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IMDbPro

Emil and the Detectives

Original title: Emil und die Detektive
  • 19311931
  • 1h 15m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
643
YOUR RATING
Billy Wilder, Fritz Rasp, Allan Gray, Käthe Haack, Erich Kästner, Gerhard Lamprecht, Inge Landgut, Hans Joachim Schaufuß, Günther Stapenhorst, and Rolf Wenkhaus in Emil and the Detectives (1931)
  • Adventure
  • Family
  • Drama
Emil goes to Berlin to see his grandmother with a large amount of money and is offered sweets by a strange man that make him sleep. He wakes up at his stop with no money. It is up to him and... Read allEmil goes to Berlin to see his grandmother with a large amount of money and is offered sweets by a strange man that make him sleep. He wakes up at his stop with no money. It is up to him and a group of children to save the day.Emil goes to Berlin to see his grandmother with a large amount of money and is offered sweets by a strange man that make him sleep. He wakes up at his stop with no money. It is up to him and a group of children to save the day.
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
643
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Gerhard Lamprecht
  • Writers
    • Erich Kästner(from the novel by)
    • Billy Wilder(screenplay)
    • Emeric Pressburger(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Rolf Wenkhaus
    • Käthe Haack
    • Fritz Rasp
Top credits
  • Director
    • Gerhard Lamprecht
  • Writers
    • Erich Kästner(from the novel by)
    • Billy Wilder(screenplay)
    • Emeric Pressburger(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Rolf Wenkhaus
    • Käthe Haack
    • Fritz Rasp
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 10User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos18

    Emil and the Detectives (1931)
    Emil and the Detectives (1931)
    Emil and the Detectives (1931)
    Emil and the Detectives (1931)
    Emil and the Detectives (1931)
    Emil and the Detectives (1931)
    Emil and the Detectives (1931)
    Emil and the Detectives (1931)
    Emil and the Detectives (1931)
    Emil and the Detectives (1931)
    Emil and the Detectives (1931)
    Emil and the Detectives (1931)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Rolf Wenkhaus
    • Emil Tischbeinas Emil Tischbein
    Käthe Haack
    Käthe Haack
    • Frau Tischbein, Emils Mutteras Frau Tischbein, Emils Mutter
    Fritz Rasp
    Fritz Rasp
    • Grundeisas Grundeis
    Rudolf Biebrach
    • Wachtmeister Jeschkeas Wachtmeister Jeschke
    Olga Engl
    Olga Engl
    • Großmamaas Großmama
    Inge Landgut
    Inge Landgut
    • Pony Hütchenas Pony Hütchen
    Hans Joachim Schaufuß
    • Gustav mit der Hupeas Gustav mit der Hupe
    • (as Hans Schaufuß)
    Hans Richter
    Hans Richter
    • Fliegender Hirschas Fliegender Hirsch
    Hans Löhr
    • Dienstagas Dienstag
    Ernst-Eberhard Reling
    • Geroldas Gerold
    Waldemar Kupczyk
    • Mittenzweias Mittenzwei
    Martin Rickelt
    • Bellboyas Bellboy
    • (as Martin Baumann)
    Gerhard Dammann
    Rudolf Lettinger
    Rudolf Lettinger
    Margarete Sachse
    Georg H. Schnell
      Hubert Schmitz
      • Professoras Professor
      • Director
        • Gerhard Lamprecht
      • Writers
        • Erich Kästner(from the novel by) (screenplay)
        • Billy Wilder(screenplay)
        • Emeric Pressburger(uncredited)
      • All cast & crew
      • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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      Storyline

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      Did you know

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      • Trivia
        Inge Landgut, who played Pony Hütchen in this movie, later became the German dubbing voice of Miss Ellie Ewing on Dallas (1978).
      • Goofs
        When the train carrying Emil from the fictional "Neustadt" to Berlin stops at the intermediate station where all the passengers except Emil and Grundeis, the man with the bowler hat, leave the compartment, its engine is a 2-6-0 Deutsche Reichsbahn Class 38, formerly a Prussian P 8 passenger engine. When the train leaves that station, it is suddenly a DR Class 17, formerly a Prussian 4-6-0 S 10 express train locomotive. When the train enters Berlin's Zoo Station, it has reverted back to a 38/P 8.
      • Connections
        Featured in A Story of Children and Film (2013)

      User reviews10

      Review
      Top review
      9/10
      Early German "Talkie" - Billy Wilder's first Hit Movie
      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!
      helpful•1
      0
      • thursdaysrecords
      • Nov 14, 2018

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • December 26, 1931 (Sweden)
      • Country of origin
        • Germany
      • Language
        • German
      • Also known as
        • Grabbar med ruter i
      • Filming locations
        • Werder upon Havel, Berlin, Germany
      • Production company
        • Universum Film (UFA)
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Technical specs

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      • Runtime
        1 hour 15 minutes
      • Color
        • Black and White
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.20 : 1

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      Billy Wilder, Fritz Rasp, Allan Gray, Käthe Haack, Erich Kästner, Gerhard Lamprecht, Inge Landgut, Hans Joachim Schaufuß, Günther Stapenhorst, and Rolf Wenkhaus in Emil and the Detectives (1931)
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      By what name was Emil and the Detectives (1931) officially released in Canada in English?
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