User Reviews

"Die verkaufte Braut" or "The Bartered Bride" is a German black-and-white film from 1932. It is one of the earliest somewhat known German sounds films. This film will have its 85th anniversary next year and it came out back then one year before the Nazis came into power. The director is Max Ophüls, who also made several English and French language films in his career and almost a century later he is still among the most known filmmakers from Germany from the first half of the 20th century. The cast includes a couple names that may be known to fans of that era in film, such as Wernicke, Kemp, Valentin and Karlstadt. Still I must say the one thing that makes this film stand out from its competition is not the acting, writing or direction. It is the music and the singing that elevates the complicated love stories between the characters here considerably. Everybody wants to be loved, but sadly it's rarely the case that they want to be loved by the one who loves them. I recommend "Die verkaufte Braut". This film is definitely above-average for an early 1930s film. Go check it out if you love musicals.

I am the first to comment here, and I'll gladly do. Although the one and only external review at http://www.cinepassion.org/Reviews/b/BarteredBride.html already gives a good idea.

In a nutshell: Marie, daughter of the mayor, is to be engaged with Wenzel, son of a rich farmer. But they don't agree and find other interests: Marie, the postmaster (coach driver) Hans; Wenzel, the circus gypsy girl Esmeralda. Complications ensue, of course...

This is said to be the first opera movie ever. With many speaking scenes, I'm not sure - while Smetana's original was a comic opera, this film thankfully embeds slightly more realism (or not, in the Valentin/Karlstadt appearances: "How many staff?" - "Seven, almost eight." - "So let's write eight." - "Oh no, eight is too much, it's rather five.") The outdoor scenes (most are), especially with the postal coach, are really thrilling. Or the bear chase. All in all, it's just a rom-com, but (to me at least) very enjoyable. Freely available (original German sound, English subtitles) at archive.org

I just saw this one. Max Schrecks career in films were going down the drain in the talkies. There was a mistake. He did not play a comedian , for the circus,but a German Indian chief. He finally express his lines when one of the Circus assistance was too drunk when the assistant had to dress up as the bear, whom the circus had real one was in the cage ,to help Esmeralda the dancer, played by Annemarie Sorensen.The main lead Character is Hans,played by Willy Domgraf Fassbaender , an opera singer and actor. The female lead is played by Jarmila Novotona, as Marie. The same actress who starred in the search in 1948 costarring Montgomery Cliff. Paul Kemp plays Wesel. Wesel's parents Micha and his wife,played by Herman Knerr and Maria Janowska, wants Wezel to marry Marie. Her father the Mayor, played by Max Nadler against Marie will. The marriage broker, played by Otto Wernicke, had it arranged. Its fair time and Hans works as a coachman, an early form of Greyhound bus travel or train travel. He's taking every from the city to the fair including financial business man, played by Richard Reyen, who would show up in small parts in films like Casablanca, later. A circus is coming to town at the same time run by a couple Rudolph and Katinka Brummer , played by Karl Valentin and Liesle Karlstadt, with their daughter Ballet dancer a pseudo bear trainer Esmeralda. Its suppose to be the 1850s , but, she's sporting, a 1932 hair style. Max Schreck plays an Indian chief , part of the circus. They are having trouble opening up their circus cause a police chief claims they owe 300 Gouldens from another county and they can't open up the circus until they paid it . Wezel , who just ran away from his parents to avoid the engagement to Marie, promises to get the 300 Goulden to open up the circus. The mayor, finding out Wezel prefers the dancer, has just banned the circus from playing. Marie already hiding with Hans, in the fair, eventually get's caught and has to go back. Wezel begs for a ride with has and lets him know that he's trying to get 300 Gouldens to have the circus back on Hans agrees to get the money. He lies to the marriage broker that if he agrees to that money he won't see Marie. But as the circus start the next day , he goes behind the stadium benches and grabs her. At first she's mad at him cause he bartered her , but, the real bear was let out of the circus cage and is chasing every body forcing both the couple up a tree. Wezel comes to the rescue by getting the bear to chase him with his bear costume back to the cage. A happy ending. Made a year before the Reich. Some of those actor ,who were in the picture were partially Jewish or had a Jewish relative and had to flee Germany. Even though another actress ,Hertha Fieller, who had Jewish uncle too, was allowed to stay in Germany and continued her career no Concentration camp. Something doesn't make sense hear. This movie needs restoration bad 09/13/11