An unashamedly romantic film of Heinz Ruemann performed by a magnificent cast headed by Hertha Feiler, Hans Soehnker, Hans Nielsen and Susanne von Almassy. There is also a marvellous turn as a manservant by Erich Ponto who steals all of his scenes. Tremendous production values and an excellent score by Ruemann's favoured composer Werner Bochmann. Adapted from a play the script is by Helmut Weisse who directed Ruemann in one of his most popular films 'Die Feuerzangenbowle'. There is invariably a darker side to Third Reich films of course. One reads that the glorious Hertha Feiler, being a quarter Jewish, was only granted permission to work by virtue of being Ruemann's wife. Hans Soenker was apparently on the Nazi blacklist for his pro-Semitic activities. Compare Ponto's comic performance here with his terrifying portayal of Lord Talbot in Ucicky's flagrantly propogandist 'Das Madchen Johanna'. This should hopefully not lessen one's enjoyment of this delightful, charming and totally captivating film. Let us just be thankful for it.
Review of Der Engel mit dem Saitenspiel
