Münchhausen [The Adventures of Baron Munchausen] **** (1943, Hans Albers, Wilhelm Bendow, Michael Bohnen) – Classic Movie Review 10,406

Director Josef von Báky’s 1943 Agfacolor comedy fantasy adventure Münchhausen [The Adventures of Baron Munchausen] [Baron Münchhausen] is the costly, sweeping and handsome-looking German film version of the Gottfried August Bürger novel about the infamous liar, his exaggerated adventures and his search for lovely ladies.

It is fascinating on its own account, fascinating to compare with Terry Gilliam’s The Adventures of Baron Munchausen and also fascinating historically as a piece of Nazi propaganda – the Baron (Hans Albers) is shown as a high-minded patriot. It is extraordinary visually, and there is remarkable special effects work and location shooting, with lovely colour cinematography by Werner Krien and Konstantin Irmen-Tschet.

Joseph Goebbels, Nazi politician and Reich Minister of Propaganda of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945, planned this lavish production to mark the silver anniversary of the German film production company UFA film studios.

The script and dialogue are by Erich Kästner.

The film was originally 134 minutes but the restored version runs 119 minutes.

Also in the cast are Brigitte Horney as Zarin Katharina II, Wilhelm Bendow as Der Mondmann, Hans Brausewetter, Marina von Ditmar as Sophie von Riedesel, Andrews Engelmann, Leo Slezak, Ferdinand Marian, Michael Bohnen, Waldemar Leitgeb, Walter Lieck, Hubert von Meyerinck, Hilde von Stolz, Ilse Werner and Käthe Haack as Baronin Münchhausen.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,406

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