Stalingrad (1993)

The story follows a group of German soldiers, from their Italian R&R in the summer of 1942 to the frozen steppes of Soviet Russia and ending with the battle for Stalingrad.

Director:

Joseph Vilsmaier

Writers:

Jürgen Büscher, Johannes Heide

Stars:

Dominique Horwitz, Thomas Kretschmann, Jochen Nickel

3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dominique Horwitz	...	Fritz Reiser
Thomas Kretschmann	...	Hans von Witzland
Jochen Nickel	...	Manfred Rohleder 'Rollo'
Sebastian Rudolph	...	Gege
Dana Vávrová	...	Irina
Martin Benrath	...	General Hentz
Sylvester Groth	...	Otto
Karel Hermánek	...	Hauptmann Musk
Heinz Emigholz	...	Edgar
Ferdinand Schuster	...	Double Edgar
Oliver Broumis	...	HGM
Dieter Okras	...	Hauptmann Haller
Zdenek Vencl	...	Wölk
Mark Kuhn	...	Pflüger
Thorsten Bolloff	...	Feldmann

Storyline

A depiction of the brutal battle of Stalingrad, the Third Reich's 'high water mark', as seen through the eyes of German officer Hans von Witzland and his battalion.

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Plot Keywords:

eastern front | wehrmacht | year 1943 | year 1942 | machine gun | 

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Taglines:

Bis zum letzten Mann... (Till the last man)

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original screenplay was written by Christoph Fromm but the producers disagreed with his more realistic direction and had it rewritten. Consequently, Fromm took his name off the film.

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Goofs

Early on while the soldiers are playing cards in the train one of them has a tattoo of the emblem of the German football club FC Schalke 04 on his upper arm. This version of the emblem has not been introduced by the club until 1956.

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Quotes

Unteroffizier Manfred Rohleder: May I ask you something, sir?
Lt. Hans von Witzland: Please. Go ahead.
Unteroffizier Manfred Rohleder: Is this your first time at the front?
Lt. Hans von Witzland: Everyone must start somewhere.

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Movie Tank Scenes (2016)

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Soundtracks

Santa Lucia
(uncredited)
Traditional, transcribed by Teodoro Cottrau
Heard as the troops leave Italy on the train

User Reviews

An epic drama that impresses

There can be no real victors in war if we value human life at all. That so many German and Russian boys should die in the snow-bound wilderness around Stalingrad is a tragedy beyond comprehension. The camera crew did a great job in bringing to the screen the vastness of Russia with soldiers camouflaged in white struggling on the point of death across frozen landscapes. Far from home and missing their loved ones the German soldiers are depicted as rough diamonds with kind hearts sharing their last crust of bread with starving Russian children. The over-all German plan is to take certain cities important in the flow of oil and supply of food to the Russian enemy, but their plans are thwarted when the Russian armies encircle them. The close fighting is well filmed with lots of explosions, flames and shattered bodies among fallen masonry. I liked particularly the contrast of the opening scenes in sunny Porto Cervo (where the Germans are celebrating their recent victories) with the tragic scenes which followed when calamity overtakes them.I thought too that the three struggling figures exhausted in defeat symbolised the horrific loss of human life and the futility of war. While none of the actors shone above the others, their characterisations were adequate enough though I got somewhat confused with such a large cast and all the same uniforms. The lasting impression is not with individual performances but with the over-all mood of this tragic event captured superbly under expert direction. One soldier says to another:"This will give us the Iron Cross" The reply:"Yes...it will look good on your coffin!"

Details

Country:

Germany

Language:

German Russian

Release Date:

21 January 1993 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Stalingrad

Filming Locations:

Barrandov Studios, Prague, Czech Republic

Box Office

Budget:

DEM20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,882, 29 May 1995

Gross USA:

$152,972

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$152,972

Company Credits

Production Co:

B.A. Produktion, Bavaria Film, Perathon Film-und Fernsehproduktions GmbH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

134 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1