Comradeship (1931)
"Kameradschaft" (original title)

Plea against war and for friendship between peoples, through the story of french miners rescued by german colleagues after a firedamp explosion.

Director:

Georg Wilhelm Pabst

Writers:

Peter Martin Lampel, Karl Otten,

Stars:

Alexander Granach, Fritz Kampers, Ernst Busch

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alexander Granach	...	Kasper
Fritz Kampers	...	Wilderer
Ernst Busch	...	Wittkopp
Elisabeth Wendt	...	Frau Anna Wittkopp
Gustav Püttjer	...	Kaplan
Oskar Höcker	...	Obersteiger
Daniel Mendaille	...	Jean Leclerc
Georges Charlia	...	Emile
Andrée Ducret	...	Françoise
Alex Bernard	...	Grand-père, le vieux mineur
Pierre-Louis	...	Georges - le petit galibot
Héléna Manson	...	Rose, la femme du mineur blessé
Marcel Lesieur	...	Albert
Willem Holsboer	...	Ingenieur des deutschen Bergwerks (as Willem Holzboer)
Georges Tourreil	...	L'ingénieur

Storyline

A old German mine was split in two after the end of WWI because of the new border. In the Frenchpart a fire breaks out. The German minwers send a rescue group in, helping their French comrades. A group of three old German miners, who where not treaten friendly at a French inn the night before, start their private rescue through an old way, where since 1919 the border is. After all survivors are rescued, there's a big party with speeches about friendship between Frensh and Germans, while border police closes the old way in the mine.

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Plot Keywords:

border | rescue | fire | explosion | marbles | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Country:

Germany France

Language:

French German

Release Date:

17 November 1931 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Comradeship

Filming Locations:

Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine - Westphalia, Germany

Company Credits

Production Co:

Nero-Film AG, Gaumont-Franco Film-Aubert (G.F.F.A)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min 86 min (Janus print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Tobis-Klangfilm)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie was filmed in the narrow transitional sound ratio of 1.20-1, but, at least in the case of the Janus video release telecast on Turner Classic Movies, has been converted to the standard 1.37-1 ratio with the result that the players' heads are cut off either partially or completely in many of the key scenes. In the final sequence, the heads of the speakers are completely cut off.

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Connections

Featured in Cinema Europe: The Other Hollywood: End of an Era (1995)

User Reviews

A friend in need is a friend in deed

Based on an actual mining disaster, this early German talkie (with English subtitles) still remains one of the most effective docu-dramas ever filmed. Featuring many non-professional actors, "Kameradschaft" gives a chilling view of the friendship that binds the mine workers, regardless of which side of the French/German border they may be from. A deadly accident brings out the very best in everyone, nullifying any superiors' orders. A fellow miner in need will receive the help of his comrades, even at threat of great loss, including life.

This film reminds of the self-sacrificing heroism shown by the NYFD following the 9/11 attacks. Putting aside any formal rules and regulations, these men and women in uniform knew only one cause: to save lives, and to find their fellow-fire fighters. -- More than 70 years later, "Kameradschaft" still has the strong and timeless message: A friend in need is a friend in deed.