GDR film about IG Farben

Thu Jan 11 11:56:16 CST 2001

As seen at Icestorm, an outfit that sells East German films on video, 
with or without English subtitles. (http://www.icestorm-video.com) Much 
interesting stuff there. 

Council of the Gods	   

Original Title:
      	Der Rat der Goetter
Production:
      	DEFA Feature Film Studios
      	Year: 1950
      	Duration: 111 minutes (35mm) / 105 minutes (VHS/DVD)
      	Color Format: B&W
Personnel:
      	Director: Kurt Maetzig 
      	Screenplay: Friedrich Wolf, Phillip Gecht
      	Director of Photography: Friedl Behn-Grund
      	Music: Hanns Eisler
      	Edited by: Ilse Voigt
      	Costumes: Vera Muegge, Georg Schott
      	Production Manager: Adolf Fischer
Cast:
      	Helmuth Hinzelmann (Commander Schirrwind)
      	Inge Keller (Edith Scholz)
      	Yvonne Merin (Claudia Mauch)
      	Paul Bildt (Privy Councillor Mauch, Chairman of "The Council Of 
The Gods)
      	Fritz Tillmann (Dr. Hans Scholz, Chemist)
      	Willy A. Kleinau (Mr. Lawson)
      	Hans-Georg Rudolph (Director Tilgner)
      	Albert Garbe (Uncle Karl)

Storyline:
      Director Kurt Maetzig and his authors, the German dramatist 
Friedrich Wolf and his Russian colleague Philipp Gecht, dedicated this 
1949/50 film "to the friends of peace throughout the world." Their 
screenplay is based on the Nuremberg Trials against the directors of the 
IG Farben Company which proved the joint guilt of German industry in 
fascism and war, and the close ties between big industry and the Nazis. 
Two main protagonists dominate this epic film: Chairman Mauch, who had 
supported Hitler, finds new fame and fortune in West Germany after the 
war. The bourgeal//chemist Dr. Hans Scholz lives through a torturous 
political transformation and maturing process. Finally, he becomes 
wrapped up in his political neutrality and closes his eyes to the fact 
that poison is being produced in his factory. Standing before the judges 
at the Nuremberg Trials, he learns that he is partly responsible for 
millions of deaths in gas chambers at concentration camps. Kurt Maetzig 
grasped the very contemporary theme of scientists taking responsibility 
for their research  as Bertolt Brecht had done with The Life of Galileo. 
Council of the Gods also brings to light the cooperation between German 
industry and United States monopolies. Throughout the film, a man from 
Standard Oil Company makes sure that his German partner company is not 
bombed. In the scenes that take place after 1945, the USA is portrayed as 
a latent fascist power. It is during these scenes that the otherwise 
convincing, historically researched Council of the Gods stoops to Cold 
War propaganda. 

Related Literature/Film:
      Lit: "Kurt Maetzig: und Film" Berlin 1987
Movie: persponal interview with Kurt Maetzig Berlin 1999 made by Ralf 
Schenk for the DEFA Stiftung; Movie: "Die DEFA- Kino zwischen 
Gefangenschaft und Ausbruch Part I: Der verlaengerte Arm" made by Fred 
Gehler and Ullrich Kasten. German TV 1993; Lit: "IG Farben" Richard 
Sasuly. New York 1947, Boni and Gear; 

Interesting Facts:
      Based on the remarkable book IG Farben by the American writer 
Richard Sasuly and authentic material found in documentaries relating to 
the follow up to the Nuremberg Trials. COUNCIL OF THE GODS presents an 
interesting perspective on the role of large American industry with 
German industry in the WWII. The music of the film was made by Hanns 
Eisler who worked together with Brecht, and was in exile in America in 
the 30s and 40s. He left the US as a result of suspicion from the House 
Committee On Unamerican Activities.

Recommended for the following categories:
      History, Anti-fascist, Politics

Council of the Gods is available in:
      	Language Version	   	Medium (Format) 	   	Price	   	 

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Original German Version with English Subtitles	   	VHS 
(NTSC)	   	$29.95	   	

Original German Version	                           	VHS 
(PAL)	   	$15.95	   	

Original German Version with English Subtitles	   	VHS 
(PAL)	   	$15.95	   	

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