The 2-disc DVD presents the two most beautiful films shot in Germany by Max Ophüls in restored versions: The wonderful adaptation of Arthur Schnitzler's famous play Liebelei was the last film before Ophüls was forced to emigrate. The German version of the international co-production Lola Montez, shot in color and CinemaScope, remained his last movie. Additionally the DVD set features Martina Müller's highly praised documentary Max Ophüls - Den schönen guten Waren and never before published documents and out-of-print books in the extensive ROM section.
The films
Liebelei - Germany 1933 - Directed by: Max Ophüls - Written by: Hans Wilhelm, Curt Alexander, based on the stage play by Arthur Schnitzler - Cinematography by: Franz Planer - Music by: Theo Mackeben - Cast: Magda Schneider, Luise Ullrich, Paul Hörbiger, Gustaf Gründgens, Olga Tschechowa, Willy Eichberger, Wolfgang Liebeneiner, Werner Finck - Produced by: Elite Tonfilm - Premiere: 24.6.1933 (Vienna)
Lola Montez - West-Germany 1955 - Directed by: Max Ophüls - Written by: Max Ophüls, Jacques Natanson, Annette Wadement, Franz Geiger - Cinematography by: Christian Matras - Music by: Georges Auric - Cast: Martine Carol, Peter Ustinov, Adolf Wohlbrück, Henri Guisol, Lise Delamare, Paulette Dubost, Oskar Werner, Will Quadflieg, Willy Eichberger, Werner Finck, Ivan Desny - Produced by: Gamma Film - Premiere: 12.1.1956 (Munich & Hamburg)
Den schönen guten Waren - Germany 1990 - Directed and written by: Martina Müller - Cinematography by: Jürgen Hasenack, Peter Lilischkies - With: Magda Schneider, Daniel Gélin, Peter Ustinov, Edwige Feuillère, GErt Westphal, Tony Aboyantz, Ulla de Colstoun, Henri Alekan, Annette Wademat, Ivan Desny - Produced by: Westdeutscher Rundfunk - Premiere: 3.9.1990 (WDR)
The radio play
Max Ophüls: Gedanken über Film - Eine Improvisation - BRD 1956 - Directed by: Ulrich Lauterbach - Written by: Max Ophüls - With the voices of: Max Ophüls, Friedrich Schoenfelder, Otto Rouvel, Ulrich Lauterbach, Heinz Stoewer, Marianne Kehlau, Gisela Zoch-Westphal - Produced by: Hessischer Rundfunk - Premiere: 28.11.1957 (HR)
DVD features (2-disc DVD set)
DVD 1
- Liebelei 1933, 84'
- Max Ophüls - Den schönen guten Waren 1990, 90'
- 20-page booklet with essays by Martina Müller and Stefan Drössler
DVD 2
- Lola Montez 1956, 116'
- Lola Montez - Versionen und Fassungen 2016, 29'
- Max Ophüls: Das Lied der Lola Montez 1955, 3' (audio)
- Max Ophüls: Gedanken über Film - Eine Improvisation 1956, 62' (audio)
- Extensive ROM section with rare photos, documents, articles and digital books
The ROM section
Lola Montez
- Working screenplay of Werner Roeder
- Album with press photos
- Souvenir booklet and lobby cards
- Budget calculations
- Martina Müller, Werner Dütsch: Lola Montez Eine Filmgeschichte (2002)
- Stefan Drössler: Lola Montez (2002)
- Iris Deniozou: Génèse, mort et résurrections de Lola Montès (2015)
Liebelei
- Souvenir booklet
- Freya Eisner: "Liebelei" am Platz des NS-Diktators (1979)
Gedanken über Film
- Max Ophüls: Speech in Frankfurt on May 30, 1956
- Working script
- Correspondence Max OphülsUlrich Lauterbach
DVD credits
Edited by Filmmuseum München and Goethe-Institut München
DVD authoring: Tobias Dressel, Gunther Bittmann
DVD supervision: Stefan Drössler
First Edition April 2018, Second, improved edition November 2018, Third edition May 2021
