Martha (1974) (TV)

Director:

Rainer Werner Fassbinder

Writer:

Cornell Woolrich (story)

Release Date:

28 May 1974 (West Germany)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Plot:

A single woman in her early thirties, Martha (Margit Carstensen) is on vacation with her father in Europe...

Plot Keywords:

Marriage | Honeymoon | Rape | Spinster | Cat

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Margit Carstensen	...	Martha Salomon, née Heyer
Karlheinz Böhm	...	Helmut Salomon
Barbara Valentin	...	Marianne
Peter Chatel	...	Kaiser
Gisela Fackeldey	...	Mother Heyer
Adrian Hoven	...	Father Heyer
Ortrud Beginnen	...	Erna
Wolfgang Schenck	...	Meister
Günter Lamprecht	...	Dr. Herbert Salomon
El Hedi ben Salem	...	Hotel guest
Rudolf Lenz	...	Porter
Kurt Raab	...	Secretary - German embassy
Elma Karlowa	...	Waitress
Heide Simon
Lilo Pempeit		(as Lieselotte Eder)

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

West Germany

Language:

German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-13 | Sweden:15 | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Kreuzlingen, Kanton Thurgau, Switzerland

Company:

Pro-ject Filmproduktion

Trivia:

Because of legal reasons, the film wasn't shown for over 20 Years. Cornell Woolrich claimed that the film has a lot similarities to one of his novels. Fassbinder replied, that he first read the story after filming was complete. Nevetheless Woolrich got a writing-credit, and after his death they were able to clear the rights. The first German screening of a restored edition was in November 1997.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Fassbinder in Hollywood (2002)

Selfishness and sadism in the German bourgeoisie

A selfish, immature and hysterical woman is progressively destroyed psychologically by a sadistic husband. In line with other Fassbinder movies, such as die Ehe der Maria Braun, this movie depicts a bourgeoisie only interested in money and keeping up appearances, where love is impossible. Beautifully filmed in particular in a baroque house, the effect of the movie is reinforced by the apparent kindness of the husband and its constant reference to love.