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Via Mala (1945 film)
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Wikipedia article
'Via Mala' is a 1945 German drama film directed by Josef von Bky and starring Karin Hardt, Carl Wery and Viktor Staal. It is an adaptation of the 1934 novel 'Via Mala' by John Knittel. It was released in April 1945, a month before the unconditional surrender of Germany.O'Brien p.232-233 The film is visually expressionist, something comparatively rare during the Nazi era.
Synopsis
In a rural village, the tyrannical Jonas Lauretz intimidates his family, mistress and neighbours. After he disappears one night, it is widely believed that his eldest daughter, Silvelie, has murdered him. A new investigating judge arrives in the village, he falls in love with Silvelie. He becomes torn between his love for her and his duty to investigate the potential crime. Eventually it emerges that it was not Silvelie who murdered Jonas Lauretz but the village innkeeper Bndner. He is forgiven by everyone because they all shared his desire to murder him.O'Brien p.233
Production
John Knittel's Swiss novel 'Vila Mala' had been released in 1934 and become a major international success. The film rights were first acquired in 1941, but the period of production was lengthy and troubled. The screenplay by Thea von Harbou was first submitted to the censor on 21 May 1941, but was not passed until 28 February 1942. The Minister of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels then halted the project because it was "too gloomy"O'Brien p.232 It was revived a year later, and in 1943 filming began at the Babelsberg Studios in Berlin and on location in Mayrhofen in Tyrol. A variety of further delays meant that the finished film was not ready until March 1944. This was still deemed unsatisfactory, and several scenes were re-shot. The ending moved away from that of the novel, where all family members except Silvelie were revealed to have taken part in the murder.O'Brien p.239 It was finally submitted to the censor in January 1945.
Release
The film's release was also troubled. It was passed by the censors on 9 March 1945, but this was rescinded only ten days later. The downbeat plot was considered unsuitable in light of the recent war situation, as German forces were being pushed back on all fronts and escapist films were preferred. It was finally agreed that the film could go on general release only outside Germany.
The film premired in Mayrhofen on 7 April 1945. It was not released in Germany until 16 January 1948, when it had its premire in East Berlin.O'Brien p.254
Cast
* Karin Hardt as Silvelie
* Carl Wery as Jonas Lauretz
* Viktor Staal as Andreas von Richenau
* Hilde Krber as Hanna
* Hildegard Grethe as Frau Lauretz
* Albert Florath as Der Amtmann
* Ferdinand Asper as Gast bei Bndner
* Karl Hellmer as Jry
* Malte Jger as Nikolaus
* Carl Kuhlmann as Lukas Bndner
* Ludwig Linkmann as Der Amtsdiener
* Renate Mannhardt as Kuni
* Heinz Gnther Puhlmann as Angestellter von Bndner
* F.W. Schrder-Schrom as Gast bei Bndner
* Franz Lichtenauer as Gast bei Bndner
* Klaus Pohl as Gast bei Bndner
* Georg Vogelsang as Lechner-Bauer
* Walter Werner as Dorfarzt
References
Bibliography
* O'Brien, Mary-Elizabeth. 'Nazi Cinema as Enchantment. The Politics of Entertainment in the Third Reich'. Camden House, 2006.
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