I Was a Criminal (1945)

Director:

Richard Oswald

Writers:

Ivan Goff (screenplay), Albrecht Joseph (screen version Der Hauptmann von Köpenick),

Stars:

Albert Bassermann, Mary Brian, Eric Blore

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Albert Bassermann	...	Wilhelm Voight, a Shoemaker
Mary Brian	...	Frau Obermueller, the Mayor's Wife
Eric Blore	...	Obermueller, the Mayor
Herman Bing	...	Kilian, City Hall Guard
George Chandler	...	Kallenberg
Luis Alberni	...	Prison Guard
Wallis Clark	...	Friedrich Hoprecht
Elsa Bassermann	...	Mrs. Marie Hoprecht
Claud Allister	...	First Railroad Employee
Bernard Gorcey	...	Second Railroad Employee
Hobart Cavanaugh	...	Rosenkrantz, the Treasurer
Frank Orth	...	Knoll, the Factory Personnel Manager
Sig Arno	...	Krakauer, the Second-Hand Dealer
Russell Hicks	...	Police Commisioner
Sheldon Bennett

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

based on novel

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 January 1945 (USA)

Also Known As:

Captain of Koepenick

Company Credits

Production Co:

John Hall Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

71 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Completed as 'Passport to Heaven' in 1941, but unable to find a distributor due to the outbreak of World War II, which made its German settings and characterizations unpalatable to the American public; eventually picked up by Film Classics in 1945, but received few bookings, probably for the same reason; the only review it ever received was in Exhibitor Magazine in July 1946, who also commented on this same problem; eventually picked up for television release by NTA in the 1950's, but only infrequently shown.

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Connections

Remade as Der Hauptmann von Köpenick (1997)

User Reviews

Moving and Funny

This film used to run on TV in the very early days and is based on a true event. There is a German color version and and earlier version by this same director. This is a small film about a simple man against the state. It is both funny and deeply touching and Basserman gives perhaps his greatest performance. I know it as "Passport to Heaven," but it was released under several titles. It is a shame that this film cannot be found in any format. I remember this:

"I had a dream and a voice said, 'Soon you will take your last gulping breath and stand before God the father. And God will ask you what have you made with your life, and you will have to answer..Doormats...In prison...for all the world to step upon...and God will say, That is not what I gave you life for...You owe me a life....where is it...what have you done with it...Get out..you have come to the wrong department'"

I still remember after all these years...What a shame that you can't see it for yourselves........