Overview

This movie, directed by Richard Oswald, is based on the operetta "Les contes de Hoffmann" by Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880), which is a genial musical potpourri from various short stories and novels by the Prussian writer, composer, painter, lawyer and judge E.T.A. Hoffmann (1776-1822). While Hoffmann's literary work was longtime considered to be merely fantastical, it was finally researched, in the last years, according to its metaphysical background. Characteristic for Hoffmann's work is his life-long fight against rationalism and for the revelation of nature morte, culminating mostly in carnival-like scenes anticipating literary techniques only described in the works of Bachtin and Bachelard.

Genres

Cast

Max Ruhbeck

Onkel

Werner Krauss

Conte Dapertutto

Friedrich Kühne

Coppelius, Brillenhändler

Lupu Pick

Spalanzani, Direktor eines Museums

Erich Kaiser-Titz

E.T.A. Hoffmann

Ferdinand Bonn

Stadtrat Lindorf

Alice Hechy

Olympia, Automat

Thea Sandten

Giulietta

Ressel Orla

Richard Oswald