Robert und Bertram (1928) Review: Two Dudes Just Hanging Out in Old Germany

I didn't expect much from a 1928 comedy about two guys wandering the countryside, but Robert und Bertram is actually a bit of a blast if you like watching people get away with stuff they shouldn't.

Is it worth watching today? Only if you have a soft spot for silent films that don't take themselves seriously at all.

If you hate movies where people make big, silly faces at the camera to show they are hungry or scared, you will probably want to skip this one. But for anyone else, it’s a solid way to spend an hour.

The plot is basically just these two guys roaming around and being thirsty. Harry Liedtke plays one of them and he has this weirdly modern energy about him.

He looks like he is about to wink at the camera every five minutes, like he knows the whole thing is a joke. It’s a lot different than the stiff acting you see in stuff like Dürfen wir schweigen? from the same era.

Fritz Greiner is the other half of the duo, the big guy with a beard that looks like it was made out of dried grass and glue. They have this chemistry that’s almost like a silent version of a buddy-cop movie, except they are the ones the cops are looking for.

There is this one scene in a tavern that I really liked. They eat like they haven't seen a carb in a decade.

The way the bread crumbles on the table feels so real and messy. It’s one of those small things that makes you realize people back then weren't that different from us when they're hungry.

The sets are a little flimsy though. You can see the backdrops shaking slightly when someone slams a door, which is hilarious if you’re looking for it.

It’s definitely more lighthearted than Nachtgestalten, which is way more moody and dark. This movie just wants to show you a good time in the sun.

I noticed a dog in the background of one street scene that looked genuinely confused by what the actors were doing. It just stood there staring while the main characters were doing their slapstick routine.

The movie gets way better once they start pretending to be fancy gentlemen. Watching them try to use the right forks at a dinner party is a gag that never really gets old, even a hundred years later.

It reminded me a bit of the vibe in Circus Pals, just that 'shambling along' feeling where you don't know where the characters will end up next. 🥨

Some of the intertitles are a bit too long. I found myself reading the first three words and then just waiting for the next shot because the actors' faces already told me everything I needed to know.

The ending feels a bit rushed, like they ran out of film or the sun was going down and they just decided to stop filming. It just... ends.

But honestly, it’s a lot more watchable than Ramshackle House. At least things actually happen here and the characters seem to like each other.

It’s not some deep masterpiece about the human condition or whatever. It’s just two dudes being dudes in old Germany. 🍺

If you're into the history of German comedy, it's a must-see just for Harry Liedtke's eyebrows alone. They deserve their own credit in the cast list.

I also liked the weirdly specific way one of the guards kept adjusting his helmet. It was totally unnecessary but made him feel like a real person who was uncomfortable in his uniform.

Overall, it's a comfy movie. Not a world-changer, but comfy. 🎥