- Der Stern von Afrika
-
Der Stern von Afrika
The Star of Africa
Directed by Alfred Weidenmann Produced by Rüdiger von Hirschberg Written by Herbert Reinecker and Udo Wolter Starring Joachim Hansen
Marianne Koch
Hansjörg Felmy
Roberto Blanco
Peer Schmidt
Horst Frank
Carl Lange
Alexander Kerst
Christian Doermer
Siegfried SchürenbergMusic by Hans-Martin Majewski Cinematography Helmut Ashley Studio Münchener Lichtspielkunst G.m.b.H. Release date(s) 13 August 1957 Running time 99 min. Country 
West Germany
SpainLanguage German Der Stern von Afrika (English: The Star of Africa) is a 1957 black-and-white German war film portraying the combat career of Luftwaffe World War II fighter pilot Hans-Joachim Marseille. It stars Joachim Hansen and Marianne Koch and was directed by Alfred Weidenmann. The film was premièred on 13 August 1957 in Berlin and was very successful at the German box office, although the film critics predominantly gave it a fair rating.[1]
Contents
Plot
Luftwaffe pilot Hans-Joachim Marseille is portrayed in the film by Joachim Hansen.
The film begins shortly before the outbreak of World War II and ensign Jochen Marseille is located at a Luftwaffe (Air Force) Kriegsschule (War School) in Berlin, where he makes a negative impression on his superiors with daredevil stunts and undisciplined behavior. His friend and comrade, Robert Franke, helps spare him from severe punishment. His squadron moves to France after the outbreak of World War II. During the Battle of Britain, Marseille experiences the brutality of war for the first time when Franke is shot down over the English Channel and is missing in action for a short time. But after his comrade's return, Marseille is back to a carefree world of flying. A thoughtful conversation in a bar while playing a game of billiards with an elderly French civilian affects him and his fellow pilots only briefly. A short time later, his unit is transferred to the Africa Corps in the North African Theater of Operations. Marseille, thanks to his outstanding flying skill and talent, quickly becomes the most successful fighter pilot.[2]
As his combat time in Africa lengthens, Marseille loses more and more comrades to the Desert Air Force. In particular, the death of the inexperienced young Sergeant Klein on his first aerial combat sortie and a conversation with the search-and-rescue officer Krusenberg cast doubt on the usefulness of his operations. After achieving his 100th aerial victory, Marseille is ordered to Berlin, where he is awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern). After a propaganda event at his former school, he meets the mathematics teacher, Brigitte, and falls in love with her. He takes her with him to Rome after he receives an invitation from the Italian High Command to receive the Gold Medal of Military Valor (Italian: Medaglia d'oro al Valore Militare). The two of them spend a few carefree and happy days in Italy. The distraught Brigitte tries to persuade him to defect, but out of a sense of duty, he returns to his squadron in North Africa.[2]
In North Africa, the intensity of aerial combat continues. During a reconnaissance flight over Egypt, his aircraft suffers an engine failure and only with difficulty does Marseille manage to return to German-controlled airspace. He bails out as the aircraft crashes, but his parachute does not open. His body is later found in the desert. Brigitte receives the news of his death while teaching a class and collapses.[2]
Historical accuracy
Eduard Neumann, the former Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of Jagdgeschwader 27 (27th fighter wing) and commanding officer of Marseille, served as a technical advisor on the film.[3]
The Messerschmitt Bf 109s shown in the film were H.A. 1112 "Buchóns", a Spanish license-built variant of the Bf 109, made available by the Spanish Air Force. This same type of aircraft also starred twelve years later in the well-known movie Battle of Britain in the same role.
Cast
- Joachim Hansen as Hans-Joachim "Jochen" Marseille
- Marianne Koch as Brigitte
- Hansjörg Felmy as Robert Franke
- Horst Frank as Albin Droste
- Peer Schmidt as Answald Sommer
- Lore Hartling as Marianne Franke
- Carl Lange as Hauptmann Krusenberg
- Werner Bruhns as Werner Heydenreich
- Alexander Kerst as Major Niemeyer
- Albert Hehn as Major Schliemann
- Johannes Grossmann as Unteroffizier Weiss
- Gisela von Collandeas as Marseille's mother
- Arno Paulsen as Marseille' father
- Christian Doermer as Unteroffizier Klein
- Siegfried Schürenberg as the direcor of the school
- Erich Ponto as the French billiard player
- Roberto Blanco as Mathias
References
- This article incorporates information from the revision as of 4 October 2011 of the equivalent article on the German Wikipedia.
- Citations
- ^ Tate 2008, p. 206.
- ^ a b c Wübbe 2001, p. 387.
- ^ Marianne Koch (actor), Joachim Hansen (actor), Alfred Weidenmann (director) (13 August 1957) (in German). Der Stern von Afrika (DVD). Event occurs at 1 minute. ASIN B00005NOWN. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049796/. Retrieved 5 Oktober 2011.
- Bibliography
- Tate, Robert (2008). Hans-Joachim Marseille: An Illustrated Tribute to the Luftwaffe's "Star of Africa" . Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-76432-940-1.
- Wübbe, Walter (2001). Hauptmann Hans Joachim Marseille Ein Jagdfliegerschicksal in Daten, Bildern und Dokumenten (in German). Schnellbach, Germany: Verlag Siegfried Bublies. ISBN 3-926584-78-5.
External links
Cinema of Germany 
Film chronology · German Empire 1895–1918 · Weimar Germany 1919–1933 · Nazi Germany 1933–1945 · East Germany (1945–1990) ·
(West) Germany 1945–present · 1945-1959 · 1960s · 1970s · 1980s · 1990s · 2000s · 2010s
Actors · Directors · Films A–Z · Cinematographers · Festivals · Producers · Composers · ScreenwritersCategories:- 1957 films
- Anti-war films about World War II
- West German films
- German-language films
- Films set in the 1940s
- World War II air force films
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
