Spring Awakening (1929)
Moritz Stiefel faces expulsion due to poor marks. When he is caught with an essay titled “Shame and Lust”, he is indeed kicked out – instead of classmate Melchior Gabor, who actually penned it. Gabor was drawing on his experiences with neighbourhood girl Wendla. Then Wendla turns up pregnant. Stiefel descends into despair ... Exploitation between Eros and Thanatos in this “sexual tragedy of youth” based on Frank Wedekind’s play. Setting the film in the 1920s provided a chance to explore “modern” youth culture, complete with cigarettes, jazz music, the gramophone, and a goodly bit of alcohol. Richard Oswald, a master of films of manners and young sex beginning in the 1910s, fully explores the temptations of the youthful body, even early childhood flirtatiousness. At the same time, with his target audience in mind, the film laments the bigotry and double standards of the adult world.
Cast
- Toni van Eyck - Wendla
- Ita Rina - Ilse
- Carl Ballhaus - Moritz
- Rolf von Goth - Melchior Gabor
- Paul Henckels - Stiefel
- Mathilde Sussin - Mrs. Bergmann
- Willy Clever - Fahrendorf
- Valy Arnheim
- Fritz Rasp
- Bernhard Goetzke
Screenplay
- Friedrich Raff (Screenplay)
- Herbert Rosenfeld (Screenplay)
- Frank Wedekind (Theatre Play)
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Spring Awakening about?
- Moritz Stiefel faces expulsion due to poor marks. When he is caught with an essay titled “Shame and Lust”, he is indeed kicked out – instead of classmate Melchior Gabor, who actually penned it. Gabor was drawing on his experiences with neighbourhood girl Wendla. Then Wendla turns up pregnant. Stiefel descends into despair ... Exploitation between Eros and Thanatos in this “sexual tragedy of youth” based on Frank Wedekind’s play. Setting the film in the 1920s provided a chance to explore “modern” youth culture, complete with cigarettes, jazz music, the gramophone, and a goodly bit of alcohol. Richard Oswald, a master of films of manners and young sex beginning in the 1910s, fully explores the temptations of the youthful body, even early childhood flirtatiousness. At the same time, with his target audience in mind, the film laments the bigotry and double standards of the adult world.
- Who directed Spring Awakening?
- Spring Awakening was directed by Richard Oswald.
- Who stars in Spring Awakening?
- Spring Awakening stars Toni van Eyck, Ita Rina, Carl Ballhaus, Rolf von Goth, Paul Henckels, Mathilde Sussin.
- How long is Spring Awakening?
- Spring Awakening has a runtime of 1h 35m (95 minutes).
- What genre is Spring Awakening?
- Spring Awakening is a Drama film.
- Where was Spring Awakening produced?
- Spring Awakening was produced in Czechoslovakia, Germany.