Η ΟΠΕΡΑ ΤΗΣ ΠΕΝΤΑΡΑΣ / Die Dreigroschenoper

Germany, USA – 1931 – B&W – 112’

Dir.: Georg Wilhelm Pabst | Scr.: Ladislaus Vajda, Béla Balázs, Léo Lania (based on the play by Bertolt Brecht) | Cin.: Fritz Arno Wagner | Ed.: Hans Oser | Mus.: Kurt Weill | Cast: Rudolf Forster, Carola Neher, Lotte Lenya, Reinhold Schünzel, Fritz Rasp, Valeska Gert, Hermann Thimig, Ernst Busch, Vladimir Sokoloff | Prod.: Seymour Nebenzahl 

Victorian London, late 19th century. The notorious Soho underworld boss, Mack the Knife, marries Polly, the daughter of the city’s “king of the beggars.” Outraged, her father demands Mack’s arrest from the Chief of Police -an old friend of Mack’s- threatening to sabotage the upcoming royal coronation parade if his demand is not met. Mack is eventually captured, but escapes with the help of his ex-lover, Jenny. Meanwhile, Polly takes over the management of a bank, alongside the gang... 

Although Brecht disagreed with Pabst’s looser, more “entertaining” adaptation of his play and ultimately withdrew from the production, this landmark film of early sound cinema emerged as a sharp social satire of all forms of power -legitimate or otherwise. Banned and destroyed by the Nazis in 1933, it was restored in the 1960s. And as long as corruption exists, this dark, political musical will continue to thrive…