Das Stahltier

19351935
1h 15m

IMDb RATING

7.9/10

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

312,415

31,645

Documentary Comedy Drama

In present day Germany, by 6:30 a.m., the railway workers are waiting the opening of the factory's door to start a new day of hard work. Inside, Engineer Klaassen is still awake, as all nigh... Read allIn present day Germany, by 6:30 a.m., the railway workers are waiting the opening of the factory's door to start a new day of hard work. Inside, Engineer Klaassen is still awake, as all night long he planned, measured diagrams, used his algorithm tables, made calculations and dre... Read allIn present day Germany, by 6:30 a.m., the railway workers are waiting the opening of the factory's door to start a new day of hard work. Inside, Engineer Klaassen is still awake, as all night long he planned, measured diagrams, used his algorithm tables, made calculations and drew more geometric figures for a new steam locomotive. The labor force works fast, and step ... Read all

IMDb RATING

7.9/10

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

312,415

31,645

Director
- Willy Zielke
Writer
- Willy Zielke(idea)
Stars
- Aribert Mog
- Sophia Hagen(uncredited)

Top credits

See production, box office & company info

3User reviews

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Trivia
The film's distribution was stopped by the Production company, July 1935, as the Reich's Railway Service was upset with the emphasis given to the history of railways (namely, French and British inventors), and aesthetic options - fast rhythm, superimposed images, and one spinning-wheel camera effect judged detrimental to railway customers; parallel of the Engineer's love for the machine and the sexual act, after a scene in which the pieces of equipment are detailed in terms of the human body. Despite Leni Riefenstahl, who liked the film very much, convinced Joseph Goebbels to view the film in a private screening, in October 1935, the Reich's Minister for Propaganda did not change the ban, writing in his diary that it was a bad film, which had caused too much stir.

Goofs
Claaßen is recommending the 1924 released book "Of the iron horses and routes" by Ing. Dr Walter Strauss and refers to it as his source for knowledge. However neither of his stories are mentioned in the book. Also the book is known for being very inaccurate as well.

Alternate versions
The film's official distribution in 1954 was in a 44 minute version, that eventually went to VHS. The director's cut, preserved by the French Cinematheque, runs over 75 minutes.

Connections
Featured in Leni Riefenstahl - Das Ende eines Mythos (2020)

User reviews3

Review

Featured review

Nazi Era Train Doc.

This Nazi (bare chested guys going "Heil Hitler") quasi documentary, by Leni Reifenstahl's cameraman, most resembles AMAZING YOUNG MEN IN THEIR FLYING MACHINES, with it's elaborate reconstructions of early machinery. Despite the fact that the British and French attempts are presented as incompetent until the German Railways showed people how, this apparently ran foul of the 3rd Reich and was suppressed.

As a novelty and as entertainment the piece is not at all bad, with expert film craft and imagery, backed by a score by the composer from the Marika Rokk movies and performance and narration by the forgotten Aribert Moog from EXTASE.

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