. Maxim Kiroschilow); Peter von Zerneck (Hans Schmidt); Otto Waldis (Kessler); Fritz Kortner (Otto Franzen); Michael Harvey (Sgt. Barnes); Tom Keene (als: Richard Powers) (Major); Jim Nolan (Captain on First Train); Arthur Dulac (Dining Car Stewart); Ray Spiker (1st Husky); Bruce Cameron (2nd Husky); Charles McGraw (USFET Col. Johns); Buddy Roosevelt (MP Sergeant); David Clarke (Army Technician); Roger Creed (Military Policeman (MP)); Gene Evans (Train Sergeant); Robert Shaw (R.O.T. Sergeant); Eric Wyland (Clown); Norbert Schiller (Saxophone Player); Marle Hayden (Maja the Mind Reader); Bert Goodrich (Acrobatic Team); George Redpath (Acrobatic Team); Richard Flato (Master of Ceremonies); Lisl Valetti (German Waitress); Jack Serailian (Cigarette Maker); Eva Hyde (Ticket Taker); Allan Ray (Corporal); Taylor Allen (Fraulein); David Wold (German); George Holt (German); Bill Raisch (German); Hans Hopf (German); Carl Ekberg (German); Willy Wickerhauser (Friedrich); Will Allister (Richard); William Yetter, Jr. (1st German Youth); Robert Boon (2nd German Youth); Ernest Brengk (Artist); Hermine Sterler (Frau Borne); Rory Mallinson (MP Guard on Second Train); Fernanda Eliscu (German Woman); Curt Furberg (German Bystander); Larry Nunn (1st GI); Jim Drum (2nd GI); Fred Spitz (German Civilian); Hans Moebus (Clerk); Jack G. Lee (Captain); Leonid Snegoff (Russian Colonel); Frank Alten (German Stewart); James Craven (British Major); Fred Datig, Jr. (American Jeep Driver); William Stelling (American Sergeant); Al Winters (German Peasant); Robert Dalban (French Policeman); Paul Stewart (Narrator); Charles Bouillaud; Christian Simon; Tony Christian; Cecile Barrette; Henri Dabray; Jean Morel |
Length |
2375,3 m / 86'50'' |
Format |
35mm/sw/1:1,37 |
Dates |
- 21 Nov 1947: Wrap nach 98 Drehtagen |
Remarks |
1. In der BRD wird 1954 eine Synchronfassung in den Kinos gestartet, welche die Filmstory der Originalfassung vollständig verfälscht. Der deutsche Synchronton z.B. verwandelt die Naziverschwörer in eine Kunstfälscherbande. Mithin entfällt der politische Kontext der Story. |
Further Remarks |
- Zensurlänge, BRD: 2302 m / 84'08'' |
Abstract |
The German emigrant Heinrich Bernhardt, now working for the US secret service, must combat a conspiracy of Nazis in post-war Germany. He is kidnapped at the central train station in Frankfurt and five people from England, France, America and the Soviet Union who are all brought together by the coincidence.of all opting for the same train journey on the "Berlin Express",.set off together in search of Bernhardt amongst the ruins, variety theatres and cellars of Frankfurt. The film story which shows the Nazis at the end of the war as a hoard of underground marauding werewolves, "always present, but unseen," as they are called in the film, follows a widespread misunderstanding on the part of the Allies. To make the German population immune to such challenges was just as much the Allies` purpose of the re-education as the message of the film itself. |
Subject Terms |
Allied Military Government; Alliierter Agent; American occupation; Anti-Nazi films (US); Berlin (West); British occupation; German Democratic Republic; Deutschland (Westzonen); Emigrants; Exile films; Frankfurt am Main; French occupation; Jeep; Paris; Reeducation; Black marketeering; Soviet occupation; Werwolf (Partisanenbewegung) |
Holdings |
- Kinemathek Hamburg, Hamburg; 16mm |
Distributor |
RKO (Radio Keith Orpheum) Radio Pictures, Inc., Los Angeles, CA / New York, NY (initially) |
Bibliography |
- N.N.: "Frankfurt Faces the Cameras", in: Weekend, 30.08.1947 |
Credits |
- 1. An RKO / Radio Picture |