Horst in Translation (filmreviews@web.de)
"Das Wirtshaus im Spessart" or "The Spessart Inn" is a West German color film from 1958, so it will have its 60th birthday soon. And it should not be taken for granted as there are many German films from the 1960s that are still in black-and-white. And maybe this use of color is one reason why this this (slightly under) 100-minute movie is still somewhat known today, more than most other 1950s films for sure. And another reason may be that this is just the beginning from a whole series of "Spessart" films. However, I myself must say that this one would have been enough. It was not a failure and there were no really bad moments in here, but as a whole I found it fairly forgettable and it did not have enough fascinating scenes and interesting moments. The director is Kurt Hoffmann and returned for future films as well. The entire film is based on a fairy-tale by Wilhelm Hauff, a writer from the early 19th century who died at a very young age, but still wrote some pieces that are still known today. His stories are usually darker, but this one here really isn't. Yes there is a story about an abducted girl, but it is really all about the comedy, romance and music. Sadly, in these areas it does not stand out compared to all the mediocrity Germany delivered in the 1950s. That's why I give it a thumbs-down. Lead actress Lilo Pulver could not win me over either. Watch something else instead.
dlee2012
Arguably Liselotte Pulver's finest film, Das Wirtshaus im Spessart is like a German fairytale come to life. Like the real fairy tales in their original forms, it is not solely aimed at children but contains moral lessons and warnings for all, young and old.The colours and atmosphere of the film are warm and there is delightful comedy throughout from Liselotte as the Contesse disguised as a boy, from the inept highwaymen and from the other hostages.As the other reviewer, Robert Lander, noted, the film can be read as an allegory of life in post-war West Germany with women returning to their traditional roles and the men, so many of whom formerly supported the Nazi regime, continuing in their crooked ways unpunished.Perhaps the fairy tale nature of the story, then, is a way to turn the volkisch ideals back against the Nazis who promoted them. With their true morals restored, they end up condemning the gangsters who ran the regime.Despite these serious moral issues, the film has a lightness and charm, reinforced by delightful musical numbers and slapstick that make the message all the more palatable. This is also a return to a more innocent age where villains can be out-thought and out-charmed and a nostalgic view of a Germanic fiefdom long before the troubles brought about by the Second and Third Reichs. A lovely film.
Robert-Lander
Its comical nature notwithstanding, this movie is of historical interest in its implicit portrayal of the West German society: The men are either crooks or completely inept or imprisoned, so the women have to take over the men's jobs. But once the men return from detention the women have no choice but to resume their traditional role as house wife. Furthermore, you have the mobsters who hope to get away with their committed crimes and dream about spending the rest of their lifes with gardening (Gardening of course being one of the things Himmler wanted the Germans to do in the 'Lebensraum im Osten').
PlanecrazyIkarus
This is the first movie centering around the robbers living in the Spessart forest. They kidnap a contessa, who falls in love with their leader. It is basically a straight love story with some humour thrown in, and lots of sidekick robbers. Loveable, and one of my favourite movies as a kid.
AD
