''Jacke wie Hose'' (English-language title: ''Swings Or Roundabouts'') 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 ...

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

Eduard Kubat Eduard Kubat (1891–1976) was a German film producer, who also directed two films.Giesen p.193 During the Nazi era he was employed by Terra Film, but following the Second World War he went to work for DEFA, the state-controlled company of East ...

. It was released in 1953.

Plot

After a new government law forbids women to operate heavy machinery in steel factories, a group of female workers that is determined to lift the ban proposes a competition to their male counterparts: those who will produce the greatest quantity of steel will win. The men are certain that they will be victorious. One of them, Ernst Hollup, is angered by his wife's involvement with the other team, and he demands that she will resign and become a housewife. The women develop a wagon that carries the molten iron to the steel furnace and greatly simplifies their work. They win the competition, as well as the respect of the men. The government lifts the ban.

Cast

* Irene Korb as Hilde Hollup *

Günther Simon Günther Simon (11 May 1925 – 25 June 1972) was an East German actor. Biography Early life A bank clerk's son, Simon attended an acting school already in '' Gymnasium''. At the age of 16, he was sent to a premilitary training camp of the ...

as Ernst Hollup *

Fritz Diez Fritz Diez (27 February 1901 – 19 October 1979) was a German actor, producer, director and theater manager. Biography Early life Diez's mother was a servant, and raised her three children alone. To support his family, the child began working a ...

as Hellwand * Johanna Bucher as Manja *

Ruth Maria Kubitschek Ruth Maria Kubitschek (; born 2 August 1931) is a retired German actress born in Czechoslovakia. At the end of World War II her family fled to Köthen. Ruth Maria went to the University for Theater and Music (Hochschule für Theater und Musik) ...

as Eva * Charlotte Küter as Johanna * Regine Lutz as Lisa * Lieselotte Merbach as Zenzi * Wolfgang Erich Parge as Triebel * Herbert Richter as Meider * Theo Shall as Mühlberger * Edwin Marian as Peter *

Harry Hindemith Harry Hindemith (16 June 1906 – 21 January 1973) was a German actor. He appeared in more than eighty films from 1944 to 1973. Filmography References External links * 1906 births 1973 deaths German male film actors {{Germany ...

as Steiger

Production

The film was planned after the East German public reacted negatively to the wave of highly ideological films released during the early 1950s. It was intended to present the ideas of socialism in a humorous fashion, and to provide entertainment for the audience.

Reception

East German film critic Leo Menter wrote that "''Jacke wie Hose'' is a typical example for the films made in the peace-loving, Socialist countries... it is no gangster film, no opium for the masses; it is based on true life." On the other hand, Rolf Behrends, another East German journalist, asked "why are the characters shown solely as functionaries in the factory? The film lacks any private, human side."Heinz Kersten. ''Das Filmwesen in der sowjetischen Besatzungszone''. Deutscher Bundes-Verlag (1954). ASIN B004CF9VL8. Page 37. The West German Catholic Film Service regarded ''Jacke wie Hose'' as a "propagandistic... didactic, picture." Author Andrea Rinke cited it as an early example for the expression of Feminist ideas in East German cinema, much before the subject became popular with DEFA filmmakers in the 1970.Andrea Rinke. ''Images of Women in East German Cinema 1972–1982''.

Edwin Mellen Press The Edwin Mellen Press or Mellen Press is an international Independent business, independent company and Academic publisher, academic publishing house with editorial offices in Lewiston (town), New York, Lewiston, New York, and Lampeter, Lampete ...

(2006). . Page 103.

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, 0230349
''Jacke wie Hose'' original 1953 poster
on ostfilm.de. 1953 films East German films 1950s German-language films 1950s feminist films 1953 comedy films German black-and-white films German comedy films 1950s German films