When I just saw this mild propaganda war film, as mild as Die Grosse Liebe. As with traditional titles in German films not showing who were in the picture at the end credits, this one didn't show the credits of who were in it in the beginning . But I recognized one face, "Carl Radatz.It wasn't a good print so most of the faces didn't register with me. Later, after I saw it, I looked up the IMDb about the picture to get a better understanding of what I saw. I could not believe it Fritz Wagner played a small part in it. I didn't recognize him in the picture. I couldn't believe it. He went back that early? The actor who played Robert Murphy, Inga's fiancé in Au Brunnen Vor Dem tore was middle aged in 1952? Old enough to be Sonja Zimmermans young uncle ?No wonder in the 1955 Auf Der Reeperhan Nachts Um Halbeins, his acting role was even less, he was 40. An early reviewer stated it focus on a death wish group. Just wanting to fight to die. Well, so did American soldiers in world war 2. All soldiers want to die for their beliefs of their country when it comes to war. This film could be compare to our Twelve O clock High, On the shores of Tripoli,40 seconds over Tokyo ex-cetera. But this is their side cause they thought they were right. The focus is a group of Nazi air force pilots in fighting for their Furor ,unfortunatly. In their invasion of France. When they aren't fighting. They have a piano and start singing folks songs and any songs as long it's not swing and jazz. Every Break their seems to be a piano so they can play Wagner. In the beginning you see the air force pilots after fighting eating lunch with their leader Carl Radatz , in a long table with a white clean cloth with bottles of wine and fine food Out doors next to the planes. Then you see others drinking milk and eating sandwiches. They must be the lower squadron fighters.The whole movies focuses on the personal characters and problems of the Nazis squadron fighters. There's one scene where all the higher ups are sleeping in one gigantic elegant bed, all four , under a tent, until every one has to get up and fight. The fighting scenes includes one where they are bombing tanks that are not fighting back. Four comrades are trapped in France, poor Nazis. They have to wait to be rescued. In the mean time they have to put on a french accent to survive until they are rescued. Wait they got their Nazi uniforms on! How can they not give themselves away? They break in an old ladies house and steal her food cause they are hungry. They start to fraternize with some of the French citizens who are escaping from the bombs. The four sleep in an abandon building, then the next day a french women notices them in the building, played by Marina Von Ditmar, of Munchasen fame and G. P. U. ,speaking perfect french to them not noticing their uniforms. Some of them get rescued. One walks all the way back to camp. Earlier one soldier ends in a crash and has gotten mentally effected by the war. He's recuperating at the hospital. But the doctor and nurse knows a sure cure. Take him the the Wagner concert festival and listening to it and he will be cured. He gets cured.In real life, in spite of Goebels ban on jazz and swing,The real soldiers during their breaks would be listening on their two wave radios the jazz and swing music being played from the Switzerland radio station that were playing American records.Goebels would force German swing bands to go to the front and entertain the soldiers , some times forcing celebrities , like Heinz Ruhmann , To go with the band to entertain them too. I can imagine those soldiers with their helmets off and coats off doing the Lindy hop and Jitterbug dancing to Kurt Widman. Very Ridiculous! 12/27/12 Great news It was restored from an original 35m.m. nitrated print.It's sharper.although some scenes form nitrate print were missing was replaced by scenes from a degraded print, it was just a few seconds piece.The sub titles makes it more clear.It includes the history of the film,also the inventor of the Stuka bomber plane,his autobiography.They don't have the info about the restoration.Now available, from international historical films
Review of Stukas
