The Captain from Koepenick (1956)
Directed by Helmut Käutner
Genres - Comedy |
Sub-Genres - Inspirational Drama |
Release Date - Jul 25, 1958 (USA - Unknown) |
Run Time - 93 min. |
Countries - Germany |
MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson
1956's Captain from Koepenick was the second film version of Der Hauptmann von Koepenick, a play by Carl Zuckmayer (the first was directed by Richard Oswald in 1931). This fact-based seriocomedy stars Heinz Reuhmann as Berlin shoemaker Wilhelm Vogt, who in 1906 finds himself in possession of a Prussian military officer's uniform. Donning the outfit, Vogt struts about posing as a Captain, going so far as to declare martial law on the town of Koepenick, arresting the mayor in the process. Then he commandeers the town's cashbox and heads for the hills--as newspapers all over Germany celebrate his "scam". Helmut Kautner, director of The Captain from Koepenick, appears in a bit part as an organ grinder.
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Keywords
jail, robbery, starting-over, uniform [clothing], against-the-system, arrest, captain [military], con/scam, courage, folk-hero, impersonation, military, official, role-switching, shoemaker, town