Kolberg

original title:
Kolberg
other titles:
Burning Hearts
country / year of production:
Germany / 1945
original length:
116 min. , color
premiere:
30 January 1945, La Rochelle, France
genre:
Propaganda film
based on:
director:
Wolfgang Liebeneiner , Veit Harlan
film script:
Alfred Braun , Veit Harlan , Joseph Goebbels
producer:
Wilhelm Sperber , Joseph Goebbels
cinematographer:
Bruno Mondi
editor:
Wolfgang Liebeneiner , Wolfgang Schleif
composer:
Norbert Schultze
cast (role):
Kristina Söderbaum (Maria) , Heinrich George (Stadtverordneter Nettelbeck) , Paul Wegener (Stadtkommandant Loucadou) , Horst Caspar (General Gneisenau) , Gustav Diessl (Leutnant Schill) , Kristina Söderbaum , Heinrich George , Paul Wegener , Horst Caspar , Gustav Diessl
more:
Claus Clausen (Friedrich Wilhelm III.) , Otto Wernicke (Bauer Werner) , Otto Wernicke , Claus Clausen
plot synopsis:
1806: the prussian town of Kolberg is threatened by the advancing troops of Napoleon’s army. Against the relustance of the town commander Lacanou mayor Nettelbeck tries to organize a home guard. He is decided rather to let the town be destroyed by french artillery than handing it over to the French. But the predominance of the French seems to be too strong. Only when the town is imminent danger of being taken, the Prussian general Gneisenau manages to avoid the catastrophy with a cunning stratagem.
keywords:
resistance, opposition
war:
Wars of Liberation (1813-1815)
literature:
David Welch. Propaganda and the German Cinema, 1933-1945. London, New York: I.B. Tauris. 2001. 311 pp.

Peter Paret. „Kolberg (Germany, 1945). As historical film and historical monument“. In: John W. Chambers, David Culbert (eds.). World War II, Film, and History. New York, Oxford: Oxford UP, 1996, 47-66pp.
remarks:
Minster of Propaganda Goebbels commissioned harlan to produce a film that "is to demonstrate, through the example of the town that gives it its title, that a people united at home and at the front will overcome any foe. I authorize you to request whatever assistance you feel necessary from all Government, Party, and military agencies."

Compare the film "Der dreissigste Januar 1945" (1965).
availability: