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Classic and Famous Films in German

What is a “classic” film?
Not every film is a classic, but the German-speaking countries, and Germany in particular, have made many strong contributions to the films of world cinema that are considered groundbreaking or notable in some way. Our definition of “classic” includes any film — old or new — that is notable for its cinematic originality, its story, or any other elements that make that film outstanding.

From the earliest days of motion pictures, Germany has played an important role in world cinema. As time went by, Berlin (Babelsberg) and Munich grew to become Hollywood’s biggest competitors. Many filmmakers and actors from Austria and Switzerland also ended up in Berlin (and later Hollywood).

More recently, a new generation of filmmakers from the German-speaking countries has been producing excellent films, and some of them have won Academy Awards and other film honors.

Also see Hollywood Films Made in Germany.

Classic German Films from the Silent Era

KEY: A = Austria | CH = Switzerland | D = Germany
Films listed alphabetically.

Anders als die Anderen (D, 1919, Different from the Others)
Director: Richard Oswald. One of the first films about gay men.

Asphalt (D, 1929)
Director: Joe May. A psychological melodrama set in the big city.

Berlin - Die Sinfonie der Großstadt (D, 1927, Berlin - Symphony of a Great City)
Director: Walter Ruttmann. A day in the life of Berlin. Remade in 2002.

Büchse der Pandora, Die (D, 1929, Pandora’s Box)
Director: G.W. Pabst. The American actress Louise Brooks stars.

Frau im Mond
Fritz Lang’s last silent film.
Frau im Mond (D, 1929, Woman in the Moon)
Director: Fritz Lang. Lang's last silent film (about a rocket to the moon) invented the countdown.

Cabinet des Dr. Caligari, Das (D, 1920, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari)
Director: Robert Wiene. An Expressionist forerunner of the horror film.

Golem, Der (D, 1920, The Golem)
Director: Paul Wegener, Carl Boese. A classic Jewish legend set in Prague.

indische Grabmal, Das (D, 1921, The Indian Tomb)
Director: Joe May. Conrad Veidt as an Indian maharajah in this exotic tale.

letzte Mann, Der (D, 1924, The Last Laugh)
Director: F.W. Murnau. “The film would be famous just for its lack of titles, and for its lead performance by Emil Jannings, which is so effective that both Jannings and Murnau were offered Hollywood contracts and moved to America at the dawn of sound. But The Last Laugh is remarkable also for its moving camera.” - from Roger Ebert

Metropolis
Director: Fritz Lang. A classic sci-fi epic that almost bankrupted the Ufa studio.

Nosferatu - eine Symphonie des Grauens (D, 1922)
Director: F.W. Murnau. The first Dracula film!

Orlacs Hände (D, 1924, The Hands of Orlac)
Director: Robert Wiene. Conrad Veidt stars in this first ever film version of a novel about a pianist whose hands are amputated in an accident and replaced by those of an executed murderer.

Tabu (D, 1931, Taboo)
Director: F.W. Murnau. “The landmark collaboration of documentarian Robert Flaherty and German director F.W. Murnau (his final film) has been hailed as one of the most stunning movies ever made. Shot in Tahiti, the story tells of a gorgeous native girl who is declared to be sacred by her tribe, and what happens when she defies them and falls in love with a man.” - from TCM

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Classic German Films (after 1929)

KEY: A = Austria | CH = Switzerland | D = Germany
Films listed alphabetically (by German title).

Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes (D, 1972, Aguirre, The Wrath of God)
Director: Werner Herzog. Conquistadors in Peru - speaking German.

blaue Engel, Der (D, 1930, The Blue Angel)
Director: Josef von Sternberg. Lola Lola (Marlene Dietrich) lures a high school teacher (Emil Jannings) into marriage — and ruin.

Blechtrommel, Die (D, 1979, The Tin Drum)
Director: Volker Schlöndorff. Academy Award film based on the Günter Grass novel about the Nazi era.

Boot, Das (D, 1981, The Boat)
Director: Wolfgang Petersen

Brücke, Die (D, 1959, The Bridge)
Director: Bernhard Wicki. At the end of World War II, young German boys are recruited to defend the town’s bridge against advancing American troops.

Ehe der Maria Braun, Die (1979, The Marriage of Maria Braun)
Director: Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Filmed by cameraman Michael Ballhaus (who later worked in Hollywood).

Fälscher, Die (A/D, 2007, The Counterfeiters)
Director: Stefan Ruzowitzky. Based on a true story of Jewish concentration camp prisoners who counterfeited money for the Nazis. Winner of an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.

Fitzcarraldo (D, 1982)
Director: Werner Herzog. Klaus Kinski has a mad, operatic adventure on the Amazon.

Himmel über Berlin, Der (D, 1987, Wings of Desire)
Director: Wim Wenders. Angels in Berlin - a true classic.

Hitlerjunge Salomon (D, 1990, Europa Europa)
Director: Agnieszka Holland

Leben der Anderen, Das (D, 2006, The Lives of Others)
Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. Acad. Award, Best Foreign Film about life in East Germany.

Lola Rennt (D, 1998, Run Lola Run)
Director: Tom Tykwer. Time shifts as Lola runs through Berlin.

M (D, 1931, M - Eine Stadt sucht einen Mörder)
Director: Fritz Lang. Peter Lorre is outstanding in this story of a child murderer and the Berlin underworld.

Macht der Bilder, Die (D, 1993, The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl)
Director: Ray Müller. Interesting documentary about the life and career of “Hitler’s favorite director,” with interviews and historical footage.

Männer (D, 1985, Men)
Director: Doris Dörrie. Comedy, satire.

Mörder sind unter uns, Die (D, 1946, The Murderers Are Among Us)
Director: Wolfgang Staudte. Hildegard Knef (Neff in the U.S.) stars in the tale of Nazis and post-war Germany.

Münchausen (D, 1943, Baron Münchausen)
Director: Josef von Baky. This Nazi effort to match The Wizard of Oz – in color – doesn’t even come close, but its special effects are fun.

Olympia (D, 1936-38)
Director: Leni Riefenstahl. Her documentary of the 1936 Olympics set new standards for sports coverage.

Schuh des Manitu, Der (D, 2001, The Shoe of the Manitou)
Director: Michael Herbig. This German western satire is so bad it’s good.

(T)Raumschiff Surprise (D, 2004, Spaceship Surprise)
Director: Michael Herbig. German StarTrek spoof that is classic in a limited sense.

Triumph des Willen (D, 1934, Triumph of the Will)
Director: Leni Riefenstahl. She never worked in Hollywood, but her documentary films had a lasting impact on cinema and television.

Wunder von Bern, Das (D, 2003, The Miracle of Bern)
Director: Sönke Wortmann. The miracle was West Germany’s soccer victory over Hungary in 1954.

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