The 1927 silent film Der Bettler vom Kölner Dom (The Beggar from Cologne Cathedral), shot on location by Rolf Randolf, is a typical example of popular German mainstream cinema in the 1920: a detective film shot on location with humor and suspense. It is presented in a digitally restored version with two alternative soundtracks: a new orchestral score by Pierre Oser, produced and performed by the WDR-Rundfunkorchester, and a live improvisation by Günter A. Buchwald (piano & violin) recorded at the International Bonn Silent Film Festival 2010. The 2-disc DVD set also offers shorts, commercials and newsreel reports about Cologne which were shot in the silent era.
The films
Der Bettler vom Kölner Dom - Germany 1927 - Directed by: Rolf Randolf - Written by: Emanuel Alfieri - Cinematography by: Willi Hameister - Cast: Henry Stuart, Elza Temáry, Carl de Vogt, Hanni Weisse, Robert Scholz, Fritz Kampers, Harry Lamberts-Paulsen, Karl Geppert, Hermann Blass - Produced by: Internationale Film A.G., Berlin
Sortie de la cathédrale & Arrivée de l'express - Germany 1896 - Photographed by: Charles Moisson - Produced by: Société Lumière, Lyon
Panorama pris d'un bateau & Pont de bateau - Germany 1896 - Photographed by: Constant Girel - Produced by: Société Lumière, Lyon
Der Rhein in Vergangenheit und Gegenwart (Excerpt) - Germany 1922 - Regie: Walther Zürn - Written by: Felix Lampe - Photographed by: Curt Helling, Svend Nolan - Produced by: Universum Film AG Kulturabteilung, Berlin
Beiträge aus Deulig-Wochenschauen 1923-1927 - Germany 1923-1927 - Produced by: Deulig-Film A.G., Berlin
Auf der Ski-Tour & Die Geschichte vom Schokoladenkaspar - Germany 1925 - Directed by: Hans Fischerkoesen - Producer: Julius Pinschewer - Produced by: Werbefilm G.m.b.H., Berlin
"Dort wo der Rhein..." - Germany 1927 - Directed, written and photographed by: Walther Ruttmann - Producer: Julius Pinschewer - Produced by: Werbefilm G.m.b.H., Berlin
"Kölle paß op!" - Germany 1928 - Directed and written by: Walter Schmidt - Cast: Peter Millowitsch, Lucie Millowitsch, Grete Baum, Grete Herold, Josef Leonie, Walter Schmidt - Produced by: Industrie-Film, Köln
Wohnkultur, wie sie war, wie sie ist, wie sie sein soll - Germany 1928 - Written by: Fritz Stübig - Producer: Arthur Böhm - Produced by: Böhm-Film, Köln
Der Zweigroschenzauber - Germany 1929 - Directed by: Hans Richter - Written by: Hans Richter, Friedrich Raff, Hans von Wolzogen - Produced by: Werbekunst "Epoche" Reklame, Berlin
DVD features (2-disc DVD)
DVD 1
- Der Bettler vom Kölner Dom 1927, 102'
- Score by Pierre Oser, produced and performed by WDR-Rundfunkorchester
- Recording of a improvised performance for piano and violin by Günter A. Buchwald
- Chapter selection
- Lobby cards and program booklet
DVD 2
- Sortie de la cathédrale 1896, 1'
- Arrivée de l'express 1896, 1'
- Panorama pris d'un bateau 1896, 1'
- Pont de bateaux 1896, 1'
- Der Rhein in Vergangenheit und Gegenwart 1922, 6' (Excerpt)
- Score by Stephen Horne
- Ereignisse der Jahre 1923-1927, 9'
- Score by Stephen Horne
- Auf der Ski-Tour (viragiert) 1926, 5'
- Score by Stephen Horne
- Die Geschichte vom Schokoladenkaspar (viragiert) 1926, 5'
- Score by Stephen Horne
- "Dort wo der Rhein..." (koloriert) 1927, 3'
- Score by Joachim Bärenz
- "Kölle Paß op!" 1928, 13'
- Score by Stephen Horne
- Wohnkultur, wie sie war, wie sie ist, wie sie sein soll! 1928, 15'
- Der Zweigroschenzauber 1929, 4'
- Score by Stephen Horne
- 16 page bilingual booklet with essays by Hans Feld, Irene Schoor and Jens-Uwe Völmecke
Edited by: Deutsche Kinemathek, Bundesarchiv, FilmInitiativ Köln, WDR-Rundfunkorchester and ZDF in collaboration with ARTE
DVD authoring: Ralph Schermbach
DVD supervision: Irene Schoor, Martin Koerber, Stefan Drößler
First edition November 2010, Second edition August 2013
Reviews
