German postcard by Senator Film. Photo: Jim Rakete. Ulrich Noethen as Harry Frommermann in Comedian Harmonists (Joseph Vilsmaier, 1997).
German postcard by Senator Film. Photo: Jim Rakete. Ben Becker as Robert Biberti in Comedian Harmonists (Joseph Vilsmaier, 1997).
They eventually must decide whether to remain in the U.S. or return to German
Comedian Harmonists/The Harmonists (Joseph Vilsmaier, 1997) is about the popular a capella group the Comedian Harmonists of the 1920s and 1930s. The group consisted of Harry Frommermann (tenor buffo), Asparuh "Ari" Leschnikoff (first tenor), Erich Collin (second tenor), Roman Cycowski (baritone), Robert Biberti (bass), and Erwin Bootz (pianist).
In 1927, unemployed German-Jewish actor Harry Frommermann is inspired by a record of the black American jazz group The Revelers to create a German group of the same format. Entranced by the beauty of their close harmony, the 21-year-old Berlin born tenor determines to start a German group that would sing in the same style.
He holds auditions and signs on four additional singers and a pianist. Naming themselves the 'Comedian Harmonists', they meet international fame and popularity. They appeared in 21 films, including the operetta Die Drei von der TankstelleThree from the Filling Station (Wilhelm Thiele, 1931) with Willy Fritsch and Heinz Rühmann. Their hallmark was their ability to blend their voices together so that the individual singers could appear and disappear back into the vocal texture. Their repertoire was wide, ranging from the folk and classical songs arranged by Frommermann to appealing and witty popular songs of the day by writers such as Peter Igelhoff, Werner Richard Heymann and Paul Abraham.
However, they eventually run into trouble when the Nazis come to power.The authorities forbade them to sing songs by Jewish composers and pressure them to perform National Socialist material. In 1934, they were banned by the upcoming Nazis to perform in public, because three of their members were Jewish.Traveling to New York, they eventually must decide whether to remain in the U.S. or return to Germany.
Roger Ebert in his 1999 review in the Chicago Sun-Times: "Given the suffering created by the Nazis, the fate of the Harmonists ranks low on the scale. But as one of the countless little stories that add up to the plague of Nazism, they deserve an entry in the chronicle of despair. And it is revealing how, like many of their countrymen both Jewish and Gentile, they were blind until the last moment to the actual intentions of the Nazis. There is a moment in the film when the Harmonists are performing in New York and consider staying in America. But they do not. The handwriting was on the wall, but it was not yet sufficiently clear."
After they break up, the three Jewish Harmonists regroup outside Germany and performed under the names "Comedian Harmonists" and "Comedy Harmonists" with a new pianist, bass, and high tenor. The other three start a new group at home named 'Das Meistersextett' (as the authorities forbade an English-language name). Neither group was able to achieve the original success. What made them special faded away, and their music somehow seems like a reproach to the rising tide of war. With very few exceptions, all the vocal performances heard during the film were digitally re-mastered original recordings of the historic group. The actors lip synched in the musical performances. Although all members survived the war, they never re-formed after the war.
German postcard by Senator Film. Photo: Jim Rakete. Heinrich Schafmeister as Erich A. Collin in Comedian Harmonists (Joseph Vilsmaier, 1997).
It makes one wonder what other unknown masterpieces exist
Comedian Harmonists/The Harmonists (Joseph Vilsmaier, 1997) succeeded in Europe, grossing over $16 million in Germany.
At the 1998 German Film Awards, Comedian Harmonists won the awards for Best Feature Film, Best Editing (for Peter R. Adam), Best Actor (for Ulrich Noethen), Best Supporting Actress (for Meret Becker), and Best Production Design (for Rolf Zehetbauer). Joseph Vilsmaier was nominated for Best Direction, losing to Wim Wenders for The End of Violence.
At the 1998 Bavarian Film Awards, Joseph Vilsmaier won the awards for Best Director. Ben Becker, Heino Ferch, Ulrich Noethen, Heinrich Schafmeister, Max Tidof, and Kai Wiesinger won a Special Prize.
Vilsmaier was also nominated for Best Cinematographer for Comedian Harmonists at the 1998 European Film Awards. Buzz McClain at AllMovie: "It's films such as this that make one wonder what other unknown masterpieces exist. Absolutely brilliant in every regard, The Harmonists is a stunning achievement. The film vividly renders its period setting, its casting is dead perfect, the performances are startlingly controlled, and the fact-based story touches and thrills without manipulation.
Then there's the music: When was the last time an a cappella novelty song sung in German stuck in a viewer's head for three days? Ulrich Noethen is amazing as the poverty-stricken dreamer who puts together a vocal ensemble with a gimmick - not only do the five singers perform without instrumentation (save for a bit of piano), but they take solos by mimicking wind instruments. It's a charming effect that summarizes the magic of the film overall."
German postcard by Senator Film. Photo: Jim Rakete. Kai Wiesinger as Erwin Bootz in Comedian Harmonists (Joseph Vilsmaier, 1997).
German postcard by Senator Film. Photo: Jim Rakete. Max Tidof as Ari Leschnikow in Comedian Harmonists (Joseph Vilsmaier, 1997).
Sources: Buzz McClain (AllMovie), Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times), Wikipedia, and IMDb.
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