Der zerbrochene Krug (1937)

(The Broken Jug)

Directed by: Gustav Ucicky

Produced by: Karl Julius Fritzsche

Fritz Klotsch

Written by: Heinrich von Kleist (play)

Thea von Harbou

Music by: Wolfgang Zeller

Cinematography: Fritz Arno Wagner

Edited by: Arnfried Heyne

Production company: Tobis Film

Distributed by: Tobis Film

Release dates: 19 October 1937

Running time: 86 minutes

Country: Germany

Language: German

Starring:

Emil Jannings: Adam, the village judge

Friedrich Kayßler: Walter, Judiciary

Max Gülstorff: Licht, Schreiber

Lina Carstens: Marthe Rull

Angela Salloker: Eva Rull, her daughter

Bruno Hübner: Veit ponds, farmers'

Paul Dahlke: Ruprecht pond, his son

Elisabeth Flickenschildt: Brigitte

Walter Werner: A servant

Erich Dunskus: Büttel

Gisela von Collande: Grethe, maid

Lotte Rausch: Liese, maid

Käthe Kamossa: Villager

Plot:

The Broken Jug (German:Der zerbrochene Krug) is a 1937 German historical comedy film directed by Gustav Ucicky and starring Emil Jannings, Friedrich Kayßler and Max Gülstorff. It is an adaptation of the play The Broken Jug by Heinrich von Kleist. The film was popular with Adolf Hitler.

The Broken Jug mocks the failings of human nature and the judicial system in a forgiving way. It is similar to Sophocles' tragedy Oedipus the King (c. 429 BCE), in that in both plays the judge is guilty, but different insofar as Adam knows from the start who is guilty, as does the audience, and is trying his hardest to conceal the truth.

The play follows the story of "Adam" and "Eve". Adam is covered in various injuries and talking with his secretary Licht. The jug is not mentioned in these first five scenes although the audience is made aware that Adam is a highly suspicious character. The trial lasting from scene seven through to scene eleven, shows the characters on stage trying to piece together the events which led to the breaking of the jug. At the end of scene eleven Eve states that Adam broke the jug and Adam escapes in the confusion.