Comedian Harmonists

One of the finest German films I've had the pleasure of seeing, 'Comedian Harmonists' tells the true story of a sextet of male singers who form a very famous group in Berlin when Hitler's Socialist party is just starting to get powerful. Of the six, three of them happen to be Jewish, which puts a dampener on their future when it's decreed that only Aryan entertainers will be allowed to perform in Germany. With a love triangle thrown in the mix, as well as the confusion of this almost sudden racial division, the members struggle to really come to terms with their future together. There are some chilling moments involving the hypocritical Nazis, indulging in some ironic entertainment care of the Comedian Harmonists, as well as some great musical segments. With some great performances from the entire cast - the stand outs are Ulrich Noethen as Harry Frommermann and Meret Becker as Erna - the film is a joy to watch, especially the wonderful musical sections, which at first I found to be tedious but then seemed to lift the film. Go figure. Joseph Vilsmaier, director of the excellent 'Stalingrad', has crafted a very entertaining film in this at times funny, joyous and very moving picture. (Watch for the ending - sentimental it may be, but it's very sad, IMO.) Recommended.

I love this movie, it is a wonderful movie. I cried when the Comedian Harmonists had to make their last show and they sang "Auf Wiedersehen, my dear". A fantastic movie with many beautiful songs, "Mein kleiner grüner Kaktus" or "Irgendwo auf der Welt", just to mention two. See this movie!!!!

Taken at face value, one would think that a film about a singing group called the "Comedian Harmonists" in the Berlin of the nineteen twenties, would be dull indeed. Not so.At two and a half hours, not once did my attention wander.The director, Joseph Vilsmaier, does such a magnificent job of telling the story of this very popular, German singing group, that I would have liked to have been there to hear them in person.The hedonism of Berlin in the twenties. The rise of the 'Brown Shirts', the vilification of the Jews, Vilsmaier captures it perfectly, without stooping to mawkish sentiment.Of course, this film is more than just a film about a very popular singing group. It's also about the evils of national-socialism, allowing men like Streicher (one of Hitler's most vicious jew-baiters - even the top Nazis didn't like the man), to grow and flourish. The look of the period is excellent. Each character is deftly drawn, while still not losing sight that primarily,it was a group. There's a wonderful scene towards the end where the 'Harmonists' sing in front of thousands of sailors. Tremendously stirring! One quibble: the Algonquin Hotel in New York, where the Harmonists stay, was not, as far as I know, located down near the Brooklyn Bridge.But that shouldn't detract anybody from going to see this wonderful film.

Excellent example of how politics should stay out of art (e.g. Shostakovich in Stalin's time and blacklisting of artists in US in McCarthy era). This movie draws the viewer in - what will happen to the members of the group? Will they survive Hitler's Germany? Realistic portrayals of both squabbling and camaraderie that exists inside creative groups. Well-photographed in proper time period fashions and decor, music pleasing to the ear. A real treat!

The story of the group "Comedian Harmonists" must take its place among the best films of the 1990's, no matter from what country. The story is told in a loving and respectful way and generates genuine interest in the characters and their music- the true brotherhood of men who love to sing. I'm sure the filmmakers forgot that until 1948 the U.S. military was segregated - and also about the American flag having only 48 stars. But, who cares? Some things from the 1930s no longer exist (especially the USS Saratoga - lost in the Bikini A-bomb tests of 1946) and are impossible to recreate; but this does not detract from the period realism of the film or the wondrous performances of the entire cast. A true 10 out of 10!