Released in 1964, this film by successful director Alfred Weidenmann (1916-2000 / maker of "Canaris" (1954), "Stern von Afrika" (1957) and "Buddenbrooks" (1959)) is very unusual for the film industry in the young Federal Republic. The bestseller from a real prison inmate served as a template. Henry Jaeger (1927-2000) had made significant headlines in the 1950s with his Jaeger gang, which was notorious for robberies. After his arrest, he wrote a book in prison called "Die Festung / The Fortress", which was published soon after became a real bestseller. So it didn't take long for the film adaptation to arrive, which was also marketed under the title "Verdammt zur Sünde / Damned to Sin".
Martin Held plays Hugo Starosta, the head of a family of displaced people who found a kind of emergency quarters in a fortress-like dwelling in the turmoil of the post-war period. Even after many years, the clan has settled into such a home that regular work and social advancement are out of the question. Hugo Starosta's children, who have now grown up, make ends meet with petty crime and prostitution (Heidelinde Weis is able to use her charms profitably as Edeltraud). Even the ailing grandma (Tilla Durieux) simply cannot be killed if she refuses to work like this. The ideas that the work-shy patriarch adhered to in earlier times can be clearly seen in the naming of his eldest sons Adolf (Thomas Danneberg) and Hermann (Sieghardt Rupp).
World star Hildegard Knef can be seen as neighbor Alwine, who has become frigid as a result of her violent experiences on the run, but unfortunately remains below her potential. Michael Ande, the recently deceased Gertraud Jesserer, Christa Linder, Robert Graf, Peter Vogel, Charles Regnier, Kerstin De Ahna and Herbert Fux play other roles in the sprawling clan. Star cast then!
The film, which was primarily made in Linz, Austria, addresses a very explosive topic: the problem of displaced people. After all, the economic miracle of the Adenauer era did not allow everyone to benefit equally from economic success. Over the course of the film, however, the socially critical approach turns into a kind of cabinet of curiosities that presents the obvious losers of the system all too cheaply.
Lead actor Martin Held plays his role excellently and gives a foretaste of the role of the disgusting Alfred from the legendary television series "Ein Herz und eine Seele / A Heart and a Soul", which became popular ten years later.
Unusual attempt at a social drama about problems of the time, but it isn't followed through consistently enough! But definitely worth seeing because of the stars!
