Love Is Colder Than Death (1969)

Unusual gangster story, in which a small-time pimp Franz, who is torn between his mistress and Bruno the gangster sent after him by the syndicate that he has refused to join. Things are ... See full summary »

Director:

Rainer Werner Fassbinder

Writer:

Rainer Werner Fassbinder

Stars:

Ulli Lommel, Hanna Schygulla, Katrin Schaake

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ulli Lommel	...	Bruno
Hanna Schygulla	...	Johanna
Katrin Schaake	...	Dame im Zug
Liz Söllner	...	Zeitungsverkäuferin
Gisela Otto	...	Prostituierte
Ursula Strätz	...	Prostituierte
Monika Nüchtern	...	Kellnerin beim Türken (as Monika Stadler)
Hans Hirschmüller	...	Peter
Les Olvides	...	Georges
Peer Raben	...	Jürgen (also Waffenhändler (voice)) (as Wil Rabenbauer)
Howard Gaines	...	Raoul
Peter Moland	...	Leiter des Syndikatsverhörs
Kurt Raab	...	Aufsichtsperson im Kaufhaus
Peter Berling	...	Schuster / Illegaler Waffenhändler
Anastassios Karalas	...	Türke

Storyline

Unusual gangster story, in which a small-time pimp Franz, who is torn between his mistress and Bruno the gangster sent after him by the syndicate that he has refused to join. Things are turned on their head when Franz and Bruno become friends, to the point that they even share Franz's girlfriend Joanna. But Joanna soon becomes bored of Bruno.

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Plot Keywords:

street prostitution | woman shot | syndicate | man woman man relationship | gangster | 

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Taglines:

Eine knallharte Geschichte vom Leben, vom Lieben und vom Sterben

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film is considered as the first part of a black-and-white Gangster Film Trilogy by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, the subsequent films being Gods of the Plague (1970) and The American Soldier (1970).

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Quotes

Leiter des Syndikatsverhörs: Have you thought it over? You'd have a secure future as an employee of the syndicate. The syndicate has the best lawyers, the best connections.
Franz Walsch: I want to be free.

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Crazy Credits

Für Claude Chabrol, Éric Rohmer, Jean-Marie Straub, Linio und Cuncho

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Connections

Featured in Century of Cinema: Die Nacht der Regisseure (1995)

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Soundtracks

Der Rosenkavalier
By Richard Strauss

User Reviews

cold and brilliant

Fassbinder's debut feature seems to be strongly influenced by early Godard films like Breathles or Band of Outsiders in both its gritty black and white style and references to the gangster/noir genres. But where Godard's characters have a playful sense of humor, trying to act their gangster fantasies wearing fedoras and poorly executing non-thought out crimes to the tune of a swinging soundtrack and beautiful woman, Love Is Colder than Death does all with a fridgid, robotic sense of cool. Every shot is like a black and white photo where the acting is like posing in front of mirror before the action (or one of the characters)gets executed. The film is pretty avante-garde in using mostly completely static shots and the characters pretty much act "too cool". They just stare at you as you're supposed to react, then when there's an action, you get surprised and realise it's still in the movie. Forget that the plot is simple, threadbare even, this is an atmosphere piece.

Details

Country:

West Germany

Language:

German English

Release Date:

16 January 1970 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

Love Is Colder Than Death

Filming Locations:

Landsberger Straße, Munich, Bavaria, Germany

Box Office

Budget:

DEM95,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,623, 16 February 2003

Gross USA:

$8,144

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$8,144

Company Credits

Production Co:

Antiteater-X-Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1