The Lost One
The Lost One (German: Der Verlorene) is a 1951 West German drama film directed by Peter Lorre and starring Lorre, Karl John and Renate Mannhardt. It is an art film in the film noir style, based on a true story. Lorre wrote, directed, and starred in this film, his only film as director or writer.[1] The film's translated name has been used as the title of his biography.[2]
| The Lost One | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Peter Lorre |
| Written by |
|
| Produced by | Arnold Pressburger |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Václav Vích |
| Edited by | Carl Otto Bartning |
| Music by | Willy Schmidt-Gentner |
Production company | Arnold Pressburger Filmproduktion |
| Distributed by | National-Filmverleih |
Release date | 7 September 1951 |
Running time | 98 minutes |
| Country | West Germany |
| Language | German |
The film's sets were designed by the art director Franz Schroedter. Some scenes were shot at the Wandsbek Studios in Hamburg, while location shooting took place around the city.
Plot
The story is told through a series of flashbacks. Dr. Rothe (Peter Lorre) is a German scientist doing secret research for the Nazi government during World War II. After he discovers that his fiancée has been selling secrets to the Allies, he murders her. This is covered up by the German government. After the war, Rothe is working under an alias as a doctor for displaced persons. After seeing one of the Nazi officers who helped cover up his crime, Rothe is overcome by guilt about his wartime crimes.
Main cast
- Peter Lorre as Dr. Karl Rothe, alias Dr. Karl Neumeister
- Karl John as Hösch, alias Nowak
- Helmuth Rudolph as Colonel Winkler
- Johanna Hofer as Frau Hermann
- Renate Mannhardt as Inge Hermann
- Eva Ingeborg Scholz as Ursula Weber
- Lotte Rausch as Woman on Train
- Gisela Trowe as Prostitute
- Hansi Wendler as Rothe's Secretary
- Kurt Meister as Preefke
- Alexander Hunzinger as Drunk
Reception
The film was unsuccessful with most of the German audiences in the 1950s, who tried to forget the Nazi era and preferred Heimatfilme. Der Verlorene has since achieved more recognition.
References
- Robert Keser (November 2007), "Der Verlorene", Cinémathèque Annotations on Film, no. 45
- Youngkin, Stephen D. (2005). The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre. Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 978-0-8131-2360-8.