September 9 THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI (DAS KABINETT DES DR. CALIGARI), by Robert Wiene, 1920, silent, black and white, 52 minutes.
The first major German expressionist film, produced by Erich Pommer, written by Carl Mayer and Hans Janowitz, with sets by Hermann Warm, Walter Reimann and Walter Roehrig. The cast includes Werner Krauss (Caligari), Conrad Veidt (Cesare), Lil Dagover (Jane), Friedrich Feher (Francis), Heinrich von Twardowski (Alan), and Rudolf Klein-Rogge (Criminal).
September 16 DESTINY (DER MUEDE TOD), by Fritz Lang, 1921, silent, black and white, 82 minutes.
Lang and scriptwriter Thea von Harbou wrote this film in the form of a folk ballad, situating it in a romantic German small town, with phantastic episodes in Venice, the Near East, and China. Also produced by Erich Pommer. Sets again by Warm, Roehrig, as well as Robert Herlth. With Lil Dagover (Young Woman), Bernhard Goetzke (Death), Walter Janssen (Young Man), Georg John (Magician), and Rudolf Klein-Rogge (Girolamo).
September 23 NOSFERATU, A SYMPHONY OF TERROR (NOSFERATU, EINE SYMPHONIE DES GRAUENS), by Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau, 1922, silent, black and white, 90 minutes.
Based on Bram Stoker's novel Dracula, this film is a masterpiece of German expressionist cinema. The script is by Henrik Galeen, the camera by Fritz Arno Wagner, Albin Grau designed the sets. Max Schreck plays Count Orlock, Alexander Granach is Renfield, Gustav von Wangenheim plays Jonathan Harker, Greta Schroeder his wife Ellen.
September 30 THE LAST LAUGH (DER LETZTE MANN), by Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau, 1924, silent, black and white, 105 minutes.
Scripted by Carl Mayer, also produced by Pommer. Camera by Karl Freund, sets by Robert Herlt and Walter Roehrig. With Emil Jannings in the lead. This film became famous as the first to use a mobile camera and as one of a few silent films without subtitles. It tells the story of an aging hotel porter in Weimar Berlin.
October 7 METROPOLIS, by Fritz Lang, 1927, silent, black and white, 90 minutes.
Scripted by Fritz Lang and Thea von Harbou, camera by Karl Freund and Guenther Rittau, sets by Otto Hunte, Erich Kettelhut, and Karl Vollbrecht, with Brigitte Helm, Gustav Froehlich, Rudolph Klein-Rogge, Alfred Abel, Heinrich George and Fritz Rasp. Fritz Lang's first science-fiction film, in which the "Schuefftan"-process (special effects) were first used.
October 14 M, directed by Fritz Lang, 1931, in German with English subtitles, black and white, 117 minutes.
Scripted by Fritz Lang and Thea von Harbou, camera by Fritz Arno Wagner. With Peter Lorre (the murderer), Otto Wernicke (inspector Lohmann), Inge Landgut (Elsie), Georg John (beggar), and Gustav Gruendgens (Schraenker). Lang's first sound film and one of the last films he made in Germany before the rise of the Nazis and his emigration to the U.S.
October 21 THE BLUE ANGEL (DER BLAUE ENGEL), directed by Josef von Sternberg, 1930, in German with English sub-titles, black and white, 90 minutes.
Produced by Erich Pommer, scripted by von Sternberg as an adaptation of the novel Professor Unrat by Heinrich Mann. Starring Marlene Dietrich as Lola, Emil Jannings as Professor Rath, Kurt Gerron as Kiepert, Rosa Valetti as Guste, and Hans Albers as Mazeppa. Music by Friedrich Hollaender.
October 28 MAEDCHEN IN UNIFORM, by Leontine Sagan, 1931, in German with English subtitles, black and white, 90 minutes.
Scripted by Christa Winsloe and F.D. Adam, an adaptation of Winsloe's play Gestern und Heute. Camera by Reimar Kuntze and Franz Weihmayr, with Hertha Thiele (Manuela), Dorothea Wieck (Fraeulein von Bernburg), Emilie Unda (head mistress), Hedwig Schlichter (Fraeulein von Kesten), and Ellen Schwanneke (Ilse von Westhagen). The only film Leontine Sagan made in Germany, today a cult film.
November 4 OLYMPIA, part II, by Leni Riefenstahl, English narration, black and white, 100 minutes.
The second part, entitled FEST DER SCHOENHEIT (FESTIVAL OF BEAUTY), of Riefenstahl's monumental documentary of the 1936 Olympics. Riefenstahl had a liberal budget, 44 camera men and her own editing skills which helped her create a stunning work of beauty, much debated since this was commissioned by the Nazis.
November 11 THE TIN DRUM (DIE BLECHTROMMEL), by Volker Schloendorff, 1979, in German with English subtitles, color, 144 minutes.
Winner of the Golden Palm at Cannes, the German Film Prize, and the Academy Award as best foreign film, this adaptation of the famous novel by Guenter Grass is a classic of the New German Cinema. Scripted by Jean-Claude Carriere, Volker Schloendorff and Franz Seitz, camera by Igor Luther. With David Bennent (Oskar), Mario Adorf (Matzerath), Angela Winkler (Agnes), Daniel Olbrychski (Jan), Katharina Thalbach (Maria), Tina Engel (young grandmother), Berta Drews (old grandmother), Charles Aznavour (Sigismund Markus), Ernst Jacobi (Loebsack), Heinz Bennent (Greff), Andrea Ferreol (Lina), Otto Sander (the trumpeter).
NOTE: THE SCREENING OF THIS FILM WILL BEGIN AT 7.15 PM!
November 18 AGUIRRE, THE WRATH OF GOD (AGUIRRE, DER ZORN GOTTES), by Werner Herzog, 1972, in English, color, 93 minutes.
Herzog's classic parable of man's failure to reach El Dorado, shot in the breathtaking Amazone landscape, in 16th century costumes, with an international cast of actors. Script by Werner Herzog, camera Thomas Mauch, music Popol Vuh. With Klaus Kinski as Aguirre, Helena Rojo (Inez), Del Negro (Carvajal), Ruy Guerra (Ursua), Peter Berling (Guzman), Cecilia Rivera (Aguirre's daughter), Daniel Ades (Perucho), and the Indians of the cooperative of Lauramarca.
November 25 THE MARRIAGE OF MARIA BRAUN (DIE EHE DER MARIA BRAUN), by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, 1978, in German with English subtitles, color, 120 minutes.
Fassbinder's most successful film, winner of the German Film Prize for best direction, and the first in a trilogy on post-war Germany (Lola and Veronika Voss followed in 1981). Scripted by Peter Maertesheimer and Pea Froehlich, camera by Michael Ballhaus, editing by Fassbinder (as Franz Walsch) and Juliane Lorenz. Music by Peer Raben. With Hanna Schygulla as Maria Braun, Klaus Loewitsch (Hermann Braun), George Byrd (Bill), Ivan Desny (Oswald), Hark Bohm (Senkenberg), Gottfried John (Willi), Elisabeth Trissenaar (Betti), Gisela Uhlen (Maria's mother), Guenter Lamprecht (the mother's boyfriend), Liselotte Eder (Frau Ehmke, Oswald's secretary), Guenther Kaufmann (GI on the train), Volker Spengler (conductor on the train), Peter Berling (Bronski), Claus Holm (the doctor).
December 2 MARIANNE AND JULIANE (DIE BLEIERNE ZEIT), by Margarethe von Trotta, 1981, color, in German with English subtitles, 107 minutes.
This film won the most awards of any German film in history, and established Margarethe von Trotta as the foremost woman director world-wide. The story is loosely based on that of the sisters Gudrun and Christiane Ensslin. Gudrun was involved in the Baader-Meinhof gang and died in Stammheim prison in 1977 (a group of film makers collaborated to make Deutschland im Herbst on that topic). Written by Margarethe von Trotta, camera by Franz Rath, with stunning performances by Jutta Lampe as Juliane and Barbara Sukowa as Marianne. Also starring Ruediger Vogler (Juliane's boyfriend), Doris Schade (the mother), Verenice Rudolph (Sabine, the doctor), and Luc Bondy (Marianne's ex-husband).
December 9 WINGS OF DESIRE (DER HIMMEL UEBER BERLIN), directed by Wim Wenders, 1987, black and white and color, in German with English subtitles, 130 minutes.
Winner of the Best Director's Prize at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival, also voted one of the best films of the eighties. Two angels, Cassiel and Damiel, watch out for the people of Berlin and comfort those in distress. Humans, with the exception of a children, do not see them but feel their presence. Damiel falls in love with Marion, a trapeze artist in a small French circus, and decides to become human. A strangely beautiful homage to the divided city (the Wall has a major place in it!) and to its broken people. Bruno Ganz and Otto Sander play the angels, Solveig Dommartin is Marion, and Peter Falk plays himself and "Columbo".
NOTE: THE SCREENING OF THIS FILM WILL BEGIN AT 7.15 PM!
Fall 1996
Instructor: Dr. Renate Fischetti
Office Hours:
Mondays 3:45-4:45 pm, Wednesdays 2:30-3:30 pm, or by appointment
Office: AC 138
Tel.: 455-2003/2109
E-Mail: fischett@umbc.edu
The course is an introduction to major works of German cinema, from the beginnings to the present. It is structured around an introductory lecture, the screening of the film, and a discussion of the film. The discussions will focus on a close reading of the films. A handout with guidelines, and an additional handout listing basic film terms will be issued to all students.
Film analysis is not difficult. It requires careful watching and familiarity with basic film terms. To facilitate this process, students who are new to film analysis may want to read chapter III, "The Language of Film: Signs and Syntax," in HOW TO READ A FILM by James Monaco (on reserve in the Library). In addition, new students may wish to view a video copy of BASIC FILM TERMS: A VISUAL DICTIONARY which has been placed on reserve with AV Services (ACIV, Room 114. ext. 2461). The film is 15 minutes long, a bit outdated, but still quite useful in illustrating the basic film terms. Timothy Corrigan's A SHORT GUIDE TO WRITING ABOUT FILM will help with the written assignments. The book is in the reference section of the Library, its call number is PN 1995 C66 1988.
ALL STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO SCREEN ALL FILMS AND TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION OF THE FILMS. SOME OF THE FILMS ARE VERY HARD TO OBTAIN ELSEWHERE AND ARE BEING RENTED FOR A ONE-TIME SCREENING HERE AT UMBC. THEREFORE, ALL STUDENTS SHOULD MAKE EVERY EFFORT NOT TO MISS ANY SCREENINGS. SHOULD YOU MISS A SCREENING FOR A COMPELLING REASON, PLEASE SCREEN THE FILM ON YOUR OWN. YOU ARE REQUIRED TO HAND IN A WRITTEN RESPONSE TO THE QUESTIONS WHICH YOU WILL RECEIVE FOR EACH FILM.
Ott, Frederick W. THE GREAT GERMAN FILMS. N.J.: Citadel Press, 1986.
I. The following items are on 2-hour reserve in the Library:
1. Monaco, James. HOW TO READ A FILM
2. Ott, Frederick W. THE GREAT GERMAN FILMS
3. Eisner, Lotte. THE HAUNTED SCREEN
4. Eisner, Lotte. MURNAU
5. Eisner, Lotte. FRITZ LANG
6. Kracauer, Siegfried. FROM CALIGARI TO HITLER
7. Silberman, Marc. GERMAN CINEMA
8. Graham, Cooper C. LENI RIEFENSTAHL AND OLYMPIA
9. Hinton, David B. FILMS OF LENI RIEFENSTAHL
10. Sanford, John. THE NEW GERMAN CINEMA
11. Herzog, Werner. IMAGES AT THE HORIZON
12. Rayns, Tony. FASSBINDER
13. Dawson, Jan. WIM WENDERS
14. Kolker, Robert and Peter Beicken. THE FILMS OF WIM WENDERS
II. The following item is on reserve at AV Services:
A list of the films is attached, with brief descriptions and dates. Feel free to invite guests. All screenings will be in Lecture Hall IV.
ELECTRONIC CLASS LIST
HOME PAGE
Take-Home Midterm, due October 28.......35%
Take-Home Final, due December 9.............35%
Panel participation*..............................................10%
Class participation (discussion of readings and films)......20%**
*Each student should participate in at least one panel to discuss a film. You are to screen the film before class, read a minimum of three pieces of criticism on this film, and formulate questions for the discussion of the film. Your grade will be determined on how well you prepared for this panel and how well you present your observations. A sign-up sheet will be distributed on the first day of class.
**Please note that the discussions are a very important part of the course. You are required to stay for the discussions after the screenings and to participate!
A schedule for the reading assignments is attached!
Questions? Feel free to ask Renate - send her an e-mail message (fischett@umbc.edu) or call her or see her in her office hour.
Good luck!
MLL 216 Reading Assignments
"Das Kabinett des Dr. Caligari," Ott, pp. 46-52
September 23 "Der Müde Tod," in: Eisner, Fritz Lang (on reserve in the library), pp. 43-56
and
"The Riddle of Nosferatu," in: Eisner, Murnau (on reserve in the library), pp. 108-119
September 30 "Der letzte Mann," Ott, pp. 63-66
October 7 "Metropolis," Ott, pp. 73-81
October 14 "The Sound Film," 1930-1933," Ott, pp. 97-106
and
"M," Ott, pp. 115-118
October 21 "Der blaue Engel," Ott, pp. 106-112
November 4 "Film in the Third Reich," Ott, pp. 138-154
and
"Olympia," Ott, pp. 163-176
November 11 "Emergence of the New German Cinema," Ott, pp. 260-269
and
"Die Blechtrommel," Ott, pp. 288-291
November 18 "Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes," Ott, pp. 269-272, and
Images at the Horizon, on reserve in the Library
November 25 Press book for "The Marriage of Maria Braun," on reserve in the library
December 2 Seiter, Ellen, "The Political is Personal: Margarethe von Trotta's Marianne and Juliane," from Films for Women, on reserve in the library.
December 9 Press book for Wings of Desire, on reserve in the Library.
Renate Fischetti, Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics, UMBC, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250, Tel. 410-455-2003, fischett@umbc.edu