Emil and the Detectives

I was 10 years old when the 1964 version of Emil and the Detectives came out. I loved that movie. I even had a recording of the soundtrack that I played over and over again when I was alone.

Then, just last night, I happened to catch an interview with Billy Wilder on television. It mentioned his early work on an "Emil and the Detectives". Today I sit astounded that there is not just one other earlier version of the film, but three earlier adaptations and one newer one (that I have found out about).

I like to think that I am a minor film buff, but this discovery that this film exists goes to show that the vast treasure of film worldwide is to be saved and cherished.

I can hardly wait in the coming years to try and see all of the versions and compare the great and heartwarming story.

The film-version of author Erich Kaestner's break-through children's book. "Emil" is in many ways a first. It lifted the young author out of obscurity and poverty to fame and fortune. It also gave screen-writer/director Billy Wilder his first of many critical and commercial successes. Kaester would go on to pen several other great children's books, including "Das doppelte Lottchen", which later inspired the Disney Classic "The Parent Trap", and Billy Wilder's very respectable resume needs no further comments.

The story was written for children during a time when poverty, violence and war has robbed many people of hope for a better future. A ruthless thief (Herr Grundeis) steals a small sum of money from a boy (Emil) on a train and is pursued by a group of "organized" children, who are determined to reunite the rightful owner and his money. The young "detectives" not only provide evidence of Emil's claim (causing the crook to instantly take flight) but also out-do the police in locating and bringing the thief to justice.

It's all for one and one for all, a feel good movie with a happy ending. David vs. Goliath or good against evil. In the Germany "between the two great wars" with political winds already forming the next set of very dark clouds, "Emil and the Detectives" was a welcomed holiday from all of the world's ills. For 70 minutes, the viewer could escape and root for the little kid who has been victimized, and to witness triumph of the human spirit. A treasure of the Old German Cinema. Highly recommended!

Apparently novelist Erich Kastner was none too keen on this adaptation by Billy Wilder, with a little help from an uncredited Emeric Pressburger but the film was an unqualified success commercially and ranks as yet another gem of Weimar Cinema.

All the elements have come together here to produce a work that has retained its magic, freshness, charm and immediacy ninety years on.

There is a splendid score by Polish born Allan Gray who was to continue the Pressburger connection, notably with his scores for two of Britain's greatest, 'The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp' and 'A Matter of Life and Death' whilst Werner Brandes' candid camerawork has succeeded in making the city of Berlin an active participant in the plot. Especially impressive is the sequence where Emil Tischbein and his ever increasing gang of children pursue and corner the thief Grundeis.

Director Gerhard Lamprecht has worked wonders with his untrained youngsters and the inclusion of one girl amongst the boys is inspired. She is played by Inga Landgut, one of M's unfortunate victims in Lang's masterpiece from the same year. Playing Emil made an overnight star of Rolf Wenkhaus who went on to play a youth of an altogether different stamp in 'S. A.-Mann Brand' and died in combat in 1942. There is a touching performance by Kathe Haack as Emile's mother and what can one possibly say of Fritz Rasp who portrays Grundeis? A highly unusual artiste with an imposing and at times menacing presence who made his debut in 1916 and was still acting until the year of his death in 1976. He is perfectly cast here and being costumed in black adds to his villainy.

This is the first version on film. Often imitated, never bettered.

...which isn't a wonder since this movie was directed by billy wilder. compared with the newest clone of this from 2001, it is quite simple to see, that one very important point for understanding the story is that it takes place in the 1920s/1930s when the story was written. the 2001 version takes place now, which makes it boring. it just looks like a copy. so go and get a hand at this masterpiece.

After the children's book "Emil und die Detektive" was published in 1928 this first screen version was made in 1931 under the supervision of the author Erich Kästner himself.

The story seems simple: young Emil gets to visit his granny in Berlin and is given 140 marks by his mother for his grandma. On the train to Berlin the 140 marks are stolen by a man with a stiff hat while Emil sleeps. Arriving in Berlin he tries to follow the thief and receives help from a well organized and nice "gang" of Berlin street "detectives" in his age. A happy end seems possible.

While the movie contains a very entertaining story itself, an even more interesting detail of this movie is in its backdrop: an authentic Berlin of 1931 with open cabs, cars driving next to coaches, wide streets with lots of space for cyclists and so on. I always wondered when viewing older city maps what street life was like in the twenties of the last century when the streets were not as crowded as today, when the speed difference between pedestrians, cyclists, cars and coaches was still comparable in human measures.

The camera work, special effects (Emils dream on the train) and movie music are distinctly thirty-ish which made this movie even more interesting to me. All in all a very enjoyable movie for kids and adults alike.