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The Tin Drum

Original title: Die Blechtrommel
  • 1979
  • R
  • 2h 22m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
25K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,143
1,794
David Bennent in The Tin Drum (1979)
Three Reasons Criterion Trailer for The Tin Drum
Play trailer1:29
1 Video
99+ Photos
DramaWar

In 1924, Oskar Matzerath is born in the Free City of Danzig. At age three, he falls down a flight of stairs and stops growing. In 1939, World War II breaks out.In 1924, Oskar Matzerath is born in the Free City of Danzig. At age three, he falls down a flight of stairs and stops growing. In 1939, World War II breaks out.In 1924, Oskar Matzerath is born in the Free City of Danzig. At age three, he falls down a flight of stairs and stops growing. In 1939, World War II breaks out.

  • Director
    • Volker Schlöndorff
  • Writers
    • Günter Grass
    • Jean-Claude Carrière
    • Volker Schlöndorff
  • Stars
    • David Bennent
    • Mario Adorf
    • Angela Winkler
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    25K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,143
    1,794
    • Director
      • Volker Schlöndorff
    • Writers
      • Günter Grass
      • Jean-Claude Carrière
      • Volker Schlöndorff
    • Stars
      • David Bennent
      • Mario Adorf
      • Angela Winkler
    • 96User reviews
    • 95Critic reviews
    • 63Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 18 wins & 6 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Tin Drum: The Criterion Collection
    Trailer 1:29
    Watch The Tin Drum: The Criterion Collection

    Photos132

    David Bennent in The Tin Drum (1979)
    David Bennent in The Tin Drum (1979)
    David Bennent in The Tin Drum (1979)
    Mario Adorf, David Bennent, Katharina Thalbach, and Angela Winkler in The Tin Drum (1979)
    David Bennent in The Tin Drum (1979)
    David Bennent in The Tin Drum (1979)
    David Bennent in The Tin Drum (1979)
    David Bennent in The Tin Drum (1979)
    The Tin Drum (1979)
    David Bennent and Daniel Olbrychski in The Tin Drum (1979)
    David Bennent in The Tin Drum (1979)
    David Bennent and Heinz Bennent in The Tin Drum (1979)

    Top cast

    Edit
    David Bennent
    David Bennent
    • Oskar Matzerath
    Mario Adorf
    Mario Adorf
    • Alfred Matzerath
    Angela Winkler
    Angela Winkler
    • Agnes Matzerath
    Katharina Thalbach
    Katharina Thalbach
    • Maria Matzerath
    Daniel Olbrychski
    Daniel Olbrychski
    • Jan Bronski
    Tina Engel
    • Anna Koljaiczek (jung)
    Berta Drews
    Berta Drews
    • Anna Koljaiczek
    Roland Teubner
    • Joseph Koljaiczek
    Tadeusz Kunikowski
    • Onkel Vinzenz
    Andréa Ferréol
    Andréa Ferréol
    • Lina Greff
    • (as Andréa Ferreol)
    Heinz Bennent
    Heinz Bennent
    • Greff
    Ilse Pagé
    Ilse Pagé
    • Gretchen Scheffler
    Werner Rehm
    • Scheffler
    Käte Jaenicke
    • Mutter Truczinski
    Helmut Brasch
    • Der Alte Heilandt
    • (as Helmuth Brasch)
    Otto Sander
    Otto Sander
    • Musiker Meyn
    Wigand Witting
    • Herbert Truczinski
    Mariella Oliveri
    • Roswitha
    • Director
      • Volker Schlöndorff
    • Writers
      • Günter Grass
      • Jean-Claude Carrière
      • Volker Schlöndorff
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In June 1997, at the urging of a Christian fundamentalist group, and after viewing a few isolated scenes, an Oklahoma County District Court judge ruled that the film contained child pornography, as defined by Oklahoma's obscenity laws, and was therefore illegal. Oklahoma City police confiscated all copies of the film from libraries and rental outlets, without obtaining the necessary search warrants or court orders. They intimidated video store managers into giving them the addresses of customers with rental copies, went to those homes, and confiscated the movies. The local District Attorney announced that anyone possessing a copy of the movie would be arrested. The D.A. was forced to back down within weeks, and most of the seized videos had been returned by December. By October 1998, after several related lawsuits, U.S. federal courts ruled that the movie did not violate Oklahoma obscenity laws, and the seizure of the videotapes had been unconstitutional. The U.S. Court of Appeals closed the final case in May 2001, and the movie is once again available in Oklahoma County.
    • Goofs
      While the German soldiers attack the Polish post office, one fires an MG42 machine gun from his shoulder. The German army didn't use that weapon before 1942. It's also not supposed to be fired while standing.
    • Quotes

      Oskar Matzerath: There once was a drummer. His name was Oskar. He lost his poor mama, who had eat to much fish. There was once a credulous people... who believed in Santa Claus. But Santa Claus was really... the gas man! There was once a toy merchant. His name was Sigismund Markus... and he sold tin drums lacquered red and white. There was once a drummer. His name was Oskar. There was once a toy merchant... whose name was Markus... and he took all the toys in the world away with him.

    • Alternate versions
      Although reluctant to do so the BBFC were forced to remove 19 secs from UK cinema and video versions under the Protection of Children Act to remove a scene showing Oskar pressing his face against Maria's pubic region. The cuts were waived in 2003 when it was decided that the scene did not constitute an indecent image.
    • Connections
      Featured in Pieces of Silver (1989)

    User reviews96

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Not for kids
    We were made to watch this in school when i was about 10. I Don't think the teacher understood how heavy this was.....

    This is really not a kids movie. I found it very depressing at the time.
    helpful•7
    0
    • nlmike
    • Mar 15, 2021

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    FAQ2

    • What are the differences between the Theatrical Version and the German TV Version?
    • What are the differences between the Theatrical Version and the Director's Cut?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 11, 1980 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • West Germany
      • France
      • Poland
    • Official site
      • StudioCanal (France)
    • Languages
      • German
      • Italian
      • Hebrew
      • Polish
      • Russian
      • Latin
    • Also known as
      • Limeni dobos
    • Filming locations
      • Wedding, Berlin, Germany(synagogue fire)
    • Production companies
      • Franz Seitz Filmproduktion
      • Bioskop Film
      • Artemis Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $6,881
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 22 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White

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