People on Sunday (1930)

Two men and two women enjoy a pleasant Sunday at the beach amid the unending toil of the working week.

Directors:

Robert Siodmak, Edgar G. Ulmer

Writers:

Curt Siodmak (based on a reportage by) (as Kurt Siodmak), Billy Wilder (screenplay) (as Billie Wilder)

Stars:

Erwin Splettstößer, Brigitte Borchert, Wolfgang von Waltershausen

Cast

Credited cast:
Erwin Splettstößer	...	Self (taxi driver)
Brigitte Borchert	...	Self (record seller)
Wolfgang von Waltershausen	...	Self (wine seller)
Christl Ehlers	...	Self (an extra in films)
Annie Schreyer	...	Self (model)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kurt Gerron	...	Self
Valeska Gert	...	Self
Heinrich Gretler	...	Self
Moriz Seeler	...	Photo Subject at Beach
Ernö Verebes	...	Self

Storyline

Edwin, a taxi driver, lives with Annie, a neurasthenic model. They plan to spend Sunday at the Nikolassee beach with Wolfgang, an officer, gentleman, antiquarian, gigolo, at the moment a wine salesman. After an argument, Annie stays at home while Edwin joins Wolf. Wolf has brought along a new girlfriend, Christl. Brigitte, Christl's best friend, joins the group. Brigitte is the manager of a record shop. At the beach Wolf tries to kiss Christl but she rejects him and he turns his attentions toward Brigitte, who is more receptive. Wolf and Brigitte go off together and he seduces her. Back on the beach, Wolf and Erwin, now tired of their dates, flirt with two other women as Brigitte and Christl look on, appalled. They have small satisfaction when the men have to borrow money from them to pay for the paddle-boat they were renting. As they part at the end of the day, Brigitte hopes Wolf will see her next Sunday, but he and Erwin have other plans. The bond between the two men is the one ...

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Plot Keywords:

berlin germany | semi documentary | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Siodmak's autobiography, Wolfgang later became a West German diplomat and Christel later won a contest as Miss Spain.

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Connections

Referenced in Edgar G. Ulmer - The Man Off-screen (2004)

User Reviews

Sunday in Berlin

On a Sunday, four young befriended people make an excursion to the lake Wannsee in Berlin to spend their free time in the sun with boat trips, bathing and flirting.

This low budget production demands to remain at the surface of everyday life and to show certain scenes, coincidences and trivialities of it. It is mostly interested in the details and shows the other side of the hectic, restless Berlin - the peace of a summerly Sunday. Here, the people are removed from the daily rush, and it is discernible how the makers agree with their protagonists. They celebrate the self-confidence of the young generation - which is not yet overshadowed by the big crisis at the beginning of the 1930s - and demonstrate the physical joy of life, the carefreeness and playfulness. The other side of this urban way of life is, which apparently only banks on superficialness and the momentary, promiscuity and the wounds coming from this, the harshness and the cold of changing feelings. It's cynically depicted in one long tracking shot over tree-tops (indicating symbolically sexual intercourse) that ends at a pile of thoughtlessly ditched trash.

Details

Country:

Germany

Language:

None

Release Date:

4 February 1930 (Germany)

Also Known As:

People on Sunday

Filming Locations:

Germany

Company Credits

Production Co:

Film Studio 1929, Filmstudio Berlin

Technical Specs

Runtime:

73 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1