Wildschütz Jennerwein (1929) Review: Mountains, Poaching, and Huge Mustaches

You should probably watch this if you are a fan of old German history or if you just really like looking at the Alps in grainy black and white. If you need explosions or a plot that moves faster than a snail on a cold day, you are going to absolutely hate this one.

I found a copy of this because I've been digging through 1920s stuff lately. It’s one of those "mountain films" that were big back then, but it feels more like a local folk story than a big production.

Hanns Beck-Gaden is the main guy, and he also directed it. You can tell he was pretty proud of his profile because there are a lot of shots of him looking heroic against the sky.

The story is about Jennerwein, a real-life poacher who became a bit of a hero for the poor people. He basically spent his time shooting deer that belonged to the rich guys and then flirting with girls in the village.

There is a scene early on where he’s just walking through the woods. The way the light hits the trees is actually kind of beautiful, even if the film quality is a bit scratched up.

It’s a very quiet movie, obviously, since it's silent. But the intertitles—those little text cards—are written in this very flowery, dramatic way that made me chuckle a few times.

The acting is what you’d expect from 1929. Everyone uses their whole body to show they are sad or angry. Agathe, the main girl, does this thing where she grabs her neck every time she's worried. She is worried a lot.

I noticed one extra in a tavern scene who just looked completely lost. He’s standing in the background holding a mug and staring directly at the camera for like ten seconds. It’s the kind of thing you only catch if you’re not paying attention to the main actors.

The mountains are the real stars here, though. They look massive and dangerous. It reminds me of the scale you see in something like The Extraordinary Adventures of Mr. West in the Land of the Bolsheviks, even if that movie is way more chaotic than this one.

There is a lot of walking. So much walking. If you ever wanted to know exactly how long it takes to hike up a Bavarian hill in 1929, this movie will show you every single step.

The conflict with the gamekeepers—the guys who protect the deer—is supposed to be tense. But it mostly involves men hiding behind very small bushes and waving rifles around. 🌲

One of the gamekeepers has a mustache so big it looks like a small animal is sleeping on his face. I spent a good portion of the middle act just wondering how he kept it so symmetrical while running through the brush.

The film gets a bit heavy toward the end. The "Hearts in Distress" part of the title really kicks in. It’s all about betrayal and people being mad at each other in the snow.

I liked the ending, actually. It didn't try to be happy or neat. It just kind of happens, and then it's over, which felt more real than the rest of the movie.

It’s not a masterpiece like some of the other stuff from that year. If you compare it to something like Zolotoy klyuv, it feels a bit more amateurish in the way it's put together.

But there’s a charm to how simple it is. It’s just a story about a guy who didn't want to follow the rules and the mountains that eventually swallowed him up.

The pacing is definitely the biggest problem. There are scenes that go on for three minutes that could have been thirty seconds. You can almost feel the director thinking, "we climbed all the way up here, so we are going to film everything."

Also, the makeup on the women is very heavy. They look like they’re heading to a fancy gala instead of living in a rugged mountain village. It’s a weird contrast with the dirty, sweaty men.

I wouldn't say this is a "must-watch" unless you're a completionist. But it’s a decent way to spend an hour and a half if you want to turn your brain off and just look at some old scenery. 🏔️

Just don't expect any big twists. It’s a folk legend, so everyone already knew how it ended back then. It’s more about the vibe than the surprises.

The film quality fluctuates a lot, too. Some scenes are crisp and others look like they were filmed through a bowl of soup. It adds to the personal feel of the whole thing, I guess.

I’m glad I watched it, but I don't think I’ll be revisitng it anytime soon. Once is enough for Jennerwein and his poaching adventures.