MovieChat Forums > Mädchen in Uniform (1931) Discussion > Clap clap to the good old BFI

Clap clap to the good old BFI


This is a classic early talky film, way ahead of its time, from a brilliant one time director, and which managed to miraculously pass the scrutiny of the Nazi propaganda ministry with its release in 1931.
I recently saw the NTSC VHS version for the first time, after seeing the PAL BFI one several times. I was naturally disgusted with the quality the USA has let slip with this incredible slice of time and art. For the first third of the film the subtitles (English) are almost invisible -white subtitles on a black and white film. Then suddenly, the subtitles stop altogether for about ten minutes or more. When they finally begin again they are in a different format and are frustratingly incomplete.
The scene where Fraulein von Bernburg and Manuela von Meinhardis kiss looks as though it has been thrown in the fire then rescued too late and stuck back onto the video with superglue. Yet another, and the final confrontation between the two women is disjointed, the voices are far from in sync with their lips and actions and occassionally the clip cuts out in the middle of a sentence, and starts half way into another one.
And by the way, none of these problems appeared on PAL...
To be honest, I expected it to be payed far less respect than it deserved in America, but this is really appalling. The complete neglect of such an important film which endorsed liberalism and freedom, while the Nazi's slowly closed in on them -Madchen in Uniform managed to squeeze out just in time and should be taken a little more care of.

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Finally! Mädchen in Uniform was shown on Finnish tv a few weeks ago. One of the most important and moving films I have ever seen.

Now and then we stumble over some things (in film, literature or music...) that open up our eyes, things that capture something essential in life.

Mädchen in Uniform is one of those things, side by side with A taste of Honey (film), Happy Sally (book), Cora Frost (musician), and the Smiths (music)...

- Is it possible to call for help ironically — and really mean it?

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It is actually not all that astonishing it was able to slip through the Nazi Party censorship appuratus in 1931, when it was released, as the Nazis did not take power in Germany until 1933.

Probably because the god-fearing Germans of the time saw their society was going to hell with decadent movies such as this one.

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Anyone know where I can find this film?

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Hitler became official Chancellor in '33 but the National Socialist's had already rooted themselves deep within German society and politics by then, obviously because they operated a lot underground when they were trying to legalise their power. You're wrong if you think they didn't have something to do with it being banned at the time.

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Hitler became chancellor in '33 but the national socialist party and also the hitler youth were already firmly established by that point. And they were doing serious damage to society. Learn your history.

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agree with all you said wholeheartedly. i just recently saw this film and it's taken me over heart and soul; and for so much more than the forbidden romance (although the forbidden romance is incredibly lovely) but there is so much in this film that blows my mind, and i'm sure you know what i mean. the cohesion of care that came together through the producer, the director, the writer, the actors is a one-off, and is one of those magical pieces of art and meaning in history. very important and very beautiful. it still shimmers like a gem covered in so much dust all these years later. i wish i could dust it off.

i would LOVE to see the PAL version. where can i get it?? i just emailed the BFI to find out if they have an original print of the film in their archives.

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ps. look at the images here: http://www.filmportal.de/df/24/Artikel,,,,,,,,EE07AC826976BC4AE03053D50B3715A6,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.html

in such amazing clarity! i'm sure they've been photoshopped (maybe? who knows) but they seem to be stills taken from a much better version of the movie than the american release.

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At first, I also thought these were frames of film, but they aren't. The aspect ratio of the original film is 1.37:1. These photos are wider than that. Also, for a couple of these photos, I slowly went through the corresponding scenes in the Janus VHS version, and there is never a time when the characters are arranged in the frame as they are in the photos. These are press photos, or something like that. They don't represent a better quality copy of the movie.

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Santhburns is correct. These are not frame caps from the actual film. When most films are being shot, there is a photographer on set who is taking stills to be used for the film's promotion. These are naturally much higher resolution than motion picture film, and may show things not present in the actual movie.

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I was lucky enough to see this lovely film a couple of times back in the 1980's but not since.

I am really surprised and dismayed that it is not better known and more widely distributed.

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"To be honest, I expected it to be payed far less respect than it deserved in America, but this is really appalling."

Since when is America the keeper of all things cinema? Do we have the original negatives? Do they still exist? Are American distributors in charge of all prints used for all purposes?

I'm sorry you saw a bad transfer, but it's not necessarily the company's fault. It may have been the only print available to them. And it's a small title and so probably not financially viable to do a major restoration.

If you want the film "taken care of," perhaps you should think about supporting the various institutions that are involved in the preservation of our cinema history...

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"Since when is America responsible for all things cinema"? They are not, everyone who knows film knows that. What gets to me and I thought was mentioning was that they were responsible for producing the ntsc version, a fact I thought should have been obvious.... are you american? If so, I am so very sorry I insulted your ignorance. The version AMERICA was responsible for releasing was inadequate. I do sometimes like americans so (especially in this case) this is not a matter of pure prejudice... but a very definate factual observation. Thank f that we dont have to rely on that editing process anymore. However, gnome5, was it, look into american film production history before you make....arguments? like that? Please..? My point was really that so many people who used to only have access to the ntsc version would have benefited from the BETTER version.

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Thanks for the rant, Wedgwood, and the insults. Really makes you... special.

If you have evidence that the US distributors had access to the "BETTER" version, and chose to not use it, then please present it. As I said, some times they go with the only version they have.

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