Comments on: Nazis & Chess Games

By: keelsetter

keelsetter — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:34:48 +0000

The basic premise of SCHACHNOVELLA is revisited in Guy Ritchie’s REVOLVER. I just saw this latter film recently and was struck by the similarities (of the story alone, stylistically, this being a Guy Ritchie film, the dialog and violence turn it into an altogether different beast).

By: Mikey

Mikey — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:46:12 +0000

I saw this film many years ago, and found it to be excellent. My memory is admittedly hazy, but I believe it was on TV — not in a theater. While all the reviews I’ve seen state that it’s in German with English subtitles, a non-subtitled version must have been produced. I say that because I detest subtitled flicks, yet I remember this movie in detail.

For those interested, Robert’s Hard To Find Videos in Canada claims to have this available on DVD (www.robertsvideos.com).

By: keelsetter

keelsetter — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:17:03 +0000

Glad to be of service!

What happens in the end of the film is that Basil, having not caved during months of solitary confinement, is physically tortured by the Nazis. As soon as we get to this point, and given that this whole flashback was being narrated by Basil, we pull out of the flashback and see that Basil is acting a bit crazy toward the arrogant chess champion (as can be seen in one of the photos above). But then he looks up and sees a familiar face, that of a woman who tried to warn him of the impending Nazi peril (seen by us earlier in the flashback). Now re-united with her, he gains his composure and leaves the chess game behind. Did he win the game? Probably. But the chess champion uses the recent distraction to his favor and scatters the chess pieces to erase any evidence of the game.

Side note: it is my understanding that the original story does not use the boat scene at all – it is a construct made by the film alone.

PS – To add to Medusa’s note – Oswald also did some peripheral work on SUNSET BLVD., but OUTER LIMITS is praise enough for me!

By: Dave Stopher

Dave Stopher — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:30:10 +0000

My mate says that he has seen this film he says that it is one of the great films that never really got sold at the time. He has been trying to get a copy for me to watch.

By: Al Lowe

Al Lowe — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:58:06 +0000

I am not always enthusiastic about “spoilers,” particularly if I haven’t seen the film. But I think most of us aren’t going to see this one. So why don’t you tell us what the ending of the film is? Unless you already did. Was that it?

By: Medusa

Medusa — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 22:14:28 +0000

The movie looks amazing! Oswald was also a prolific TV director who did many episodes of “The Outer Limits” (among about a million other things) and this movie looks like it would fit right in line, sensibility-wise.

And wow — interesting about Jurgens’ spermatic cord-troubles and paternity issues! I first became acquainted with Jurgens’ work when I was immersing myself in Danny Kaye movies while a teenager and he co-starred with Kaye in a sweet little comedy-drama called “Me and the Colonel” in 1958 — where he played a Nazi, of course!

A lot of fascinating stuff in this post, Keelsetter! :-)

By: movie fan

movie fan — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 21:39:13 +0000

I was the one who asked you to do a blog on Schnachnovella. Thanks so much. it was fantastic.

Love reading your work!