The Rest Is Silence (1959)
Directed by Helmut Käutner
Genres - Drama, Crime |
Sub-Genres - Psychological Drama |
Run Time - 106 min. |
Countries - Germany |
MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson
The Rest Is Silence, a German-made attempt to update Shakespeare, is one of the best and least self-conscious of this minor genre. As indicated by the title, the film's script is a "mufti" version of Hamlet, with young Hardy Kruger trying to prove that his uncle (Peter van Eyck) has killed his father. Direct references to the Shakespeare original abound, right down to the re-enactment of the crime for the benefit of the Uncle and the periodic appearances of the ghost of the hero's father. Interestingly, this 1960 film was released at the same time as a "straight" German version of Hamlet, made for television and starring Maximillian Schell. The original title of Rest Is Silence was Der Rest Ist Schweigen.
Characteristics
Themes
Keywords
father, murder, uncle, ghost, schizophrenia