A Mad Idea or A Crazy Idea (German: Ein toller Einfall) is a 1932 German comedy film directed by Kurt Gerron and starring Willy Fritsch, Dorothea Wieck and Rosy Barsony.[1] It was made by UFA, Germany's biggest studio. It was shot at the Babelsberg Studios in Berlin. The film's art direction was by Julius von Borsody. Location shooting took place around St. Moritz in Switzerland. It is based on the 1887 play A Mad Idea by Carl Laufs.
| A Mad Idea | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Kurt Gerron |
| Written by | |
| Based on | A Mad Idea by Carl Laufs |
| Produced by | Bruno Duday |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | |
| Edited by | Constantin Mick |
| Music by | |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | UFA |
Release date |
|
Running time | 87 minutes |
| Country | Germany |
| Language | German |
Synopsis edit
Penniless Munich-based painter Paul Lüders goes to stay at his uncle's castle in the Swiss Alps. His equally impoverished uncle has gone to England in order to try and sell the property to a wealthy English acquaintance Miller. A series of misunderstandings lead to Paul renting out the various rooms as if it were a hotel, including a large booking by the Miller Girls, a dance troupe led by the impresario Theo Müller. Further confusion arises when Paul mistakes Müller's daughter Evelyn for the daughter of the wealthy Englishman. The real daughter Mabel also turns up, as does Paul's ex-girlfriend Anita. Despite the mix-ups, the hotel is now so successful his uncle abandons the idea of selling it.
Cast edit
- Willy Fritsch as Paul Lüders
- Dorothea Wieck as Mabel Miller
- Rosy Barsony as Anita
- Max Adalbert as Birnstiel
- Jakob Tiedtke as Michael Lüders
- Harry Halm as Bob
- Heinz Salfner as Herr Miller
- Leo Slezak as Theo Müller, Manager der Miller Girls
- Ellen Schwanneke as Evelyn Müller
- Wilhelm Bendow as Wendolin
- Fritz Odemar as Werner Schubart
- Genia Nikolaieva as Marga Schubart
- Gerda Bunnemann
- Aenne Goerling as Minna
- Paul Hörbiger as Emil
- Ferdinand Hart
- Theo Lingen as Oberkellner
- Adele Sandrock as Mieterin
- Oskar Sima as Steuer-Inspektor
- Leopoldine Konstantin
- Klaus Pohl as Schneider
- Gustav Waldau
References edit
- ^ Waldman p. 45
Bibliography edit
- Waldman, Harry (2008). Nazi Films in America, 1933–1942. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-3861-7.
External links edit
- A Mad Idea at IMDb
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