Die Feuerzangenbowle (1944)

The Punch Bowl

 

Directed by: Helmut Weiss

Written by: Heinrich Spoerl (book and screenplay)

Based on: Die Feuerzangenbowle by Heinrich Spoerl

Produced by: Heinz Rühmann

Cinematography: Ewald Daub

Edited by: Helmuth Schönnenbeck

Music by: Werner Bochmann

Distributed by: UFA

Release date: 28 January 1944

Running time: 97 minutes

Country: Germany

Language: German

 

Starring:

 

Heinz Rühmann: Dr. Johannes Pfeiffer/Hans Pfeiffer

Karin Himboldt: Eva Knauer

Hilde Sessak: Marion

Erich Ponto: Professor Crey

Paul Henckels: Professor Bömmel

Hans Leibelt: principal Knauer

Lutz Götz: teacher 1st cl Dr. Brett

Hans Richter: Rosen

Clemens Hasse: Rudi Knebel

Hedwig Wangel: Crey’s housekeeper

Anneliese Würtz: Mrs Windscheidt

Margarete Schön: Mrs Knauer

Max Gülstorff: supervising teacher

Egon Vogel: music teacher Fridolin

Rudi Schippel: Luck

Ewald Wenck: janitor Kliemke

Albert Florath: a member of the punch bowl group

Karl Etlinger: a member of the punch bowl group

Georg H. Schnell: a member of the punch bowl group

Georg Vogelsang: a member of the punch bowl group

Walter Werner: Pfeiffer’s house servant

 

Die Feuerzangenbowle, (The Fire-Tongs Bowl or The Punch Bowl) is a 1944 German comedy film directed by Helmut Weiss, based on the book of the same name. It follows the book closely, as its author, Heinrich Spoerl, also wrote the script for the film. Both tell the story of a famous writer going undercover as a student at a small-town secondary school after his friends tell him that he missed out on the best part of growing up by being educated at home. The story in the book takes place during the time of the Wilhelmine Empire in Germany. The film stars Heinz Rühmann in the role of the student Hans Pfeiffer, which is remarkable as Rühmann was already 42 years old at that time. The title comes from the German alcoholic tradition of Feuerzangenbowle. Rühmann had also starred in So ein Flegel, a 1934 version of the same novel.

 

Plot

 

The title refers to the Feuerzangenbowle punch consumed by a group of gentlemen in the opening scene. While exchanging nostalgic stories about their school days, the successful but somewhat stuffy young writer Dr. Johannes Pfeiffer realizes he missed out on something because he was taught by private teachers at home and never attended school. He decides to make up for it by masquerading as a pupil at a small-town high school.

 

As pupil “Hans Pfeiffer”, he quickly gains a reputation as a prankster. Together with his classmates, he torments his teachers Crey and Bömmel and headmaster Knauer with adolescent mischief. His lady friend Marion unsuccessfully tries to persuade him to give up his foolish charade and return to his writing career. Eventually, he falls in love with the headmaster's daughter Eva and discloses his identity after masquerading as his teacher Crey in school.

 

In the last scene, Pfeiffer explains that everything except the Feuerzangenbowle scene in the beginning was just a product of his imagination, even his girlfriend Eva.