Black Roses (1935 film)

{{Infobox film

| name = Black Roses

| image =Black Roses (1935 film).jpg

| caption =

| director = Paul Martin

| producer = Paul Martin

| writer = {{ubl|Curt J. Braun|Walter Supper|Paul Martin}}

| narrator =

| starring = {{ubl|Lilian Harvey|Willy Fritsch|Willy Birgel|Gerhard Bienert}}

| music = Kurt Schröder

| cinematography = {{ubl|Werner Krien|Fritz Arno Wagner}}

| editing = {{ubl|Walter Fredersdorf|Johanna Schmidt}}

| studio = UFA

| distributor = UFA

| released = {{film date|1935|12|23|df=y}}

| runtime = 93 minutes

| country = Germany

| language = German

| budget =

| gross =

}}

Black Roses ({{langx|de|Schwarze Rosen}}) is a 1935 German historical drama film directed by Paul Martin and starring Lilian Harvey, Willy Fritsch and Willy Birgel. A separate English-language version Black Roses was also made with Harvey reprising her role opposite Esmond Knight.Bergfeder & Cargnelli p. 52 She also starred in a French version. The film was Harvey's comeback in German cinema, following her attempts to find enduring success in Hollywood and then in British films. One source suggested that Harvey paid for the English version of the film to be made out of her own money, as she still hoped to break into the English-speaking market.

The film was popular in Germany, partly because it re-teamed Harvey with Fritsch who was constantly romantically linked with her in the media. In fact Harvey was in a long-term relationship with the film's director Paul Martin. Despite the film's success, Harvey quickly moved away from melodrama to the lighter comedy romances that had originally made her name.Ascheid p. 124

It was shot at the Babelsberg Studios in Berlin with location shooting around Harburg a borough of Hamburg. The film's sets were designed by the art directors Erich Kettelhut and Max Mellin. The premiere took place at the Gloria-Palast.

Synopsis

When Finland was still part of the Russian Empire, a Finnish Revolutionary battling Czarist agents is assisted by Russian dancer Tania Fedorovna, who eventually gives her life for her lover.

Partial cast

Lilian Harvey as Tania Fedorovna
Willy Fritsch as Erkki Collin
Willy Birgel as Fürst Abarow
Gerhard Bienert as Niklander
Gertrud Wolle as Die Wirtschafterin
Klaus Pohl as Polizeiagent
Heinz Wemper as Kosak Iwanoff
Franz Klebusch as Fischer
Ullrich Klein as Offizier
Kurt von Ruffin as 1. Adjutant
Hermann Frick as 2. Adjutant

Reception

The Österreichische Film-Zeitung reported in its edition of December 27, 1935: "Paul Martin staged the film, which is rich in gripping scenes and whose exciting plot is well structured, with a great deal of sensitivity for what is cinematically effective. Scenes of oppressive drama are delightfully staged, or ballet pictures full of grace."{{ANNO|fil|27|12|1935|3|„Schwarze Rosen“}}

Paimann's Filmlisten found: "The plot slows down a bit after an excellent start, but increases noticeably towards the end. It has its most essential support in the leading couple. The dialogue is sparse, apt and is underlined by shot-rich camera work. Schröder's music is used with moderation, the presentation ... authentic (turn of the century)...".{{Cite web |url=http://old.filmarchiv.at/efg/filmarchiv/paimann/1935/Paimann_1029_2.jpg |title=Schwarze Rosen |access-date=2022-03-30 |archive-date=2016-04-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403011847/http://old.filmarchiv.at/efg/filmarchiv/paimann/1935/Paimann_1029_2.jpg |url-status=dead }} in: Paimann’s Filmlisten

References

Bibliography

{{cite book | last = Ascheid | first = Antje | title = Hitler's Heroines: Stardom and Womanhood in Nazi Cinema | publisher = Temple University Press | year = 2010 | orig-year = 2003 | location = Philadelphia | isbn = 978-1-59213-843-2 }}
{{cite book | editor-last1 = Bergfelder | editor-first1 = Tim | editor-last2 = Cargnelli | editor-first2 = Christian | title = Destination London: German-Speaking Emigrés and British Cinema, 1925–1950 | publisher = Berghahn Books | year = 2008 | location = New York | isbn = 978-0-85745-019-7 }}