This is one wacky, off-the-wall comedy. It starts off with a mysterious set of luggage with the initials "O.F." that arrive at a hotel in some little town in Germany The residents somehow get the idea that some distinguished bigshot will be arriving soon. The hotel is refurnished, the streets are made spick and span, people invest in new clothes, the town gets a new facelift with a new theater, city hall, sports center, cabaret, and so on. In addition, people decide to get married in droves and as a result of this bizarre chain of events, the whole sleepy, little town experiences a huge economic boom while recession/depression occurs everywhere else. A committee of economic analysts are puzzled over the changes in this small town and can't figure out what the driving force is. In short, because of the arrival of 13 pieces of baggage, a sleepy little German village becomes modernized virtually overnight. Who is the mysterious "O.F." ? How does this resolve itself ? I won't spoil the ending, but this is a must-see for all who enjoy innovative, zany comedy.
Great performances from Alfred Abel (who played the overlord of Metropolis in the Fritz Lang classic of the same name, next to "2001:A Space Odyssey", the best Science Fiction film of the twentieth century). One would have to look closely in order to recognize Alfred Abel in the role of the town Burgermeister. Also Peter Lorre is hysterically funny as the opportunistic newspaper editor "Stix" who randomly and falsely identifies "O.F" as "Oskar Flaut, the millionaire". Hedy Kiesler who became Hedy Lamarr in later years plays the role of the burgermeister's daughter. Harald Paulsen, a distinguished German actor also is prominently featured. Due to the presence of these performers in the film, this is a historically as well hysterically important film.
Dan Basinger
Great performances from Alfred Abel (who played the overlord of Metropolis in the Fritz Lang classic of the same name, next to "2001:A Space Odyssey", the best Science Fiction film of the twentieth century). One would have to look closely in order to recognize Alfred Abel in the role of the town Burgermeister. Also Peter Lorre is hysterically funny as the opportunistic newspaper editor "Stix" who randomly and falsely identifies "O.F" as "Oskar Flaut, the millionaire". Hedy Kiesler who became Hedy Lamarr in later years plays the role of the burgermeister's daughter. Harald Paulsen, a distinguished German actor also is prominently featured. Due to the presence of these performers in the film, this is a historically as well hysterically important film.
Dan Basinger