Leontine Sagan’s 1931 “Machen in Uniform” is a film that show us the emancipated style of the Weimar Republic and a statement against authoritarian leadership but also an open mindset to sexuality. It’s no doubt a memorable film from the Weimar era.
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TITLE: Madchen in Uniform
DATE OF FILM RELEASE: 1931
DURATION: 88 Minutes
BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 1:20:1 aspect ratio, 1080p, Black and White/monaural, German with optional Subtitles
COMPANY: Kino Classics
RATED: Not Rated
RELEASE DATE: July 14, 2020
Directed by Leontine Sagan
Supervised by Carl Froelich
Screenplay by Christa Winsloe, Friedrich Dammann
Based on the Play by Christa Winsloe
Story by Reinhold Schunzel
Producer: Eduard Kubat, Alfred Zeisler
Music by Franz Doelle
Cinematography by Konstantin Irmen-Tschet
Edited by Arnfried Heyne
Production Design by Artur Gunther, Benneo von Arent
Costume Design by Luise Leder, Ida Revelly, Willy Schlick
Starring:
Emilia Unda as Oberin des Stifts
Dorothea Wieck as Frl. von Bernburg
Hedy Krilla as frl. von Kesten
Hertha Thiele as Manuela von Meinhardis
Ellen Schwanneke as Ilse von Westhagen
A vital landmark in the history of queer cinema, Madchen in Uniform is a remarkably brave and honest film about nascent love between women at a boarding school for girls. Vulnerable and quiet, Manuela von Meinhardis (Hertha Thiele) struggles to adjust to the stern discipline of the heavily-regimented institution. In time, she gains confidence through a friendship with one of her teachers (Dorothea Wieck). But no relationship between women, no matter how chaste, is to be permitted, and under the constant threat of punishment or expulsion, Manuela desperately tries to keep hope and love alive. Beyond its acclaim as a groundbreaking work in LGBTQ culture, Mädchen in Uniform has also been hailed as a timeless fable of the struggle of the innocent against the totalitarian forces of oppression—especially poignant since it was produced in Germany amidst the rise of the Nazi Party.
When it comes to German cinema, many know of Leni Riefenstahl for her work and also for her work as a Nazi sympathizer. During the Weimar Period, while Riefenstahl directed the 1932 film “Das Blaue Licht” (The Blue Light), there was another female filmmaker who directed a film before her and that was Leontine Sagan.
Sagan was an Austrian-Hungarian theatre director and actress of Jewish descent and known for directing the groundbreaking film “Madchen in Uniform” in 1931.
A film that was groundbreaking for its portrayal of lesbian pedagogical eros and homoeroticism, but also incorporation a production that was co-operative and featured profit-sharing financial arrangements.
The film is based on Christa Winsloe’s stage play “Gestern und heute” and while it had impact in Berlin lesbian clubs, the film was eclipsed by Josef von Sternberg’s “Der blaue Engel” (1930) starring Emil Jannings and Marlene Dietrich. But the film was popular in Europe and also received the Japanese Kinema Junpo Award for “Best Foreign Language Film” in 1934.
While the film was banned in the United States, Eleanor Roosevelt spoke highly of the film and it received a limited release in the US in 1932-1933 (note: Eleanor Roosevelt was an activist who had close friends who were lesbians and there are books which have explored the First Lady actually being a lesbian).
The film would inspire the 1951 French film “Olivia” and would receive a German remake in 1958.
And now the original film has been released on Blu-ray by Kino Classics featuring a remastered version.
“Madchen in Uniform” is a film about Manuela von Meinhardis (portrayed by Hertha Thiele) who is taken to an all-girls boarding school headed by a traditional, albeit cold-hearted Fraulein von Nordeck zur Nidden.
Manuela’s mother had died when she was young and her father serves in the military, so she is enrolled in the school and learns how strict the school is when she receives her uniform and her possessions are taken away from her.
The film also introduces us to Ilse von Westhagen (portrayed by Ellen Schwanneke) who is the more blunt, rebel in the all-girls boarding school.
While Manuela is crying one day, because she missed her mother, she meets a the kindhearted, beautiful Fraulein von Bernburg (portrayed by Dorothea Wieck) who helps ease her emotions and assures her to accept her surroundings and be happy and not cry.
Many of the girls at the school are enamored with Fraulein von Bernburg, who believes in making a difference in these girls lives through compassion and tends to put herself in opposition with the other teachers who choose to be cold like Fraulein von Nordeck zur Nidden.
And one thing the girls look forward to is Fraulein von Bernburg wishing each of them a good night and kissing them in the forehead, she gives Manuela a kiss on the lips. And from this point on, Manuela falls in love with Fraulein von Bernburg.
But one night, when things should have been a happy night for Manuela, something bad happens to both her and Fraulein von Bernburg.
VIDEO:
“Madchen in Uniform” is presented in 1080p High Definition, black and white (1:20:1 aspect ratio). The film looks very good for its age and I saw no signs of any excessive scratches or tears in the print. The film looks great in HD!
AUDIO & SUBTITLES:
“Madchen in Uniform” is presented in German monaural. For the most part, dialogue is crystal clear with no significant hiss or crackling.
Subtitles are in English.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“Madchen in Uniform” comes with an audio commentary by film historian Jenni Olson.
During the Weimar Republic, “Madchen in Uniform” was the most famous film directed by a female filmmaker.
While the film is seen as a groundbreaking, early Lesbian film, the film was considered anti-authoritarian and original writer Christa Winsloe’s intention was it to be a statement against the Prussian educational system.
The film was nothing like other Weimar cinema, featuring a film director and an all-female cast, this was a film that was made possible thanks to the Weimar Era of free thinking and opposing the authoritorian and repressive Nazi regime.
While created during the Weimar Era, the Nazi regime banned the film and try to burn all prints of the film, but the film has already been sent all over the world.
Because the filmmaker Leontine Sagan was Jewish, she left to England not long after the premiere of the film, but many of the crew who worked on the film were also Jewish, while there were some who were able to flee Germany, crew members had died in Nazi death camps.
Adolf Hitler’s ascension to power in 1933 would also a signal an intolerance towards homosexuals. Many homosexuals were put in Nazi death camps and some were tortured by scientist experimenting on how they could remove the homosexuality of an individual and others were used by Nazi soldiers are target practice.
“Madchen in Uniform” was a film that was progressive and emancipative thanks to a Germany during the late Weimar Era, released in numerous countries and appreciated by many.
The film depicts that any ties to emotional attachments are bad and for this all-girls boarding school, the teachers believe in following the orders of cold-hearted Fraulein von Nordeck zur Nidden who becomes the antagonist of a film. No doubt, taking a knock at traditional patriarchal systems.
While Fraulein von Bernburg believes each student must be treated with love and compassion.
And there is no denying the film’s lesbian tone, but many film critics downplayed it and focused on the film’s anti-authoritative message.
Personally, watching this film, you have to take both in consideration, not one or the other.
I feel that “Madchen in Uniform” was quite a bold film at the time for its political and sexual message. For a film that was created in 1931, you would think that society would have evolved to become more accepting. But like the Nazi regime came in an destroyed the Weimar Republic and reshape entertainment to its own twisted ideals, one can find the message still important today.
Fraulein von Bernburg believed each student must be treated with love and compassion. In today’s world, with so much racial and sexual intolerance and politics at the lowest we have ever seen.
It’s important to note that the storyline that Christa Winsloe had in the play is much more darker/tragic than what is featured in the film. In fact, both the 1931 and 1958 films are rather different with the latter featuring a more happier ending.
Perhaps Carl Froelich wanted to show a bit more hope, but nevertheless, I feel that between the original story, the 1931 film and the 1958 film, the original 1931 film is a much more fitting compromise. And I’ll leave it at that, as I don’t want to spoil the film for anyone.
Overall, Leontine Sagan’s 1931 “Madchen in Uniform” is a film that show us the emancipated style of the Weimar Republic and a statement against authoritarian leadership but also an open mindset to sexuality. It’s no doubt a memorable film from the Weimar era.