The Rape of the Sabines: A Quirky German Farce Still Funny Today?

Okay, so I just watched The Rape of the Sabines, this German movie from way back. It’s definitely for folks who appreciate classic European farce and perhaps a bit of theater history. If you're into snappy, physical humor from the early 20th century, or just want to see a professor get increasingly flustered, you'll likely have a good time. Anyone looking for modern, subtle wit, or something with a really fast pace, might find themselves checking their watch. 🕰️

The whole thing kicks off with Professor Martin Gollwitz, a scholar who wrote this big, serious play when he was young. A proper tragedy, you know? Then this theater guy, Emanuel Striese, he finds it. Striese is pure showman. He sees a gold mine, but not as a tragedy. Nope. He's turning it into a farce.

And that’s the central conflict, really. The professor, bless his heart, he’s just mortified. Every time Striese (played by Paul Westermeier) opens his mouth with some new, wild idea for the play, Gollwitz’s face just crumble a little more. It's a masterclass in slow-burn exasperation. Max Gülstorff really nails it as the put-upon academic. His sighs alone could tell a story.

There’s a bit where Striese is trying to explain his vision for the 'rape' scene – which, in the original, I guess, was meant to be dramatic. But Striese, he’s talking about costumes, and a certain *flair*. You can almost feel the professor's blood pressure rising right through the screen. He keeps making these little gasping noises, like a fish out of water.

The actual performances of the play within the movie are just wild. They really commit to the farce. There's a moment when the "Sabine women" are being "abducted," and it just turns into this chaotic, almost slapstick ballet. One of the actresses, I think it was Lieselotte Moll-König, she takes a tumble that felt a little too real. Hope she was okay! 😅

It's not just the main plot, though. The whole setup of Striese's theater troupe is funny. They’re a ragtag bunch. They don’t seem to take anything too seriously, even Striese himself is a bit of a clown behind the bravado. There’s a scene early on where they're rehearsing, and everyone is just a little off-key. It's charming in a clumsy way.

What really got me was how the film plays with expectations. You keep thinking Gollwitz will finally put his foot down, or Striese will realize the error of his ways. But no. It just escalates. The professor’s attempts to regain control are feeble and always fail in the most amusing ways. It's quite a lesson in futility.

Little Things I Noticed

• Striese has this incredibly elaborate, slightly threadbare costume coat he wears. It’s supposed to make him look important, but it just looks like he’s trying too hard. It tells you everything about his character without a single word. 🎭
• The general, played by Hugo Froelich, has these fantastic exaggerated gestures. Every time he points or throws his hands up, it’s like a silent movie bit. Sometimes a bit much, maybe, but it fit the overall tone.
• The stage backdrops for the play are so obviously painted. It adds to the charm, making it clear this isn't meant to be high art, even in its own context.
• The way the professor's glasses keep slipping down his nose when he's stressed. A tiny detail, but it sells his character.

The pacing, for a modern viewer, it does feel a bit slow at times. Some of the scenes with just talking, setting up the jokes, they linger a bit. But when the actual "play" scenes happen, it picks up considerably. The energy shifts, and it becomes quite lively. You just have to be patient for the payoff.

I found myself wondering, is this how people really reacted to theatre back then? Like, was this kind of broad comedy really what audiences clamored for? It makes you think about how humor changes. But also, some things, like seeing a pompous person get their comeuppance, that never really goes out of style.

The ending, without giving too much away, it's pretty satisfying in a farcical way. It doesn't tie everything up neatly, but it gives you that feeling of "well, that was a ride." You don't leave feeling deeply philosophical, but you probably have a smile on your face. Or at least a chuckle. Maybe a bewildered chuckle. 😄

So, would I say this is a must-see today? Probably not for everyone. But if you’ve got a soft spot for classic European film, especially comedies where the humor comes from character and escalating absurdity, give it a shot. It's a window into a different time, and it has some genuinely funny performances, even if it feels a little *old-fashioned* now.

Final thought: The professor's wife, played by Lucie Höflich, she’s actually pretty great. She tries to be the voice of reason but mostly just gets dragged into the chaos. Her reaction shots are subtly gold. She doesn’t scream, she just has this resigned sigh look. It’s good stuff.