Broken Lullaby (1932)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Ernst Lubitsch

Writers:

Reginald Berkeley (writer)
Samson Raphaelson (writer)

Release Date:

24 January 1932 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A young French soldier in World War I is overcome with guilt whenever he kills a German soldier who...

Plot Keywords:

Guilt | German Soldier | French Soldier | Anti War | Haunted By Past

Cast

Lionel Barrymore	...	Dr. H. Holderlin
Nancy Carroll	...	Fraulein Elsa, Walter's Fiancée
Phillips Holmes	...	Paul Renaud
Louise Carter	...	Frau Holderlin
Tom Douglas	...	Walter Holderlin, German soldier killed by Paul
Emma Dunn	...	Frau Muller
Lucien Littlefield	...	Herr Walter Schultz
Tully Marshall	...	Gravedigger
Zasu Pitts	...	Anna, Holderlin's Maid
George Bickel	...	Herr Bresslauer, Dress Shop Owner
Rodney McLennan	...	War Veteran (as Rodney McLennon)
Reginald Pasch	...	Fritz's Father

Also Known As:

The Man I Killed (UK)

Runtime:

76 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Paramount Ranch - 2813 Cornell Road, Agoura, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

One of over 700 Paramount Productions, filmed between 1929 and 1949, which were sold to MCA/Universal in 1958 for television distribution, and have been owned and controlled by Universal ever since.

When Conscience Afflicts

The Man I Killed deals with home comers of World War I, the war which's end is celebrating 90th anniversary this month I think, is much better than Whale's, because it's more subtle and less histrionic overall (except for Holmes' unbearable, almost laughable staginess). It has some great actors, most of all Lionel Barrymore who gives a physical powerhouse performance, the best I've seen from him so far. The film is very short, too short in every respect for the other lead characters to really unfold (again except for Holmes', who is simply too much to take) and for supporting roles to really get fully recognized, such as the house maid, played by Zasu Pitts. Even though the subject matter is dark and depressing, the film has its light moments, typical Lubitsch moments of drollness and wit who perfectly knows what is so comical and absurd about German bourgeoisie. However, The Man I Killed is miles away from the usual Lubitsch comedy of the 30s and is instead a thought-provoking, touching drama and an obviously heartfelt processing of a dark European history. Did I mention, that Holmes was horrible, though?