''Fritz and Friederike'' (german: Fritz und Friederike) is a 1952 West German

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

directed by Géza von Bolváry and starring

Liselotte Pulver Liselotte Pulver (born 11 October 1929), sometimes credited as Lilo Pulver, is a Swiss actress. Pulver was one of the biggest stars of German cinema in the 1950s and 1960s, where she often was cast as a tomboy. She is well known for her hearty a ...

Albert Lieven Albert Lieven (born Albert Fritz Liévin; 22 June 1906 – 22 December 1971) was a German actor. Early life Lieven was born in Hohenstein, East Prussia (Olszynek, Poland). His father was the head physician of the Tuberculosis sanatorium Ho ...

, and

Margarete Haagen Margarete Haagen (29 November 1889 – 19 November 1966) was a German stage and film actress. Haagen appeared in over a hundred films during her career, generally in character roles. She specialised in playing good-natured elderly ladies. Fo ...

. It was made at the Wiesbaden Studios in

Hesse Hesse (, , ) or Hessia (, ; german: Hessen ), officially the State of Hessen (german: links=no, Land Hessen), is a state in Germany. Its capital city is Wiesbaden, and the largest urban area is Frankfurt. Two other major historic cities are Dar ...

.Knop p.143 The film's sets were designed by the art directors

Heinrich Beisenherz Heinrich Beisenherz (1891 – 1977) was a German art director and painter.Giesen p. 221 Selected filmography * '' Downfall'' (1923) * '' The Secret of Brinkenhof'' (1923) * '' The Love of a Queen'' (1923) * '' Garragan'' (1924) * ''Anna and El ...

and

Alfred Bütow Alfred Bütow (1902 – 1986) was a German art director. Originally he worked on scenic design in the theatre before switching to the film industry.Giesen p.236-37 He worked on the set design of over fifty films during his career. Selected filmo ...

Plot

Mönchheim, owner of a

riding school An equestrian facility is created and maintained for the purpose of accommodating, training or competing equids, especially horses. Based on their use, they may be known as a barn, stables, or riding hall and may include commercial operations descr ...

, had his

ward Ward may refer to: Division or unit * Hospital ward, a hospital division, floor, or room set aside for a particular class or group of patients, for example the psychiatric ward * Prison ward, a division of a penal institution such as a pris ...

Friederike raised to become a "Fritz" according to strictly male standards. This female Fritz can ride horses and is adept at

fencing Fencing is a group of three related combat sports. The three disciplines in modern fencing are the foil, the épée, and the sabre (also ''saber''); winning points are made through the weapon's contact with an opponent. A fourth discipline, ...

, swearing and drinking. He even wins a chase race against cavalry officer Henry de Voss. With a heavy heart Friederike is then sent to a girls' boarding school by her uncle. There she causes all sorts of confusion and flees disguised as a boy. She smuggles herself into a barracks of the operetta-like Sonn-Schein-Armee, which, among other things, is equipped with individual women's service. There she meets her tournament opponent again, who falls in love with her when he accidentally sees her in women's clothing. He sees through their game and puts them in a number of tricky situations. So Friederike discovers her feminine side after all, so that her lover can win her over completely.

Cast

References

Bibliography

* Knop, Matthias. ''Rote Rosen und weisser Flieder: die Blütezeit der Filmstadt Wiesbaden''. Museum Wiesbaden, 1995.

External links

* 1952 comedy films German comedy films West German films Films directed by Géza von Bolváry Cross-dressing in film German black-and-white films 1950s German films 1950s German-language films {{1950s-comedy-film-stub