7 DVD set of subtitled, Zarah Leander hits at a discounted price for the diehard Zarah Leander fan:
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DER BLAUFUCHS (1938):
Ilona, the bored wife of an easily distracted professor, falls in love with his friend Tibor, a world-traveler and ladykiller. Although she pursues him, he declines to take advantage of the situation, because she's married to his best friend. Only after her husband shows an interest in a co-worker is it possible for a happy ending to take place for the two new couples.
Ilona, die gelangweilte Gattin eines leicht zerstreuten Privatdozenten, verliebt sich in dessen Freund Tibor, einen Weltenbummler und Charmeur. Obwohl sie ihn drängt, lässt er sich zunächst nicht auf eine Liaison ein. Er möchte dem Freund nicht weh tun. Erst als der Ehemann seine Zuneigung zu einer Mitarbeiterin offenbart, gibt es ein Happy End für zwei neue Paare.
DVD-R IS IN GERMAN WITH SWITCHABLE ENGLISH SUBTITLES. APPROX. 96 MINS. EXCELLENT, DIGITAL DVD FILM QUALITY OVERALL.
DAMALS (1943):
The doctor, Vera Meiners, lives with her small daughter, Brigitte. Her former husband, Jan, left her after she met a former lover in a harmless meeting (Frank Douglas). Without the knowledge of the chief surgeon, Vera orders an operation to be performed and is thereafter fired. Penniless, she works in Spanish nightclubs in order to provide for herself and her child. After many years, she runs into her friend Frank again in one of these nightclubs. Frank informs her that he can make it possible for her to emigrate to South America. With the false papers of another doctor, who is a friend of hers and who is dying, she hopes to build a new career. But, instead, she ends up getting arrested. She is suspected of murdering her former friend Frank to keep her secret quiet. But then her former husband hears about the whole thing and soon the real story comes out.
REGION FREE
DVD-R IS APPROX. 90 MINS. EXCELLENT, DIGITAL DVD QUALITY. IN GERMAN WITH OPTIONAL ENGLISH SUBTITLES
DAS HERZ DER KÖNIGIN (1940):
As the title "The Queen's Heart" suggests, this German version of Mary Queen of Scott's eventful reign and death focuses on her emotional perception rather lyrically. Starting in the Tower, awaiting and receiving her sentence to the axe from the English court, we flash back to Mary's arrival after a long exile at the sophisticated, splendidly hedonistic French royal court, where she was raised as a Catholic. In her people's eyes, she is effeminate and depraved; an elegant pleasure-accustomed lady at utter odds with the stern Scottish protestantism of John Knox as well as England's Anglicanism. No less rugged and troublesome, even turning bloody, are Mary's affairs with Lord Henry Darnley, a Scottish-born dandy Elisabeth sent her, who becomes Mary's unfaithful king-consort to give Scotland a male heir. Scottish Lord Bothwell, like most of the all-male royal council, a cesspit of aristocratic intrigue, is envious of the influence of the Italian musician and poet David Riccio, her private secretary, alleged lover -maybe James's biological father- and the voice of the Pope. Yet the major power-player on the isle of Albion is Elisabeth I of England, who wants control over its thorny northern neighbour.
Zarah Leander fans will be pleased with this film, and justifiably so. But let us not forget when it was made and for what purpose. Appearing under the guise of a semi-musical -- like all her films -- this film went beyond simply sending a message of support for the troops, like Die Grosse Liebe. This film was anti-British propaganda at its best, like Ohm Krueger and Das Madchen Johanna. It is left to the educated viewer to decide how much was truth and how much was distorted to serve the message of the Reich's Ministry of Propaganda.
DVD-R IS IN GERMAN WITH OPTIONAL ENGLISH SUBTITLES AND OPTIONAL GERMAN SUBTITLES FOR THE HARD-OF-HEARING. EXCELLENT DIGITAL QUALITY. APPROX. 105 MINS.
DIE GROSSE LIEBE (1942):
The attractive Oberleutnant Paul Wendlandt is stationed in North Africa as a fighter pilot. While in Berlin to deliver a report he is given a day's leave, and on the stage of the cabaret theatre "Skala" sees the popular Danish singer Hanna Holberg. For Paul it is love at first sight. When Hanna visits friends after the end of the performance, he follows her, and speaks to her in the U-Bahn. After the party in her friends' flat, he accompanies her home and chance throws them further together when an air raid warning forces them to take cover in the air raid shelter. Hanna reciprocates Paul's feelings, but after a night spent together Paul has to return immediately to the front. There now follows a whole series of misunderstandings, and one missed opportunity after another. While Hanna waits in vain for some sign of life from Paul, he is flying on missions in North Africa. When he tries to visit her in her Berlin flat, she is giving a Christmas concert in Paris. Nevertheless their bond grows in strength and arouses the jealousy of the composer Rudnitzky, who is also in love with the singer.
DVD-R IS 94 minutes. EXCELLENT DIGITAL QUALITY. IN GERMAN WITH OPTIONAL ENGLISH SUBTITLES. REGION FREE (will play in any DVD player)
HEIMAT (1938):
Also known by some as Magda, the woman of the same name, a daughter of a Colonel von Schwartze, returns from America back to her homeland as a famous opera singer, after having disappeared into the blue for a long time. She is to perform a leading soloist role in the St. Matthew Passion at the royal residence at Ilmingen. After so many years, she once again sees her father, whom she abandoned so many years before after a fight. The two reconcile. But that is not the end of Magda's problems back home.
Though a product of NS-Germany, Zarah Leander and Heinrich George shine in this first-class production, which shows not the slightest hint of any propaganda influences of their boss, Joseph Goebbels. For Zarah Leander fans, this film, now with subtitles, is not to be missed.
DVD-R IS IN GERMAN WITH SWITCHABLE ENGLISH SUBTITLES.
94 minutes long. REGION FREE (will play in any DVD player)
FILM QUALITY: Excellent, digital quality.
ZU NEUEN UFERN (1937):
In 19th century London, popular show singer Gloria Vane enjoys great success. Out of love for Sir Albert Finsbury, she claims responsibility for a bank fraud he committed and is sentenced to manual labour in a work camp in Parametta, Australia. Although she hopes for her lover to rescue her, Finsbury lets her down. In order to escape the ordeal of the camp, Gloria participates in a wedding market and is picked by good-natured farmer Henry Hoyer. But life on a farm seems unbearable to Gloria, and she flees to Sir Albert, who meanwhile also moved to Australia and is now engaged to the governor's daughter. They meet again in the nightclub "Sidney Casino", where Gloria is performing as a singer. Albert begs her to leave with him, but Gloria can't forgive his betrayal. Finally, Albert commits suicide. Gloria returns to Parametta and is taken in by a forgiving Henry.
DVD-R IS IN GERMAN WITH OPTIONAL ENGLISH SUBTITLES. APPROX. 98 MINS. LONG
ES WAR EINE RAUSCHENDE BALLNACHT (1939):
Tchaikovsky would have been both amused and relieved to know he was the subject of a movie about a love affair between himself and a woman, played here by Zarah Leander. Amused, because his interest in women was close to zero; relieved, because he was deeply closeted and did everything possible to keep his secret hidden from Russian society. That aside, if you like high drama with divas -- and what movie with Zarah Leander doesn't fall into that category? -- then this film is a brilliant example, with Zarah singing one of her most famous and touching songs of the time, "Nur nicht aus Liebe weinen" (good advice when dating gay composers). There are also some superb ball and high society scenes set in Imperial Russia.
IN GERMAN WITH SWITCHABLE ENGLISH SUBTITLES. EXCELLENT DIGITAL QUALITY. APPROX. 89 MINS. + 21 MINUTE NEWSREEL
DVD-Rs ARE IN GERMAN WITH SWITCHABLE ENGLISH SUBTITLES. EXCELLENT QUALITY OVERALL. APPROXIMATELY 687 MINUTES TOTAL (more than 11 hours).
