The Threepenny Opera (1931)

About The Threepenny Opera

"The Threepenny Opera", originally titled "Die 3 Groschen-Oper", is a 1931 German musical film directed by Georg Wilhelm Pabst. The movie is based on the 1928 musical theatre "The Threepenny Opera" by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill. The movie unfolds in the grimy backdrop of Soho, London, where an underworld antihero, Macheath, also known as Mack the Knife, marries the daughter of a powerful gangster. This sets off a series of escalating events, including betrayals, confessions, and attempted murders, which keep the viewers engaged throughout.

Making / Production

The movie was directed by Pabst concurrently in both German and French-language versions. This was a common strategy in the early sound film era to reach multiple language markets. The German version of the movie is considered more successful than its French counterpart.

Actors

• Rudolf Forster (Macheath): Forster superbly showcased both the charm and menace of this rogue character.
• Carola Neher (Polly Peachum): Particularly remembered for her spirited portrayal of Polly, the love interest of Macheath.
• Reinhold Schünzel (Tiger Brown): Delivered a phenomenal performance as Tiger Brown, Macheath's old army buddy and the only one who could save him.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• This was the first screen adaptation of the legendary musical theatre.
• The film was banned by Nazis a few years after its release due to Brecht's leftist ideology reflected in his works.

Quotes

• "What is the robbing of a bank compared to the founding of a bank?" - Macheath
• "I don't think there's been a greater crime since the world began." - Mr. Peachum

Music, Soundtrack

• "Die Moritat von Mackie Messer" (The Ballad of Mack the Knife)
• "Seeräuberjenny" (Pirate Jenny)