Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsABFFPride MonthOutfest OutfrontsSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

The Merchant of Four Seasons

Original title: Händler der vier Jahreszeiten
  • 1972
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 28m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
5.1K
YOUR RATING
Hans Hirschmüller in The Merchant of Four Seasons (1972)
Drama

Hans Epp is a self-destructive man who lives a dissatisfied life. He tries to find meaning as a fruit vendor, but a heart attack impedes his ability to work, which turns his dissatisfaction ... Read allHans Epp is a self-destructive man who lives a dissatisfied life. He tries to find meaning as a fruit vendor, but a heart attack impedes his ability to work, which turns his dissatisfaction into despair.Hans Epp is a self-destructive man who lives a dissatisfied life. He tries to find meaning as a fruit vendor, but a heart attack impedes his ability to work, which turns his dissatisfaction into despair.

  • Director
    • Rainer Werner Fassbinder
  • Writer
    • Rainer Werner Fassbinder
  • Stars
    • Hans Hirschmüller
    • Irm Hermann
    • Hanna Schygulla
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    5.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Rainer Werner Fassbinder
    • Writer
      • Rainer Werner Fassbinder
    • Stars
      • Hans Hirschmüller
      • Irm Hermann
      • Hanna Schygulla
    • 24User reviews
    • 35Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 6 nominations

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:03
    Watch Trailer

    Photos85

    The Merchant of Four Seasons (1972)
    The Merchant of Four Seasons (1972)
    The Merchant of Four Seasons (1972)
    The Merchant of Four Seasons (1972)
    The Merchant of Four Seasons (1972)
    The Merchant of Four Seasons (1972)
    The Merchant of Four Seasons (1972)
    Ingrid Caven in The Merchant of Four Seasons (1972)
    The Merchant of Four Seasons (1972)
    The Merchant of Four Seasons (1972)
    Irm Hermann and Hans Hirschmüller in The Merchant of Four Seasons (1972)
    Hans Hirschmüller in The Merchant of Four Seasons (1972)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Hans Hirschmüller
    Hans Hirschmüller
    • Hans Epp
    Irm Hermann
    Irm Hermann
    • Irmgard Epp
    Hanna Schygulla
    Hanna Schygulla
    • Anna Epp
    Klaus Löwitsch
    Klaus Löwitsch
    • Harry Radek
    Karl Scheydt
    Karl Scheydt
    • Anzell
    Andrea Schober
    Andrea Schober
    • Renate Epp
    Gusti Kreissl
    • Mother Epp
    Ingrid Caven
    Ingrid Caven
    • Hans's great love
    Kurt Raab
    Kurt Raab
    • Kurt
    Heide Simon
    • Heide
    Peter Chatel
    Peter Chatel
    • Dr. Harlach
    Elga Sorbas
    Elga Sorbas
    • Marile
    Lilo Pempeit
    • Customer
    Walter Sedlmayr
    Walter Sedlmayr
    • Fruit cart salesman
    • (as Walther Sedlmayer)
    El Hedi ben Salem
    El Hedi ben Salem
    • The Arab
    • (as Salem El Heïdi)
    Marian Seidowsky
    Marian Seidowsky
    Daniel Schmid
    Daniel Schmid
    • 1st Candidate
    Michael Fengler
    • Playboy
    • Director
      • Rainer Werner Fassbinder
    • Writer
      • Rainer Werner Fassbinder
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Chinese Roulette
    7.2
    Chinese Roulette
    Mother Kusters Goes to Heaven
    7.5
    Mother Kusters Goes to Heaven
    The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant
    7.6
    The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant
    Katzelmacher
    6.9
    Katzelmacher
    The American Soldier
    6.6
    The American Soldier
    Martha
    7.5
    Martha
    Gods of the Plague
    6.4
    Gods of the Plague
    Fox and His Friends
    7.6
    Fox and His Friends
    Rio das Mortes
    6.2
    Rio das Mortes
    Fear of Fear
    7.4
    Fear of Fear
    Love Is Colder Than Death
    6.5
    Love Is Colder Than Death
    The Marriage of Maria Braun
    7.7
    The Marriage of Maria Braun

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Andrea Schober's debut.
    • Quotes

      [repeated line]

      Hans Epp: Fresh pears!

    • Connections
      Edited into Ich will nicht nur, daß ihr mich liebt - Der Filmemacher Rainer Werner Fassbinder (1992)
    • Soundtracks
      Buona Notte
      (uncredited)

      Written by Rocco Granata & Jules Verard

      Performed by Rocco Granata

    User reviews24

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    Fassbinder
    Hans (Hans Hirschmüller) is a street fruit peddler and born-loser. His choice of career upsets his bourgeois family, causing him to turn to drinking and violence. After recovering from a debilitating heart attack, his business finally begins to take off. However the more he becomes a credit to his family, the more depressed he becomes.

    "The Merchant of Four Seasons" was a turning point in Fassbinder's career, marking his entry into the international film arena. It is considered by film critics to be one of Fassbinder's best films. For me, it was alright but not what I would consider among his best. Number one would have to be "Ali", and it is hard to dismiss "World on a Wire".

    Granted, I have not perused the Criterion DVD, and maybe I just do not understand the complete context of this film. Another time?
    helpful•4
    6
    • gavin6942
    • Apr 23, 2015

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 10, 1972 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • West Germany
    • Languages
      • German
      • Arabic
    • Also known as
      • Händler der vier Jahreszeiten
    • Filming locations
      • Munich, Bavaria, Germany
    • Production company
      • Tango Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • DEM 325,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $8,144
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $11,623
      • Feb 16, 2003
    • Gross worldwide
      • $8,144
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 28 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Hans Hirschmüller in The Merchant of Four Seasons (1972)
    Top Gap
    By what name was The Merchant of Four Seasons (1972) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.