The Good Soldier Schweik (1960) User Reviews

Rühmann's finest moment?

[Horst_In_Translation · 6/10 · 10 June 2016]

"Der brave Soldat Schwejk" is a West German 90-minute movie from the year 1950. The director is Axel von Ambesser and the writer who adapted Jaroslav Hasek's novel is Hans Jacoby who worked on other films with Heinz Rühmann as well. And now I mentioned him again, after I also said his name in the title. This film is a showpiece of Rühmann's unique talent to bring necessary gravity and a slightly comedic touch to important roles and characters. Schwejk is the perfect example for this approach and the role seems made for him. He owns the screen from start to finish and carries it nicely. I also think this is one of the best-written Rühmann movies. The screenplay is indeed very smart. And most importantly, it includes a wonderfully pacifist message that is still oh so true more than half a century later. Rühmann was already in his late 50s when he made this film, so it's far from his early years and at that point he may have been the biggest film star Germany had to offer after transitioning successfully from comedy to drama without losing his subtle funny touch. What else is there to say. The movie is deserving of all the accolades it received, such as the Silver Globe. A must-see for everybody who loves war-themed films that focus more on the people and characters than on the military attacks. I certainly recommend the watch.

If all soldiers are Schwejks', you can forget war.

[amikus2000 · 8/10 · 25 July 2000]

This old austrian-czech stories provided the story for the 'honest' soldier Schwejk, who arranges life to his own, not honest, but 'honest'. This movie gives an insight of the Austrian-Hungarian monarchy with its many ethnies and attitudes before WW 1. Rühmann starres charming and smiling, like in other movies.

One of Heinz's best and funniest movies

[j.m.oregan · 17 November 2000]

I have the video of this movie and can watch it over and over again. I speak and understand German. The outstanding moments are: 1. When Schwejk loses his way after being thrown off the train for pulling the "communication cord" - he goes around in circles then finds his way back to where he accidentally left his tobacco pouch. His comment "Alles hat sein tiefen Sinn" is "goldich" 2. When a sniper shoots his pipe from his mouth, and Schwejk shouts to the effect "You might have killed someone!" 3. When he arranges with his friend to meet at "half-past six after the war". The whole film has me curled up laughing, although the anti-war moral is quite serious.