Hand-Picked Alternatives Movies That Echo the Spirit of Le petit éc...

Dir: Reinhold Schünzel

Rupp (Jannings) is a former butcher, made rich in the meat packing industry as a result of the reversal of fortunes brought on by WWI. He is crude, uncouth and uneducated. His son, Fred, is the apple of his father's eye and is an auto enthusiast. The widowed Rupp falls in love with a former aristocrat, Helen, now down on her luck and pawning her last heirloom. He proposes marriage and she accepts in order to save her ailing mother who needs a monetary influx to avoid death. Her former boyfriend, Platen, warns Helen against Rupp's intentions - he and Rupp are enemies, Rupp having caused his being fired for protecting a chorus girl against Rupp's unwanted advances. Meanwhile, Graf, a shyster, arranges purchase of a near bankrupt auto manufacturing firm, Phoenix, to Rupp's great advantage with practically no monetary recognition to Graf, who swears revenge. Rupp comes upon his son begging Helen not to marry his father but to return to Platen. Rupp misinterprets the scene, thinks his son is after his intended, and banishes him. The last twenty minutes involve an auto race and its aftermath. Fred unknown to all becomes the driver of his father's rival auto maker. Platen is driving for Rupp's firm, Phoenix. In order to win, Rupp has bribed Graf to make sure his rival won't.

Dir: Reinhold Schünzel

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of How Shall I Tell My Husband? perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Reinhold Schünzel

Peter Fall, once a gentleman of fine society, is cheated upon and ruined by the woman he loves. He disappears from the scene and goes to sea as a sailor.

Dir: Reinhold Schünzel

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Peter der Matrose perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A young woman tries to hinder her sister from committing adultery - by wooing the suitor herself.

Dir: Reinhold Schünzel

Originally Liebe in Ring, this German part-talkie is a generally agreeable effort to transform heavyweight boxing champ Max Schmeling into a movie star. It's the old saw about an up-and-coming pugilist who ignores his loyal girlfriend in favor of a wealthy adventuress. His new romance nearly wrecks the hero's career, but with the help of his friends -- and of course, his real sweetheart -- he makes a spectacular comeback. The final scenes show Schmeling and his new bride heading for America, which was evidently Mecca so far as pre-Hitlerian German filmmakers were concerned. Max Schmeling's leading lady in Love in the Ring is Olga Tschechowa; in real life, he married the equally popular actress Anny Ondra. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Dir: Reinhold Schünzel

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Die Töchter ihrer Exzellenz perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Comedy with an Egyptian backdrop: Businessman Tobby and the Countess Stafanie wish to take all the fun away from their single parents and make them marry each other.

Dir: Reinhold Schünzel

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Reinhold Schünzel

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Comeback perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Reinhold Schünzel

Gerte Winter, a young Berliner mechanic, marries an English rich nobleman who promises to send for her. Time goes on, and tired of waiting Gerte heads off to England. After some new acquaintances she finds herself in front of a big fenced property.

Dir: Reinhold Schünzel

Lamenting Thebian women are waiting for the men to come back from war. God Jupiter is attracted to one of them: Alkmene. He goes to earth and tries to seduce her as himself: an old man. Failing in this, he disguises himself as Amphitryon (Alkemene's husband) and tries again. Next morning Amphitryon and his men come back from war; he suspects adultery and wants a divorce. Jupiter's wive Juno now also comes to earth and clears things up.