What are your favourite German films and/or actors?

I'm German and I usually watch films and TV series both from the UK and US.
Now, I'm curious to learn, if there are any German films or actors that you like - if any.
;-)

Thanks for every comment!

Werner Herzog - almost anything - is that too obvious? Quite naturally, Klaus Kinski comes next... (if he counts for German). Quite a pair they... were.

All right, not really German, but would it be too wrong to mention Fritz Lang?

(Not so much into Fassbinder, to be honest, and kind of indifferent to Wenders. Not an expert of German cinema, really)

P.S. Perhaps should have added that I'm not from UK/US

Ah, Klaus Kinski, you either like him or not - and I don't!
I have to admit though that his acting skills were quite good - but beyond that I can't stand this guy and that made me not wanna watch too many movies with him.

Concerning Fritz Lang, he was Austrian born, but he also became a German citizen when he married German writer Thea von Harbou - so you can consider him partly German. ;-)
These two collaborated in many films, one of the best and most popular being "Metropolis".

P.S. I'm no expert of German cinema either.

Agreed about Klaus Kinski - it's love or hate thing... :)

I do think he was perfect in Herzog's films, though, and I do love his films, Aguirre, Cobra Verde, etc.

Das Leben der Anderen was a fantastic film. Does Das Weisse Band count as German as I loved that too? Remember being impressed by Klaus Maria Brandauer in Mephisto. Also liked Die Welle (The Wave). M by Fritz Lang starring Peter Lorre was a classic and so atmospheric. Thank you.

My Favourite Film of all time is Leni Riefenstahl's TRIUMPH DES WILLENS (1935). I do not endorse the Politics, BUT THE VISION OF THE DIRECTOR IS SUBLIME AND INSPIRED. A Powerful film that records a moment in history that would ultimately impact the fate of the free world. If you appreciate unbelievable camera angles, meglomania, a sea change in the World Politik, this is the movie to see. Not for the weak of heart or the weak of Mind. Not Fiction, But Fact! A thinking Man's Kino. German. Brilliant. One of a Kind.

I agree, "Das Leben der Anderen" (The Lives of Others [DVD] [2006]) is just a great film. It's a pity that leading actor Ulrich Mühe, who played the Stasi officer and did a remarkably good job with it, passed away just a few months after the film received the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.

I was also very impressed by Michael Haneke's "Das weisse Band" (The White Ribbon [DVD] [2009]). Haneke, who directed the film and wrote the script, is Austrian, but it's an Austrian-German-French-Italian co-production, and the language is German as well - so I think it counts as "a bit German". ;-)

When I first saw M - A Film by Fritz Lang (2 Disc - Ultimate Edition) [1931] [DVD] on TV as a teenager, I must admit that Peter Lorre's mad eyes scared me. But it's a fantastic performance by him and a fantastic film as well - and thank God, I lost my fear when I got older... ;-))

I have to admit that I've never seen a Riefenstahl film, but of course I read about her and know that she was a brillant filmmaker, but very controversial as a person and because of her acquaintances.

I don't know, if her films have been shown on German TV at all, but I don't rememer any broadcasting.
I've actually never thought of looking for a Riefenstahl film on DVD, it just didn't come to my mind - but that's changed, so thanks for giving me the idea.

"Nosferatu"; "Das Cabinet Des Dr Caligari"; "Metropolis"; "Die Letzte Mann"; "Das Testament Des Dr Mabuse"...
And to show that I don't think that the only good German films are those of the 1920's and 1930's: "Lola Rennt"; "Die Welle"...

Has anybody seen Sophie Scholl - The Final Days (Special 2 disc Edition) [2005] [DVD]?
That's another brillant film about the leader (together with her brother) of the resistance cell "White Rose".

Another great German filmmaker is Caroline Link, she became popular with "Jenseits der Stille" (Beyond Silence) and received an Oscar later for "Nirgendwo in Afrika" (Nowhere In Africa [DVD] [2003]).

Oh yeah, I liked "Lola rennt" (Run Lola Run [DVD] [2000]), too.
And Franka Potente is a very talented and likeable actress.

Rin Tin Tin. Well, he was a German Shepherd.

Anton Diffring was superb in many horror/thrillers 60s and 70s.

[Deleted by the author on 2 Jul 2012 12:48:09 BDT]

GERMAN CINEMA GREATEST EVER FILMS WERE DIRECTED BY :

HARALD REINL ALFRED VOHRER HARALD PHILIPP

GERMAN GREAT FILMS

TREASURE OF SILVER LAKE (62 L Barker P Brice ) Magnificent Western
WINNETOU FILMS (60s Lex Barker Stewart Granger P Brice)
LAST MOHICAN (64 J Fuchsberger K Dor) Classic western
AMONG VULTURES ( 64 Stewart Granger E Sommer) Classic
FLAMING FRONTIER ( 65 S Granger L Roman) Powerful western
RAMPAGE AT APACHE WELLS (66 Stewart Granger, P Brice) Fab western
WHOM GODS DESTROY/DIE NIBELUNGEN (66 U Beyer K Dor) Superb
THUNDER AT THE BORDER ( 66 P Brice M Versini ) Winnetou Western
TRAP SNAPS SHUT (67 G Nader H Frank ) Classic Jerry Cotton
DEATH IN RED JAGUAR (67 G Nader as Jerry Cotton) Cult films
DEATH KNOWS TWICE ( 68 Dean Reed F Testi ) Excellent Giallo
GORILLA VON SOHO ( 68 H Tappert U Glas ) E Wallace super
ANGELS OF TERROR ( 71 Uschi Glas H Felmy ) Edgar Wallace

QUITE GOOD GERMAN DIRECTORS : Fritz Lang (Moonfleet 55 SGranger

VERY MINOR OVER- RATED GERMAN DIRECTORS

Werner Herzog
Directed some bizarre films like Aguirre 72 Fitzcarraldo 82 OVER-RATED

Wim Wenders
Directed very routine films like American Friend 77 Wings of Desire 87.

Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Directed dreary dramas difficult to follow like Querelle 82 and was a
very personally troubled figure who died an early drugs death aged 37.

Really? The "Winnetou" films (or the other films based on novels by Karl May) in one sentence with the word "great"??
Well, that's your opinion and I respect that, of course.

And if "great" in this context means "popular" - I agree.
But in my opinion, in any other aspects like acting (mostly too one-dimensional), story (rather dull and way too funny in a bad way compared to the fine books) or any artistic standards, these films definitely can't compete with works like "Metropolis", "Sophie Scholl" or "The lives of others".

I wouldn't say, Herzog and Wenders were over-rated directors, especially Wenders made some very good films like "Paris, Texas", "Der Himmel über Berlin" or "Buena Vista Social Club".

Many of Herzog's films are probably another love/hate thing, especially the ones with Klaus Kinski.

Concerning Fassbinder, I really don't like all of his films, but "Angst essen Seele auf" for example is a masterpiece.

By the way, Harald Reinl was Austrian, not German.

P.S.: German cinema hadn't existed in the 1960's only. ;-)

P.P.S: You really don't have to "shout" (that's what text in capital letters implicates) -I'm not "deaf". ;-)

I'd like to mention another gem (in my opinion) of German films: "Out of Rosenheim" (Bagdad Cafe [1988] [DVD]) with Bavarian actress Marianne Sägebrecht, American actress CCH Pounder and actor veteran Jack Palance.
As this film is a German-American co-producion, the main language of the film is English (in Sägebrecht's case with a strong Bavarian accent, which is pretty funny) and it takes place in the middle of nowhere in California.

This indie film was very successful and followed by the TV series "Bagdad Café" starring Whoopi Goldberg.
Marianne Sägebrecht became known to a wider audience with her role as the Roses' housekeeper in the movie War Of The Roses [1989] [DVD] [1990] with Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner.

Four Minutes [2006] [DVD], bit schmaltzy tale about women prison, more about one female convict, combining in her toughness and gift of playing piano. Multiple awards.

Knockin' on Heaven's Door [DVD], Til Sweiger's film, himself in one of lead roles. Schmaltzy (again!) Hollywood style action comedy with very powerful and moving ending, tears or lump guaranteed.

Wings of Desire [DVD], excellent Bruno Ganz as angel.
Later Hollywood made a remake City Of Angels with Nic. Cage and Meg Ryan.

GREAT FILMS
These are films that require EXCELLENT/MAGNIFICENT OR GREAT :
1. ACTORS that are talented/expressive/attractive/magnetic/convincing
2. PLOT/STORY that is thrilling/exciting/captivating/mysterious/fantastic
3. DIRECTORS that are experienced/innovative/inventive/original/able.

CINEMA FILMS should provide an artistic means of ESCAPING from the
dull/boring/ordinary EVERYDAY LIFE DRAMAS. Films that appeal to
mostly morally DEVIANT "critics" are often pretentious/wooden/stiff/
dull/insipid/worthless so called "true life dramas" and unfunny "comedies"
Which sane/intelligent/discerning cinema goer wants to pay at the
cinema to then see something like Fassbinder's Fear Eats the Soul 74
about a tiresome boring older ugly woman with her younger toyboy.
Similarly so called bio/historical films like "Sophie Scholl" 05 are tiresome
/predictable/overlong/lacking mystery or thrills/pretentious/unpalatable.
Baghdad Cafe/Out Of Rosenheim 87 again is never ending talkative flop.
When "true life dramas" films are on screen a viewer can LEAVE THE
ROOM at anytime because these "dramas" are WITHOUT ANY merit/
quality/excitement/suspense/originality/tension. Most viewers are
already ULTRA BORED with their real life of depression/alcoholism/affairs
/hooligan kids/nagging wives and DO NOT need these "dramas" in Films.

PS. Please do NOT confuse CAPITALS to HIGHLIGHT or EMPHASIZE (Eve
with CAPITALS when someone is angry or aggressive and "shouting"

GERMAN
WINNETOU FILMS/ EDGAR WALLACE/ JERRY COTTON/ GIALLOS

In my opinion and judging by the box office popularity the view of many
millions of cinema goers/dvd buyers these above films are 100% GREAT.

WHY are the above GERMAN Winnetou/E Wallace Krimis/J Cotton/Giallos
GREAT FILMS ?

BECAUSE they meet the GREAT FILMS 1,2,3 requirements I have stated
BECAUSE they were Directed by Legendary DIRECTORS: REINL, VOHRER
BECAUSE they have HIGH CALIBRE High Ability Legendary ACTORS
BECAUSE they have PLOTS or SCRIPTS that thrill/excite/magnetize all.
BECAUSE at FILM CONVENTIONS NOBODY ever asks for material on the
boring/talkative/wooden/predictable "real life dramas" they WANT
HIGH QUALITY COLLECTOR'S MEMORABILIA > Winnetou, EWallace,JCott

I have studied GERMAN & DUTCH Cinema for years, watched 1000s films

KLAUS KINSKI
Polish Born Actor 1926-1991 Starred in many GERMAN/World Films

Klaus KInski was EXCELLENT in CLASSIC GREAT FILMS Like:
FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE 65 (Clint Eastwood L Van Cleef )
CIRCUS OF FEAR 67 (Christopher Lee Suzy Kendall )
A BULLET FOR THE GENERAL 67 (Lou Castel G M Volonte )
AND GOD SAID TO CAIN 70 (Klaus Kinski M Michelangeli )
WEB OF THE SPIDER 70 (Michele Mercier Tony Franciosa )

Klaus Kinski was also very well cast in numerous SPAGHETTI, THRILLER
EDGAR WALLACE Films in addition to minor films like Aguirre, Fitzcaraldo

FRITZ LANG
1890-1976 Austrian born director who directed fine films Europe/USA.

My FAVOURITE Fritz Lang Films
MOONFLEET 55 (Stewart Granger) RANCHO NOTORIOUS 52 (Mel Ferrer)
While City Sleeps 56 (Dana Andrews) 1000 Eyes Dr Mabuse 60 (PVEyck)

Also Lang's Metropolis 1927 is a fine well made Scifi drama love story.
Many other good films also.

Alright, Pinocchio!

This thread is all yours!
I don't want to "discuss" with someone who is obviously not willing to accept other opinions besides his/her own and just argues very aggressively with quotes from wikipedia or the like - a behaviour I've already noticed in other discussions.

Just one comment to the mass of viewers for certain films, which allegedly "proves" their quality:
Even a fart that sells a million times remains just a fart.

So, go on and "talk" to yourself - shouldn't be that difficult for someone with several names...

For my share, this discussion is closed.

Thanks to everybody else for your comments!

GREAT GERMAN ACTORS IN EUROPEAN USA FILMS

HORST FRANK KARIN DOR MARIA ROHM HELGA LINE ERIC BRAEDEN

I am a young lady of the highest moral integrity and do not ever lower
myself to vulgarity especially with very strange men on the internet.

I have EXTENSIVE WIDE RANGING FILM MUSIC KNOWLEDGE gained over
many years of watching/researching/discussing FILMS.

I will quickly comment on one particular quote I have seen :

"Even a far-t that sells a million times remains just a far-t"

EXACTLY & that APPLIES to ALL wooden/abysmal Film "dramas/comedy"
No matter how many immoral "critics" praise a boring/stiff/dull/lifeless
"true life drama or unfunny comedy" from Herzog/Fassbinder/Wenders
that movie monstrosity will still be "just a far-t" to be disposed of ASP.

Unlike some online I am UNIQUE OPEN HONEST FACTUAL on FILMS/LIFE

The virus is heading North.

Thanks for that info.

I will therefore make sure I HEAD SOUTH to AVOID you,I mean the virus

GREAT GERMAN FILMS I LOVE

CRY OF THE BLACK WOLVES 1972 Directed by HARALD REINL

( Ron Ely Gila Von Weitershausen)

MAGNIFICENT ADVENTURE FILM based on Jack London's classic novel.
Courageous fur trapper RON ELY battles killers to help a girl Gila Von W.