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  • Unterm Birnbaum (1973)
  • 90 min | Crime, Drama
Unterm Birnbaum (1973)
90 min | Crime, Drama

Abel Hradscheck, the owner of an inn in the Oderbruch country, faces financial ruin. For this state of affairs, Ursula, his wife and former actress, is by no means free of blame. She is a "newcomer" to the area and even after eleven years ...See moreAbel Hradscheck, the owner of an inn in the Oderbruch country, faces financial ruin. For this state of affairs, Ursula, his wife and former actress, is by no means free of blame. She is a "newcomer" to the area and even after eleven years in the area, still a "stranger". A Cracow company announces that a money-collector is on his way to the innkeeper. Mr. Szulski arrives and the debts are settled - with money supposedly stemming from an inheritance. The next day, Szulski departs but according to the maid and the stable-boy, behaves in a very strange manner. Soon afterwards, his carriage is discovered in the Oder River, but there is no trace of the drowned man. Hradscheck's neighbor starts casting suspicion on the innkeeper. The Counselor of Justice, who heads the investigations has the spot under the pear tree dug out. A dead body is exhumed - but it has been lying there for more than twenty years. The innkeeper now lulls himself into a false sense of security, but his wife is tormented by feelings of guilt. Finally, she wants to reveal everything to the local pastor. He, however, refuses to become privy to a gruesome crime. Ursula is broken by qualms of remorse. The body lies hidden in the cellar but Hradscheck wants to dump it where everyone suspects it to be: in the Oder River. But he stumbles and falls to his death down the cellar steps. His body is discovered next to that of his victim. Based on the novella of the same title by the great German realist Theodor Fontane. Written by DEFA Film Library See less
Read more: Plot summary
Director
Writers
Werner Beck (dramatisation) | Theodor Fontane (novel) | Brigitte Kirsten (literary collaborator) | Ralf Kirsten
Composer
Cinematographer
Editor
Production Designers
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Status
Edit Released
Updated Nov 16, 1973

Release date
Nov 16, 1973 (East Germany)

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Cast

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20 cast members
Name Known for
Angelica Domröse
Ursula Hradschek Ursula Hradschek   See fewer
Erik S. Klein
Abel Hradschek Abel Hradschek   See fewer
Agnes Kraus
Mutter Jeschken Mutter Jeschken   See fewer
Norbert Christian
Pfarrer Eccelius Pfarrer Eccelius   See fewer
Hannjo Hasse
Justizrat Vowinkel Justizrat Vowinkel   See fewer
Jürgen Frohriep
Gendarm Geelhaar Gendarm Geelhaar   See fewer
Manfred Karge
Bauer Kunicke Bauer Kunicke   See fewer
Hildegard Alex
Frau Kunicke Frau Kunicke   See fewer
Günter Junghans
Bauer Mietzel Bauer Mietzel   See fewer
Angelika Waller
Frau Mietzel Frau Mietzel   See fewer
Gert Gütschow
Bauer Quaas Bauer Quaas   See fewer
Ilona Brömmer-Weiß
Frau Quaas (as Ilona Brömmer) Frau Quaas (as Ilona Brömmer)   See fewer
Heinz Scholz
Dorfschulze Woytasch Dorfschulze Woytasch   See fewer
Leon Niemczyk
Szulski Szulski   See fewer
Peter Aust
Georg Georg   See fewer
Wolfgang Greese
Offizier Offizier   See fewer
Jutta Wachowiak
Sängerin Sängerin   See fewer
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