Joachim Fuchsberger in a precursor to the Edgar Wallace krimis which he himself would get started with Der Frosch mit der Maske.
The differences are that in this film we spend at least as much time with the baddies as with the police, the criminal operation is mundanely realistic, the male lead doesn't turn up until half an hour in and the overall direction and acting isn't as polished.
But when Fuchsberger does eventually arrive, his section of the story is essentially the same as in so many of the following films: smooth but tough detective investigating a murder and taking on a criminal gang, significantly younger love interest (no production dates available, but judging by release date and respective birthdays, Fuchsberger would have been 30-31 at the time of filming, Vera Tscheschowa would probably have been 17! Good thing he didn't start playing detectives when he was in his early 20s...), love interest becoming the object of desire of someone else who tries to coerce her into marriage, detective's determination sees him prevail etc.
The ending is quite downbeat and believable. Having just lost her father, the female lead is disconsolate and leaves. Of course, Fuchsberger follows her so the very last shot will be of them walking into the metaphorical sunset together, his arm around her shoulders. In the later films, the woman would immediately forget about her dead loved one and fall blissfully into the hero's arms, happily contemplating their married future.
So, rightly or wrongly, I consider Das Mädchen mit den Katzenaugen a proto-Edgar Wallace, with less refinement and flamboyance but more in the way of realism. For fans of krimis and Fuchsberger (of which I'm one, despite my various mockeries and criticisms), it should prove an interesting and reasonably entertaining watch. Recommended.
The differences are that in this film we spend at least as much time with the baddies as with the police, the criminal operation is mundanely realistic, the male lead doesn't turn up until half an hour in and the overall direction and acting isn't as polished.
But when Fuchsberger does eventually arrive, his section of the story is essentially the same as in so many of the following films: smooth but tough detective investigating a murder and taking on a criminal gang, significantly younger love interest (no production dates available, but judging by release date and respective birthdays, Fuchsberger would have been 30-31 at the time of filming, Vera Tscheschowa would probably have been 17! Good thing he didn't start playing detectives when he was in his early 20s...), love interest becoming the object of desire of someone else who tries to coerce her into marriage, detective's determination sees him prevail etc.
The ending is quite downbeat and believable. Having just lost her father, the female lead is disconsolate and leaves. Of course, Fuchsberger follows her so the very last shot will be of them walking into the metaphorical sunset together, his arm around her shoulders. In the later films, the woman would immediately forget about her dead loved one and fall blissfully into the hero's arms, happily contemplating their married future.
So, rightly or wrongly, I consider Das Mädchen mit den Katzenaugen a proto-Edgar Wallace, with less refinement and flamboyance but more in the way of realism. For fans of krimis and Fuchsberger (of which I'm one, despite my various mockeries and criticisms), it should prove an interesting and reasonably entertaining watch. Recommended.
