"The Feuerzangenbowle": The film pleasure to join in
11/12/2023
Translation: machine translated
Its popularity is unbroken. The film "Die Feuerzangenbowle" conquers numerous auditoriums and living rooms again in the run-up to Christmas: interactive, with some unusual objects and lots of singing and merriment.
"Jäder nor een wönzgen Schluck!" Who doesn't recognise this quote? The 1944 film "Die Feuerzangenbowle" with Heinz Rühmann is part of the Christmas season for me. But not just for me. The film has been shown and celebrated for years, especially at German universities, but also in other places. I remember it from my own student days, but also from various events. And it also works in a private setting. Included: alarm clock, bicycle bell, torch, sparklers and, of course, Feuerzangenbowle. Traditionally, the audience supports the old film with paraphernalia they bring along.
- The alarm clocks should ring when the alarm clock in the film rings on the first day of school.
- The bicycle bells are rung when a school bell or bicycle bell rings in the film.
- The torches are used when a mirror is drawn. You use them to support Johannes Pfeiffer when he uses his mirror to help his classmates with their performance assessments.
- At the end of the film, radium is produced in chemistry class. Of course, it's not that easy. Instead, you and the whole audience light your sparklers. Caution: these are now banned at many events in enclosed spaces for fire safety reasons.
Your voice is also in demand. Whether in singing lessons or on the girls' school hike: as a spectator, you sing along fervently even with the slightest musical talent. You are right in the middle of the film instead of just being there. Every time someone raises their glass in the film, you and the entire audience do the same. You should also pay attention when the name of the class nerd is mentioned. As soon as you hear him, everyone shouts his name (Ackermann) loudly in chorus and clinks glasses with the person sitting next to them. "But everyone nor een wönzgen Schluck! Otherwise it'll go to your head." Cheers.
The mother of all school films
I don't want to give too much away about the film. I've already hinted at a few things. The film is a classic schoolboy film. I would even describe it as the mother of all school films: A comedy or even a farce or even a satire in a class of its own. Above all, the composition is masterful. The characters are bizarrely drawn and have a certain charm due to their accent or various quirks. The humour comes alive through the characters and situation comedy.
"Your name is?"
"Johann Pfeiffer!"
"With one F or with two?"
"With three, Professor!"
"With three Fs?"
"One in front of the egg, two behind the egg!"
Source: Goldie Filmverleih
Criticism of the film
"Die Feuerzangenbowle" is based on the novel of the same name by Heinrich Spoerl. It was filmed in Babelsberg in 1943 under the direction of Helmut Weiss. Weiss stuck very closely to the original. Some of the dialogue was copied verbatim.
The film should not be viewed entirely uncritically. Heinz Rühmann is said to have personally travelled to the Wolf's Lair with a copy of the film in order to obtain approval from the then National Socialist Chancellor Adolf Hitler. The film premiered on 28 January 1944. Many of the young actors - the school class consisted of real sixth form students as well as the stars - did not live to see the premiere as they had been killed in the war in the meantime.
"Die Feuerzangenbowle" is a classic example of the seemingly apolitical National Socialist entertainment film. At the time, it primarily served as a distraction so that viewers could retreat into a dream world. A subliminal propaganda cannot be denied in the film. I'm thinking in particular of the character of the history teacher Dr Brett, whose statements about discipline and strictness radiate a certain ideology. At the same time, it is above all the anti-authoritarian teachers who are the film's most sympathetic figures. And ultimately it is only the statements of a single film character. Above all, these sentences do not reflect the message of the film.
Cover photo: Goldie Filmverleih
My interests are varied, I just like to enjoy life. Always on the lookout for news about darts, gaming, films and series.
