Kohlhiesel's Toechter (1930)

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Synopsis by Hal Erickson

Kohlhiesel's Tochters (also known as Gretel and Liesl) was a remake of a 1919 Ernst Lubitsch silent film which had starred Emil Jannings as the romantic lead. Fritz Kampers assumes the Jannings role in the 1930 version, and while critics felt that he wasn't quite as talented as his predecessor, all agreed that Kampers did full justice to the part. The plot centers on innkeeper Kohlhiesel's daughters, the beautiful Liesl and the homely Gretel. Both sisters are played by Henni Porten, repeating her role -- or roles -- from the original silent. The local butcher (Kampers) wants to marry Liesl, but Kohlhiesel refuses to bless their union until he finds a husband for older sister Gretel. Callously, the butcher proposes to Gretel, intending to divorce her and then marry Liesl. But guess what happens instead. By the time the talkie version of Kohlhiesel's Tochters went before the cameras, Ernst Lubitsch had relocated to Hollywood, leaving Hans Behrendt to take over the directorial reins.