Hans Moser was a famous comedy actor, who worked in films from 1918 to 1963 (the year before his death). His big era started with talkies from 1930, because he is most notable for his talking style - Vienna dialect, very much through the nose, with sometimes stilted vocabulary and very often incomplete sentences. He really steals the show in this picture (though Grethe Weiser was also quite enjoyable as Mrs. Kaltenbach).
"Familie Schimek" was originally a theater play by Gustav Kadelburg (around 1900). Kadelburg is most famous for "Das weisse Rössl", but around the beginning of the 20th century he was one of the most popular comedy authors in Germany. "Familie Schimek" was produced as movie three times in 1926, 1935 (this) and 1957.
The story deals with a complex family patchwork. The Schimek parents have both died, leaving three minor children who live in the family joiner workshop together with their aunt, and master Schigl (Hans Moser) who sort-of runs the shop. Hedwig, the oldest, has found work as chorus girl in revue theater, and aunt and Schigl go to see her premiere.
A custodian for the children is proclaimed by the authorities, furniture dealer Kaltenbach. His associate Weigel has watched Hedwig in the theater and wants Kaltenbach to introduce him to her. From there, a complex but often funny plot develops, involving two similar packages, divorce negotiations, a little courtroom drama and even an act in Moabit prison.
I just watched the film for the third time and still had quite much fun with it. My favorite parts were how Schigl learns to use his brand-new telephone.. and the courtroom scene, of course. If you go for old-fashioned German-language comedy, this sure is one of the better ones. Dubbing or subtitling probably lose much of the verbal humor (though I see the film came out in the US, 1939).
"Familie Schimek" was originally a theater play by Gustav Kadelburg (around 1900). Kadelburg is most famous for "Das weisse Rössl", but around the beginning of the 20th century he was one of the most popular comedy authors in Germany. "Familie Schimek" was produced as movie three times in 1926, 1935 (this) and 1957.
The story deals with a complex family patchwork. The Schimek parents have both died, leaving three minor children who live in the family joiner workshop together with their aunt, and master Schigl (Hans Moser) who sort-of runs the shop. Hedwig, the oldest, has found work as chorus girl in revue theater, and aunt and Schigl go to see her premiere.
A custodian for the children is proclaimed by the authorities, furniture dealer Kaltenbach. His associate Weigel has watched Hedwig in the theater and wants Kaltenbach to introduce him to her. From there, a complex but often funny plot develops, involving two similar packages, divorce negotiations, a little courtroom drama and even an act in Moabit prison.
I just watched the film for the third time and still had quite much fun with it. My favorite parts were how Schigl learns to use his brand-new telephone.. and the courtroom scene, of course. If you go for old-fashioned German-language comedy, this sure is one of the better ones. Dubbing or subtitling probably lose much of the verbal humor (though I see the film came out in the US, 1939).