People on Sunday (1930)

Two men and two women enjoy a pleasant Sunday at the beach amid the unending toil of the working week.

Directors:

Robert Siodmak, Edgar G. Ulmer

Writers:

Curt Siodmak (based on a reportage by) (as Kurt Siodmak), Billy Wilder (screenplay) (as Billie Wilder)

Stars:

Erwin Splettstößer, Brigitte Borchert, Wolfgang von Waltershausen

Cast

Credited cast:
Erwin Splettstößer	...	Himself (taxi driver)
Brigitte Borchert	...	Herself (record seller)
Wolfgang von Waltershausen	...	Himself (wine seller)
Christl Ehlers	...	Herself (an extra in films)
Annie Schreyer	...	Herself (model)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kurt Gerron	...	Himself
Valeska Gert	...	Herself
Heinrich Gretler	...	Himself
Moriz Seeler	...	Photo Subject at Beach
Ernö Verebes	...	Himself

Storyline

Edwin, a taxi driver, lives with Annie, a neurasthenic model. They plan to spend Sunday at the Nikolassee beach with Wolfgang, an officer, gentleman, antiquarian, gigolo, at the moment a wine salesman. After an argument, Annie stays at home while Edwin joins Wolf. Wolf has brought along a new girlfriend, Christl. Brigitte, Christl's best friend, joins the group. Brigitte is the manager of a record shop. At the beach Wolf tries to kiss Christl but she rejects him and he turns his attentions toward Brigitte, who is more receptive. Wolf and Brigitte go off together and he seduces her. Back on the beach, Wolf and Erwin, now tired of their dates, flirt with two other women as Brigitte and Christl look on, appalled. They have small satisfaction when the men have to borrow money from them to pay for the paddle-boat they were renting. As they part at the end of the day, Brigitte hopes Wolf will see her next Sunday, but he and Erwin have other plans. The bond between the two men is the one ...

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Plot Keywords:

berlin germany | semi documentary | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Germany

Release Date:

4 February 1930 (Germany)

Also Known As:

People on Sunday

Filming Locations:

Germany

Company Credits

Production Co:

Film Studio 1929, Filmstudio Berlin

Technical Specs

Runtime:

73 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was a major hit when it was released in Germany in 1930. Five of the people who worked on the film went on to direct films in Hollywood: Curt Siodmak, his brother Robert Siodmak, Edgar G. Ulmer, Fred Zinnemann and Billy Wilder.

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Connections

Featured in Cinema's Exiles: From Hitler to Hollywood (2009)

User Reviews

beautifully shot, surprisingly modern performances

One of the surprising things about this film is the very acute, naturalistic and fundamentally humorous performances from an amateur cast, lacking all the usual strange, exaggerated mannerisms of silent cinema. The other impressive aspect of the film is the beauty of the photography, always playful and probing: the scene where an old man responds to the pompous nationalistic statues in the park is brilliant and affecting, if rather ambiguous. The modern score that was provided in the version I saw was effective and fitting: to be recommended. I agree that it all seems rather unreal, given that it takes place in 1929- yet it strikes me as not so much realistic, as naturalistic: perhaps striving to depict normality in difficult times. A very good and fundamentally humane film, lacking any real plot or suspense, but full of really interesting moments.