This early talkie take on the classic kids' book, made in Germany from a script by Billy Wilder and Emeric Pressburger, is both remarkably accomplished and true to the spirit of its source. Stylish, airy and with some great location shooting, it's also a kiddie companion to the adolescent People on Sunday, that gobsmacking slice of summer escapism that had come a year earlier.

The story sees mischievous, resourceful Emil (Rolf Wenkhaus) being put on the train to Berlin by his mum. In his pocket is the 140 marks he must give to his grandmother: a fortune to their impoverished family. Enter the most suspicious-looking man in the world (creepy Fritz Rasp), who drugs Emil with a poisoned sweet -…

In Berlin gibt es Häuser, die sind 100 Stockwerke hoch - In Berlin, there are houses that are 100 stories high

Gerhardt Lamprechts filmic adaptation of Erich Kästners famous children's novel, with a screenplay by Billy Wilder, abducts the viewer into a peaceful Weimar Berlin, in which evil forces are summoning--in a symbolic form. Striking is Fritz Rasp's (known as The Thin Man from Metropolis) portrayal of the hitleresque criminal and con artist Grundeis/Mitlinski. 

While the portrayal of Berlin is largely ignoring the political reality of the metropolis that was being haunted by fascist and communist Stoßtrupps (Hitler would gain power two years after the film was released), the villain with the uncanny eyes and the  little beard serves as…

Making a concerted effort to finish the letterboxd season challenge.

After a run in with a local policeman Emil is packed off to his grandmother's in Berlin only to have his money stolen on the train there.

A lovely kids film, you can see the roots of countless Childrens Film Foundation type things in the gang of young actors trying to track down the thief. The script is by Billy Wilder and Emeric Pressberger and it shares with Wilder's other early collaboration, People on a Sunday, a loose charming feel. Some of it is as a historical document, Berlin in the early 30s can't help but resonate in all sorts of ways and seeing it as the setting for a…

In Berlin gibt es Häuser, die sind 100 Stockwerke hoch - In Berlin, there are houses that are 100 stories high

Gerhardt Lamprechts filmic adaptation of Erich Kästners famous children's novel, with a screenplay by Billy Wilder, abducts the viewer into a peaceful Weimar Berlin, in which evil forces are summoning--in a symbolic form. Striking is Fritz Rasp's (known as The Thin Man from Metropolis) portrayal of the hitleresque criminal and con artist Grundeis/Mitlinski. 

While the portrayal of Berlin is largely ignoring the political reality of the metropolis that was being haunted by fascist and communist Stoßtrupps (Hitler would gain power two years after the film was released), the villain with the uncanny eyes and the  little beard serves as…

Making a concerted effort to finish the letterboxd season challenge.

After a run in with a local policeman Emil is packed off to his grandmother's in Berlin only to have his money stolen on the train there.

A lovely kids film, you can see the roots of countless Childrens Film Foundation type things in the gang of young actors trying to track down the thief. The script is by Billy Wilder and Emeric Pressberger and it shares with Wilder's other early collaboration, People on a Sunday, a loose charming feel. Some of it is as a historical document, Berlin in the early 30s can't help but resonate in all sorts of ways and seeing it as the setting for a…

A delightful film version of Erich Kästner's seminal children's novel, which at the time of the film's release, had only been published two years. This early sound film was made towards the end of the Weimar republic in Germany and although more than a little crude around the edges it does have an indomitable spirit and is great fun throughout, as well as offering some great location footage of pre-war Berlin. The film is for and about children, something quite rare at the time, most films starring children at the time were clearly aimed primarily at adults, but this film is told completely for the children's sensibilities and viewpoint, more than anything it reminded me of the "Children's film foundation"…

This early talkie take on the classic kids' book, made in Germany from a script by Billy Wilder and Emeric Pressburger, is both remarkably accomplished and true to the spirit of its source. Stylish, airy and with some great location shooting, it's also a kiddie companion to the adolescent People on Sunday, that gobsmacking slice of summer escapism that had come a year earlier.

The story sees mischievous, resourceful Emil (Rolf Wenkhaus) being put on the train to Berlin by his mum. In his pocket is the 140 marks he must give to his grandmother: a fortune to their impoverished family. Enter the most suspicious-looking man in the world (creepy Fritz Rasp), who drugs Emil with a poisoned sweet -…