Tran and Helle films

Tran and Helle ({{langx|de|Tran und Helle}}) were a comedy duo of the Third Reich era, played by Ludwig Schmitz (Tran) (1884–1954) and {{ill|Jupp Hussels|lt=Joseph "Jupp" Hussels|de}} (Helle) (1901–1984).

History

From September 1939 the pair appeared in a number of weekly 2–3 minute short films, which usually accompanied Die Deutsche Wochenschau newsreels or feature films screened in cinema.

Tran was a bald, simple-minded, yet also shrewd and jovial character, whose frequent transgressions would run counter to the German war effort or security. In different episodes Tran would listen to the BBC, refuse to donate his accumulated kitsch scrap metal, or engage in black market activities. His friend Helle—taller, handsome and appearing to be more considered in judgement—served as the foil who would ultimately show his fellow Rhinelander the error of his ways.{{cite web|url=https://research.calvin.edu/german-propaganda-archive/tranundhelle.htm|title=Tran und Helle|first=Randall|last=Bytwerk|website=research.calvin.edu}} While Jews were portrayed as untrustworthy, the series lacked the heavy-handed antisemitism found in some other German film productions of the Nazi era.

Tran and Helle's shorts were discontinued in the fall of 1940, possibly due to the authorities becoming concerned that audiences might sympathise with the duped but essentially human Tran, who would on occasions utter ideas contrary to the Nazi regime.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7LM6rCzUXXMC&q=%22Ludwig+Schmitz%22+and+%22Jupp+Hussels%22&pg=PA256|title=Berlin Cabaret|first=Peter|last=JELAVICH|date=5 August 1996|publisher=Harvard University Press|isbn=9780674067622|via=Google Books}} Schmitz was a member of the SS from 1 March 1934 and a member of the Nazi Party from May 1937, however he was barred from the German film industry from 1941 "due to unworthy behavior". It was only in the 1950s that the popular comedian was seen again in the West German cinema. He died of a heart attack in 1954.{{cite web|url=http://www.cyranos.ch/smschw-d.htm|title=Porträt des Schauspielers Ludwig Schmitz by Thomas Staedeli|first=Thomas|last=Staedeli|website=www.cyranos.ch}}

References

External links

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJv-zqVUGAw Feindbücher episode] (YouTube video)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VunCD-5G1VA Hamsterfragen episode] (YouTube video)

Category:Films of Nazi Germany

Category:German black-and-white films

Category:German comedy short films

Category:Nazi propaganda films

Category:Short film series