Der Onkel aus Amerika (1953) User Reviews

This uncle isn't funny

[F Gwynplaine MacIntyre · 3/10 · 25 January 2003]

I'm always intrigued whenever a film director remakes his or her own work. What do they want to do differently this time? 'Der Onkel aus Amerika' ('The Uncle from America'), directed by Carl Boese, is a remake of his 1931 film 'Man Braucht kein Geld'. Each film gives an interesting depiction of Germany (and its relationship with the United States) at their respective moment in time: the 1931 version shows Germany on the brink of Nazism during the throes of Depression which was largely caused by American financiers, whilst the 1953 remake depicts post-war West Germany rising from the ashes (literally) under partitioning and U.S. military supervision.

Both films have nearly identical plots. In the remake, Thomas Hoffmann is a German expatriate who has reportedly made his fortune in America: now he is returning to his hometown for a visit. Schmidt is the head clerk at the local bank, which is on the brink of failure due to wartime problems and irresponsible speculation before and after the war. Schmidt believes that wealthy Hoffmann will invest in local industry (and deposit money in the bank) to save both the bank and the town. In the event, it turns out that Hoffmann is a failure and a fraud. Nevertheless, because Hoffmann is perceived to be rich, his mere presence attracts money: businessmen want to invest in his prosperous American businesses, unaware that those businesses are nonexistent. All is well until Hoffmann decides to turn honest and reveal the truth...

German comedies usually manage to be unfunny, and this movie is meant to be a satire, which is even worse. The movie tries to make all sorts of clever comments about the United States, and big business, and German society, but most of these jokes fall flat. Still, this film is an interesting document of its time. I'll rate 'Der Onkel' 3 points out of 10.

Intelligent script about the value of money

[urh-2 · 8/10 · 19 February 2007]

The meta story of this classic film is the most interesting story of our times, that banks create money out of thin air.

Post world-war Germans naturally assume that a texan is a rich person. This perception alone is the reason for all that follows, including the magic generation of big sums of cash in the end.

The director Carl Boese (his last name translates to EVIL) remakes his own film from before the war. Is this another hint at the importance of the subject? If you are unsure about the monumental implications you could try watching Paul Grignon's 'Money As Debt' as a primer.

The foreground story is well enjoyable, too. Incomparable lead actor Hans Moser is the uncle who returns from 'Amerika' after 40 years in Texas, where he discovers that his 'authentic' experiences in the USA are closer to the German experiences than the German myth about Amerkia allows.

Some great comedy develops as he is forced to represent the myth, for example the scene in 'Onkel Toms Texas Bar' (established in his honour) where he is asked to sing a song during the grand opening. The song ends up being a sentimental song about Germany.

Whenever I see skyscrapers

I wish for a small house

A small house here, nearby

I don't want to reach high

When I look outside the window

Then the familiar people greet

and ask "How are you"

That's what I'd enjoy.

and the refrain:

Over there, everything is double as large,

but here all is double as pretty.

I very much recommend this film. A great educational watch, also for children of all ages. A indispensable addition to your film library, worth watching every year, say, on December 23, to commemorate the passing of the 1913 Federal Reserve Act, where the USA joined the international banking system that is determining nearly all human aspirations today. But that's just the meta-story. The film's overt story is a wonderful, seemingly harmless, Christmas-story-like quaint fairy tale, a great watch.

Hans Moser reprises his role

[cynthiahost · 10/10 · 6 February 2014]

When I saw the milk in the office scene ,immediately I began to remember a famous German actor and director who was Jewish,who was kicked out of the film business,also rumored that billy wilder offered him a third class ticket to escape from Germany and turned it down cause he wanted first class he eventually died in a concentration camp.Kurt Geron!Yes this is a remake of a 1932 Heinz Rumann comedy.All in black and white too.This was 1953.In this case George Thomalla takes Heinz Ruhamanns place,Joe Stockel, filmmaker,playing the banker,that was played by Kurt Geron originally.Waltraus Haas takes place of Hedy Lamar's role.Heinz Rumann could of been rehired to play the same role.Hans Moser once again plays the role of the rich uncle.It should of been more appropriately been Great uncle, Gross Onkel.It's the same story a relative of family that own and industry ,now broke,their uncle is visiting them.They believe he is wealthy .The broke bank president in debt find this out.With the help of George Thomalla, tries to get the uncle to invest in the city.But Moser character is broke.Know body know this .But his presents seems to encourage investment .Now the family is well of and so is the German city.but, now the banks in debt.,There is a scene in which Mose and his relatives celebrate at a German version of a a country western bar.The Irony is that they are not playing any of hank Williams hits, or any other American country pop star of the time ,but Jazz This .like the first one ,funny,but, Heinz Ruhmanns role was a bit funnier than George's version.Funny comedy from the federal republic of Germany.02/06/14