The Ballad of Berlin (1948)
Berliner Ballade (original title)Reference View | Change View
- Passed
- 1h 29min
- Comedy, Musical
- 31 Dec 1948 (Germany)
- Movie
After he has luckily survived the war, Otto tries to build up his new life in the remains of Berlin.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Gert Fröbe | ... |
Otto Normalverbraucher
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Tatjana Sais | ... |
Frau Ida Holle
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Ute Sielisch | ... |
Eva Wandel, Bäuerin
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Aribert Wäscher | ... |
Anton Zeithammer
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| O.E. Hasse | ... |
Der Reaktionär
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| Hans Deppe | ... |
Emil Lemke
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Werner Oehlschlaeger | ... |
Raisonneur
(as Werner Oehlschläger)
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| Erik Ode | ... |
Narrator (voice)
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| Karl Schönböck | ... |
Rundfunkreporter
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| Herbert Hübner | ... |
Herr Bollmann, politischer Redner
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| Alfred Schieske | ... |
Herr Schneidewind, Politischer Redner
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Herbert Weissbach | ... |
Spirituosenhändler
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Kurt Weitkamp | ... |
Einbrecher
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Franz-Otto Krüger | ... |
Einbrecher Franz
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Henry Morgan | ... |
Narrator (US version)
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Frank Arlett | ... |
Getränkekellner (uncredited)
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| Valy Arnheim | ... |
Amerikanischer Politiker (uncredited)
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Walter Bechmann | ... |
2. Berliner Beamter (uncredited)
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| Alfred Beierle | ... |
Frackverleiher (uncredited)
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| Reinhold Bernt | ... |
Ottos unbekannter Freund (uncredited)
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Albert Bessler | ... |
Englischer Politiker (uncredited)
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| Erwin Biegel | ... |
Herr vom Bezirksamt (uncredited)
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Walter Bluhm | ... |
West U-Bahn Fahrgast (uncredited)
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Eva Bodden | ... |
Junges Mädchen (uncredited)
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Jeanette Brons | ... |
Dirne (uncredited)
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Siegfried Dornbusch | ... |
Junger Mann (uncredited)
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| Erich Dunskus | ... |
Portier (uncredited)
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Franziska Dörr | ... |
Zwiebelverkäuferin (uncredited)
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Auguste Frede | ... |
Kleingärtner (uncredited)
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| Joe Furtner | ... |
Politiker (uncredited)
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| Kurt Getke | ... |
3. Berliner Beamter (uncredited)
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Harry Giese | ... |
Additional narration (uncredited) (voice)
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Herwart Grosse | ... |
Dr. Köppchen (uncredited)
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Karl Hannemann | ... |
Öst U-bahn Fahrgast (uncredited)
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Clemens Hasse | ... |
Ein Hamsterer (uncredited)
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Lilo Herbeth | ... |
3. Tänzerin in der Konditorei (uncredited)
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Helmut Heyne | ... |
Netter Schaffner (uncredited)
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Hugo Kalthoff | ... |
Beamter in der Straßenbahn (uncredited)
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Georg August Koch | ... |
Arzt (uncredited)
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Alf Kuck | ... |
2. Passant (uncredited)
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Georgia Lind | ... |
Dirne (uncredited)
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Sigrid Logan | ... |
2. Tänzerin in der Konditorei (uncredited)
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Alfred Maack | ... |
Vater (uncredited)
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Otto Matthies | ... |
Diener (uncredited)
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Veronika Mayer | ... |
Bäuerin (uncredited)
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| Brigitte Mira | ... |
Dirne (uncredited)
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Kurt Muskate | ... |
1. Passant (uncredited)
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Hans Kurt Müller | ... |
2. Brillantenschieber (uncredited)
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Ursula Müller | ... |
4. Tänzerin in der Konditorei (uncredited)
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Lilo Nowka | ... |
1. Tänzerin in der Konditorei (uncredited)
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Max Paetz | ... |
Inspektor (uncredited)
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Alfred Parpart | ... |
Wellmann (uncredited)
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Rita Paul | ... |
Sängerin der Torero-Bar (uncredited)
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Edgar Pauly | ... |
1. Berliner Beamter (uncredited)
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Franz Pollandt | ... |
Bayerische Beamte (uncredited)
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Marianne Prenzel | ... |
Mädchen im Park (uncredited)
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Hans Schille | ... |
Arbeiter in der Straßenbahn (uncredited)
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Walter Schramm | ... |
Bayerische Beamte (uncredited)
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Gunhild Schwinning | ... |
Freundin des jungen Mannes (uncredited)
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Walter Strasen | ... |
Mieter (uncredited)
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Michael Symo | ... |
Südländer (uncredited)
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Richard Thümmler | ... |
Speisekellner (uncredited)
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Otz Tollen | ... |
Französischer Politiker (uncredited)
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Ilse Trautschold | ... |
Verkäuferin (uncredited)
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Theodor Vogeler | ... |
Finanzsachbearbeiter (uncredited)
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Erik von Loewis | ... |
Franzose (uncredited)
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Werner Völger | ... |
Sachse (uncredited)
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Georg Völkel | ... |
Mann von der Heilsarmee (uncredited)
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Alexander Welbat | ... |
1. Brillantenschieber (uncredited)
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Eduard Wenck | ... |
Vorarbeiter (uncredited)
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Ewald Wenck | ... |
(uncredited)
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Jo Wiedenhaupt | ... |
Kollegin des Kuchenfräuleins (uncredited)
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Ruth Zillger | ... |
Dirne (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Robert A. Stemmle | ... | (as R.A. Stemmle) |
Written by
| Günter Neumann | ... | (story) |
| Günter Neumann | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| Heinz Rühmann | ... | producer (uncredited) |
| Alf Teichs | ... | producer |
Music by
| Werner Eisbrenner | ... | (music score) |
| Günter Neumann | ... | (music score) |
Cinematography by
| Georg Krause | ||
Editing by
| Walter Wischniewsky | ||
Production Design by
| Gabriel Pellon | ||
Costume Design by
| Gertraud Recke | ||
Production Management
| Werner Drake | ... | production manager |
| Bruno Michalk | ... | unit manager |
| Martin Sternberg | ... | unit manager |
Art Department
| Alfred Eckart | ... | poster artist (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Hans Löhmer | ... | sound |
| Andrea Garcia Restrepo | ... | sound restoration |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Joseph Burstyn (1952) (United States) (theatrical) (English narration)
- BIFO/Splendid (1951) (Belgium) (theatrical)
- Dietz-Filmverleih (1948) (Germany) (theatrical)
- Sveriges Forenade Filmstudios (1949) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Filmjuwelen (2020) (Germany) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Told in the style of the German cabaret theatre, where both Gunther Neumann and Gert Frobe were important members, this is a balladeer's version of a serious plot with musical interludes. The year is 2050 and the audience is asked to look at a telecast of 'The Ancients", from a century ago. Flashback to Germany, 1948, where Otto Normalverbraucher (Otto Averageman in the English-narrated version) is just returning from service in the German army during World War II. His experiences, told tongue-in-cheek, of the troubles that beset the average, law-abiding German citizen in post-war, war-torn destitute Germany and his awareness of the changes and problems are the bulk of the story.
Written by Les Adams |
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| Taglines | OTTO BERLINER...Torn Between Love, Stomach and Politics! See more » |
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| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | The name of the main character ("Otto Normalverbraucher") became a idiomatic phrase in German for a absolutely average, normal person, in a positive sense. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Referenced in Ganz Berlin lacht sich kaputt: Wie die 'Berliner Ballade' entstand (2020). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Kopf hoch, die Sache wird schon schiefgeh'n See more » |