''Berlin, Schoenhauser Corner'' (german: Berlin – Ecke Schönhauser…) is an

East German East Germany, officially the German Democratic Republic (GDR; german: Deutsche Demokratische Republik, , DDR, ), was a country that existed from its creation on 7 October 1949 until its dissolution on 3 October 1990. In these years the state ...

crime film Crime films, in the broadest sense, is a film genre inspired by and analogous to the crime fiction literary genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and its detection. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and combine ...

directed by

Gerhard Klein Gerhard is a name of Germanic origin and may refer to: Given name * Gerhard (bishop of Passau) (fl. 932–946), German prelate * Gerhard III, Count of Holstein-Rendsburg (1292–1340), German prince, regent of Denmark * Gerhard Barkhorn (1919–19 ...

. It was released in 1957.

Plot summary

Dieter, Angela, Kohle and Karl-Heinz are part of a group of delinquent youths who prowl Schönhauser Allee, in Berlin's

Prenzlauer Berg Prenzlauer Berg () is a locality of Berlin, forming the southerly and most urban district of the borough of Pankow. From its founding in 1920 until 2001, Prenzlauer Berg was a district of Berlin in its own right. However, that year it was incorp ...

. The four, each with their troubled life, are often in trouble with the police. Karl-Heinz steals an identity document and uses it to enter

West Berlin West Berlin (german: Berlin (West) or , ) was a political enclave which comprised the western part of Berlin during the years of the Cold War. Although West Berlin was de jure not part of West Germany, lacked any sovereignty, and was under mi ...

, where he murders a man while committing armed robbery. The police suspect that his friends assisted him. When he returns, Kohle and Dieter confront Karl-Heinz about an unpaid debt; he threatens them both with a pistol, and Kohle knocks him unconscious. Karl-Heinz recovers and runs away, but Dieter and Kohle believe they have killed Karl-Heinz. Kohle and Dieter get assistance in fleeing to West Berlin, and stay in a home with other young men in the western sector of the city. They plan to get to the

Federal Republic of Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated between ...

. Before long Dieter wonders whether Karl-Heinz is really dead, and whether it would be safe to return to East Berlin. He is threatened by some of the young men in the home where they are staying. Kohle is concerned that the two friends will be separated. He drinks a solution of coffee and tobacco to feign illness, so he can't be sent away. The next morning, Dieter discovers Kohle dead, poisoned by the beverage. Dieter returns home, where Angela awaits his child, and explains the situation to the police. He is released, while Karl-Heinz is imprisoned.

Cast

Ekkehard Schall Ekkehard Schall (29 May 1930 in Magdeburg – 3 September 2005 in Berlin) was a German stage and screen actor/director. He was one of the best-known interpreters of Brecht's works and together with Helene Weigel a member of the Berliner ...

as Dieter *

Ilse Pagé Ilse Pagé (29 May 1939 – 19 June 2017) was a German film and television actress. Selected filmography * ''Berlin, Schoenhauser Corner'' (1957) - Angela * ''Arzt aus Leidenschaft'' (1959) - Ein junges Mädchen * ''...und noch frech dazu!'' (19 ...

as Angela *

Ernst-Georg Schwill Ernst-Georg Schwill (30 March 1939 - 9 April 2020) was a German actor, best known for his performance as ''Kohle'' in the 1957 film ''Berlin, Schoenhauser Corner'' and as ''Lutz Weber'' in ''Tatort ''Tatort'' ("Crime scene") is a German la ...

as Kohle *

Harry Engel Harry may refer to: TV shows * ''Harry'' (American TV series), a 1987 American comedy series starring Alan Arkin * ''Harry'' (British TV series), a 1993 BBC drama that ran for two seasons * ''Harry'' (talk show), a 2016 American daytime talk show ...

as Karl-Heinz Erdmann *

Raimund Schelcher Raimund Schelcher (27 March 1910 – 27 March 1972) was a German actor with Tanzanian citizenship who appeared in over 43 films and television programs between 1939 and 1971. Personal life He was born in Dar es Salaam, German East Africa (now ...

as Police commissioner *

Helga Göring Helga Göring (1922–2010) was a German stage, television and film actress.Brockmann p.247 Selected filmography * ''Castles and Cottages'' (1957) * '' Two Mothers'' (1957) * '' Sheriff Teddy'' (1957) * '' Erich Kubak'' (1959) * '' The Second T ...

as Angela's mother *

Erika Dunkelmann Erika Dunkelmann (17 November 1913 – 14 February 2000) was a German film and television actress.Cowie & Elley p.168 Based in East Germany, she worked regularly for the state-controlled DEFA studios. Selected filmography * ''Das geheimnisvolle W ...

as Kohle's mother * Maximilian Larsen as Kohle's stepfather * Ingeborg Beeske as Karl-Heinz's mother * Siegfried Weiß as Karl-Heinz's father *

Manfred Borges ''Manfred: A dramatic poem'' is a closet drama written in 1816–1817 by Lord Byron. It contains supernatural elements, in keeping with the popularity of the ghost story in England at the time. It is a typical example of a Gothic fiction. Byr ...

as Dieter's brother *

Hartmut Reck Hartmut Reck (17 November 1932 – 30 January 2001) was a German television and film actor. He also appeared in the American-produced epic film, '' The Longest Day''. He also acted in the German film dubbing industry, dubbing into German the voi ...

as member of the

Free German Youth The Free German Youth (german: Freie Deutsche Jugend; FDJ) is a youth movement in Germany. Formerly, it was the official youth movement of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and the Socialist Unity Party of Germany. The organization was meant ...

Gerd Michael Henneberg Gerd Michael Henneberg (14 July 1922 – 1 January 2011) was a German actor and theater director. Biography Gerd Henneberg's father, Richard, was a theater director. After the young Heeneberg took private acting classes, he debuted on stage at a ...

as American man

Production

The screenplay of ''Berlin – Ecke Schönhauser…'' was written in summer 1956 - during the early months of the

Khrushchev Thaw The Khrushchev Thaw ( rus, хрущёвская о́ттепель, r=khrushchovskaya ottepel, p=xrʊˈɕːɵfskəjə ˈotʲ:ɪpʲɪlʲ or simply ''ottepel'')William Taubman, Khrushchev: The Man and His Era, London: Free Press, 2004 is the period ...

- and severely criticized by officials in the Ministry of Culture's Cinema Directorate upon its completion. It was seen by the authorities as portraying only the negative side of the life in the country. Director Klein did not receive an approval to begin filming, but did so anyhow, starting at October. When Klein held a screening of ''Ecke Schönhauser'' in the Ministry of Culture, the officials present strongly disapproved of it, and intended to ban it. But when it was presented to the Central Committee of the

Hans Modrow Hans Modrow (; born 27 January 1928) is a German politician best known as the last communist premier of East Germany. Taking office in the middle of the Peaceful Revolution, he was the ''de facto'' leader of the country for much of the winter ...

praised Klein's work and declared that it would be beneficial for the populace. The film was approved for release. ''Berlin - Ecke Schönhauser...'' was released only a year after the release of ''

Die Halbstarken ''Teenage Wolfpack'' (german: Die Halbstarken) is a 1956 German crime drama film directed by Georg Tressler. The film is also known as ''Wolfpack'' in the United Kingdom. It was shot at the Spandau Studios in West Berlin Plot summary The drama ...

'' (1956) in the Federal Republic of Germany. ''Die Halbstarken'' is one of numerous German-made films inspired by the American young rebel films of the 1950s that featured young, male protagonists rebelling against the rule of law and breaking societal norms. Such films were heavily criticized by German officials of the DDR who believed it was the goal of the West to destabilize East German society through the release of such films.

Reception

The film was viewed by 1.5 million watchers in the first twelve weeks after its premiere. Mira and Antonin Liehm wrote that, while still attacking "West Berlin with the same propagandistic undertone of all DEFA films", it also "took into account the shady aspects of life in the East". Dagmar Schittly noted that the film acknowledged the East German youth's wish to emulate the life in the West, at least partially: on one occasion, Angela states that her model of the ideal man figure is

Marlon Brando Marlon Brando Jr. (April 3, 1924 – July 1, 2004) was an American actor. Considered one of the most influential actors of the 20th century, he received numerous accolades throughout his career, which spanned six decades, including two Academ ...

. At 1995, ''Berlin – Ecke Schönhauser…'' was selected as one of the 100 most important German films in history.
Berlin – Ecke Schönhauser…
'' on PROGRESS' website.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Berlin Schoenhauser Corner 1957 films 1957 crime films German crime films East German films 1950s German-language films Films set in Berlin German black-and-white films 1950s German films