Children, Mother, and the General (1955)
"Kinder, Mütter und ein General" (original title)

As Germany's fortunes in the latter part of World War II wane, several young boys, in their enthusiasm to do something "for the fatherland", volunteer to fight with the German army in the ... See full summary »

Director:

Laslo Benedek

Writers:

Herbert Reinecker (novel), Laslo Benedek

Stars:

Hilde Krahl, Ewald Balser, Therese Giehse

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Hilde Krahl	...	Helene Asmussen
Ewald Balser	...	General
Therese Giehse	...	Elfriede Bergmann
Ursula Herking	...	Dr. Behrens, Ärztin
Alice Treff	...	Pastorin
Marianne Sinclair	...	Näherin
Beate Koepnick	...	Inge, das Mädchen
Adi Lödel	...	Harald Asmussen
Dieter Straub	...	Leo Bergmann
Holger Hildmann	...	Sohn der Ärztin
Karl-Michael Kuntz	...	Edmund, Sohn der Pastorin
Walter Lehfeld	...	Werner, Sohn der Näherin
Peter Burger	...	Robert, Inges Bruder
Bernhard Wicki	...	Hauptmann Dornberg
Claus Biederstaedt	...	Verpflegungsgefreiter

Storyline

As Germany's fortunes in the latter part of World War II wane, several young boys, in their enthusiasm to do something "for the fatherland", volunteer to fight with the German army in the East. Horrified at the news that their children are to be sent to the Russian front, the boys' mothers begin a desperate effort to get their sons back.

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Plot Keywords:

boy soldiers | world war two | 1940s | mother son relationship | based on novel

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Details

Country:

West Germany

Language:

German

Release Date:

4 March 1955 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

All'est si muore

Filming Locations:

Walsrode, Lower Saxony, Germany

Company Credits

Production Co:

Intercontinental Film GmbH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in My Best Fiend (1999)

User Reviews

Early Trial of "Die Brücke" (The Bridge)

This was kind of a drill for "Die Brücke", the masterpiece coming some 4 years later. Several young boys have volunteered to fight with the remains of the German Army on the Eastern Front and their mothers take on a desperate journey to get them back home. This is told in black and white, with only small doses of softening and taking stand for the German cause, basically a human drama of motherly uncompromising love, officers and generals torn between duty and human common sense and boys, who feel like deserters, if they would be forced to be boys again. And also a little love story between of the widowed mothers and an Officer. Everything is there, dominating performances by Therese Giehse and Bernhard Wicki, but just a warm-up for the much more focused and uncompromising Masterpiece to follow.