1. April 2000

1. April 2000
Directed by Wolfgang Liebeneiner
Produced by Karl Ehrlich
Written by Rudolf Brunngraber
Ernst Marboe
Starring Hilde Krahl
Josef Meinrad
Music by Josef Fiedler
Alois Melichar
Robert Stolz
Cinematography Sepp Ketterer
Karl Löb
Fritz Arno Wagner
Editing by Henny Brünsch-Tauschinsky
Distributed by Herzog-Filmverleih
Lewis Productions Inc.
Release date(s) November 19, 1952 (1952-11-19)
Running time 105 minutes
Country Austria
Language German

1. April 2000 is a 1952 political satire film directed by Wolfgang Liebeneiner and starring Hilde Krahl, made during the Allied Occupation of Austria (1945-55). The script was reportedly commissioned at the request of the Austrian government, and is a political satire depicting a harmless, potentially congenial future Austria still subject to needless and stifling oversight by the four Allied powers, as established following the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II (as it was when the film was made). The film was entered into the 1953 Cannes Film Festival. [1]

Contents

Plot summary

After numerous fruitless negotiations with the Allies about the independence of Austria, the Austrian prime minister prompts his fellow countrymen to shred their four-language identity cards, which have been issued by the Allies, thus sending a clear signal to the world. Thereupon, Austria is charged for breaking the "world peace" at the fictitious "world court". The implicated message is clear: in the same manner as Austria was, in Austria's eyes, falsely indicted for breaking the world peace (1914 and 1939), they are now being indicted again in 2000.

The world court hovers in with its space rocket into Vienna and lands in front of Schönbrunn Palace. The Austrians now have to prove that they are a lovely nation, and that they would never break the world peace. Subsequently, everything which is supposed to make Austria lovely is presented, starting with Mozart, going over Prince Eugene of Savoy, Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, Viennese wine, the Viennese waltz, the mountains, the classic bands, etc. Despite the presented evidence, Austria will be found guilty. Just before the conviction is made, the Moscow Declaration of 1943 is discovered. The declaration clearly states that Austria is to be freed, which happens at the end of the film. Back in the current time of 1952, and in reality, it is bemoaned that those actions and the independence of Austria will not take place until the year 2000.

Cast

Actor Role
Hilde Krahl President of the Global Union
Josef Meinrad Prime Minister of Austria
Waltraut Haas Mitzi
Judith Holzmeister Ina Equiquiza
Elisabeth Stemberger Sekretärin
Ulrich Bettac Moderator Robinson
Karl Ehmann Cabinet Chief
Peter Gerhard Hieronymus Gallup
Curd Jürgens Capitano Herakles
Robert Michal Wei Yao Chee
Heinz Moog Hajji Halef Omar
Guido Wieland Alessandro Bibalini
Paul Hörbiger Augustin
Hans Moser Composer
Pepi Glöckner-Kramer
Martha Marbo
Eva Payrer
Erika Pirschl
Erna Schickl
Marianne Schönauer
Alma Seidler Reporterin
Anneliese Stöckl-Eberhard
Hansi Stork
Ingeborg Wieser Alessandro Vitalini
Karl Bachmann
Theodor Danegger Russ. Hochkommissar
Karl Eidlitz
Hans Frank
Erik Frey Prinz Eugen
Harry Fuß Franzl
Hugo Gottschlich
Fred Hennings Deutscher Kaiser
Franz Herterich Amerik. Hochkommissar
Hans Holt
Fritz Imhoff
Fred Liewehr
Heribert Meisel
Alfred Neugebauer Finanzminister
Toni Nießner
Hans Richter Reporter
Leopold Rudolf
Stefan Skodler
Ernst Stankovski
Otto Treßler Engl. Hochkommissar
Hans Ziegler Franz. Hochkommissar
Kurt Bülau
Rita Gallos
Edith Prager
Helmut Qualtinger
Gerhard Riedmann Reitender Bote (uncredited)
Die Wiener Sängerknaben Singers

References

External links