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7.7/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7.7/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Der Feldherrnhügel remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, only watch Der Feldherrnhügel if you have a weird itch for 1930s European slapstick or if you are doing some deep-dive into the era. If you’re expecting a tight, modern pacing, you’ll be bored within ten minutes. People who enjoy watching stuffy military types get embarrassed by their own rules will have a decent time, though.
It’s not exactly The Knockout in terms of energy, that’s for sure. The whole movie feels like a stage play that someone decided to film on a Tuesday morning.
The costumes are impeccable, which is basically the only reason I kept watching past the halfway mark. There’s something inherently funny about watching men with massive mustaches panic over a seating chart or a misdirected letter. 🙄
The dialogue is thick with that old-fashioned theatrical delivery. You know, where everyone projects their voice to the back of the room, even when they’re standing two feet away from each other. It’s a bit much.
There is this one scene involving a chair—you’ll know it when you see it—that drags on for an eternity. It’s almost like the director just forgot to yell cut. It’s awkward, but in a way that’s actually kind of charming if you’re into the 'rough around the edges' style of early talkies.
It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in Working Winnie, though without the same spark. You can tell they were trying to be clever with the social commentary, but it mostly lands as a series of misunderstandings that nobody really cares about.
It isn't a masterpiece. It isn't a disaster. It just is. Sometimes that’s enough, but don’t expect to remember much about it by next week. It’s a strange little time capsule that feels like it’s been sitting in a drawer for ninety years. Which, I guess, it has. 🎞️