The Red Terror (film)
| The Red Terror | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Karl Ritter |
| Produced by | Karl Ritter (producer) |
| Written by | Andrews Engelmann (writer) Felix Lützkendorf (writer) Karl Ritter (writer) |
| Starring | See below |
| Music by | Norbert Schultze Herbert Windt |
| Cinematography | Igor Oberberg |
| Editing by | Conrad von Molo |
| Release date(s) | 1942 |
| Running time | 99 minutes |
| Country | Germany |
| Language | German |
The Red Terror (original title in German: GPU) is a 1942 German anti-communist propaganda film directed by Karl Ritter.[1]
Released after the breakdown of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, it is noteworthy for the crude, heavy-handed depiction of Communists.[2]
Contents |
Plot[edit]
The Russian violinist Olga Feodorovna is the star guest at a meeting of the local chapter of Riga the "Women's International League for Peace and Freedom," the unctuous proclaimed their aspirations and goals, following the concert: the, in the words of the chairman of the Women's League "totally non-political" goals are Among other things, the "total peace" and "freedom of all peoples." That at this meeting a protester is quickly dissipated by ominous backers, welcomed the guests do not mind. The protesters wanted the actual identity of the Women's League point: It is with her at a branch of the Soviet secret service GPU whose sole purpose seems to be the infiltration of the whole world. Olga is in appearance only on the sides of the organization. In reality it seeks revenge on the murderer of her parents, whom she knows in the ranks of the GPU. This is to Nikolai Bokscha occupying a high rank in the organization and stands behind numerous attacks on dissidents that he can run from middlemen. An Armenian revolutionary, he can unsuspecting of the Baltic per student Peter Aßmus parcel bomb killing. The young secretary of the Armenian Irina is as alleged spy captured by the GPU. It is passed into the hands of Olga's because the girl refuses to publish secret information. Olga flees with her via Rotterdam to Gothenburg , where Peter, the escape from custody of the GPU has succeeded joins them. Meanwhile, Olga continues to work on her revenge on Nikolai Bokscha. In the Russian Embassy in Helsinki both meet again and it is clear that is attracted to Olga Bokscha. Ignorant he reveals himself as the murderer of her family. They meet later in Paris , where his Bokscha reveals her future plans: he wants in a small house somewhere in Brittany draw and there undetected enjoy under a false name of his life - with Olga. Which now sees her moment of revenge came. It shows Bokscha as double agents in to the GPU, which it subsequently liquidated. Olga's time with the GPU is now over. She reveals her supervisor, and that revenge was their only reason for cooperation with the GPU alone, and asked to leave the organization. As the head of the GPU denied her this, she shoots herself. In Rotterdam, meanwhile, Irina and Peter are traced from the GPU and taken to the torture chambers of the organization. Close to death, they are saved when the German army in 1940 and occupies Rotterdam can free the prisoners.
Production[edit]
The filming began December 11, 1941 and ended in mid-May 1942. Location was the Babelsberg film studios for the interior shots, exterior shots were held in and around Berlin, Paris, Potsdam and Szczecin. The cost of production amounted to 1,556,000 RM. Nazi censorship authority gave GPU a "youth ban" ratings on July 17, 1942. The premiere took place August 14, 1942 in the Berlin Zoo . In the same year the film was published by Fred Hilde Brandt as a book. Today GPU is "only right anti-Communist movie shot by the Nazis". [2]
Cast[edit]
- Laura Solari as Olga Feodorowna
- Will Quadflieg as Peter Aßmuss
- Marina von Ditmar as Irina
- Andrews Engelmann as Nikolai Bokscha
- Karl Haubenreißer as Jakob Frunse
- Hans Stiebner as inquiry judge
- Maria Bard as head of women's league
- Helene von Schmithberg as Tante (Aunt) Ljuba
- Albert Lippert as hotel director in Kovno (Kaunas)
- Lale Andersen as singer in bar in Göteborg
- Wladimir Majer as GPU chief
- Nico Turoff as Frunse's assistant
- Theo Shall as soboteur withBokscha
- Horst Winter as singer: 1st variation on "Limehouse Blues"
- Ivo Veit as Soviet diplomat in Helsinki
- Freddie Brocksieper with his jazz combo
- Gösta Richter
Criticism[edit]
Erwin Leiser called GPU in 1968 as clumsy melodrama and direct anti-communist propaganda film, but "with such simple, vulgar and dishonest clichés" work that the propaganda would be implausible. [6]
Soundtrack[edit]
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References[edit]
- ^ "New York Times: G.P.U. (1942)". NY Times. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
- ^ Erwin Leiser, Nazi Cinema pp 44-5 ISBN 0-02-570230-0
External links[edit]
- The Red Terror at the Internet Movie Database
- The Red Terror is available for free download at the Internet Archive [more]
