Mädchen in Uniform (Girls in Uniform) (Maidens in Uniform) (1931)
95%RT Audience Score: 89%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Maedchen in Uniform is a cinematic masterpiece that captures the essence of schoolgirl spirit amidst repressive conditions. The film’s naturalness of manner and youthful performances are adroitly portrayed, making it a photoplay gem among gems. Director Leontine Sagan avoids the abyss of false sentimentality and unpleasantness, delivering a thought-provoking film with a strange charm and sensitive touch. The casting is skillfully done, and the scenes are authentic, making it one of the most successful and important motion pictures to come out of the German studios. Maedchen in Uniform is a requiem for what was and a warning for what was to come, as timely and urgent as ever.
Who knew a movie about schoolgirls could be so captivating? Maedchen in Uniform is a gem among gems, with natural acting, keen direction, and superb camera work that make it a must-see. The film is a beautifully conceived drama that handles a sensitive subject with a strange charm and thought-provoking touch. And let’s not forget the adorbs schoolgirl spirit that bubbles even under repressive conditions. It’s a film that will leave you satisfied and wanting more.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Passed
Year of Release
1931
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Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:1.20 : 1
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 20, 1932 Original
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Hertha Thiele, Dorothea Wieck, Emilia Unda, directed by Leontine Sagan, written by Friedrich Dammann, Christoe Winsloe, drama, German language, box office performance not available, budget not available, reviewed by Becky, Len G Shaw, Robert Herring, Irene Thirer, Mae Tinee, Times (UK) Staff, Mattie Lucas, Andor Kraszna-Krausz, E.W Harrold, Martin Dickstein, Charles Aaronson, Film Daily Staff, produced by Carl Froelich, MPAA rating not available, boarding school, teenage girl, teacher, romantic attachment, school-wide scandal, sensitive handling, beautifully filmed, performed, natural acting, keen direction, superb camera work, adorbs, talkie field, continuity, performances, forceful simplicity, photoplay gem, authentic scenes, sympathetic performances, thought-provoking film, strange charm, sensitive touch
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Dorothea Wieck – Fräulein von Bernburg
Emilia Unda – The Principal
Leontine Sagan – Director
Friedrich Dammann – Writer
Christoe Winsloe – Writer
Director(s)
Leontine Sagan
Writer(s)
Friedrich Dammann, Christoe Winsloe
Producer(s)
Carl Froelich
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (44) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (44)
You didn’t think old school cinema was this adorbs, but it is.
June 11, 2021
Becky
Autostraddle
TOP CRITIC
No outline of the story could attempt to convey a sense of the adroitness with which the producers have caught the schoolgirl spirit that bubbles even under such repressive conditions, the naturalness of manner revealed by the youthful players.
December 10, 2020
Len G. Shaw
Detroit Free Press
TOP CRITIC
It is acted and directed with forceful simplicity, and is a strong example of Germany’s return to assurance in the talkie field.
November 18, 2020
Robert Herring
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
The conclusion is highly satisfying. And indeed the whole picture is extremely interestingly done as to continuity, performances and direction.
November 18, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
Irene Thirer
New York Daily News
TOP CRITIC
I found no suggestion of anything scandalous about this cinema’s subject matter, and that its “sensationalism” lies solely in the marvelously natural acting, keen direction, and superb camera work that make it a photoplay gem among gems.
November 18, 2020
Mae Tinee
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
The abyss of false sentimentality on the one side and downright unpleasantness on the other wait hungrily for one mistake, but Leontine Sagan, the director, avoids them both magnificently.
November 18, 2020
Times (UK) Staff
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
A film set on a precipice of disaster that is at once a requiem for what was, and a warning for what was to come. And it’s as timely and as urgent as ever.
June 28, 2022
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row
[The story] might be of less importance in itself than the way in which it has been moulded. A way which expresses naturally and with charm the delicate side of the subject and which characterizes distinctly but not abruptly.
January 14, 2021
Andor Kraszna-Krausz
Close Up
I cannot begin to tell you of the amazing skill of the casting, of the authenticity of the scenes, nor of the wonderfully sympathetic performances of Miss Hertha Thiele as Manuela and Miss Dorothea Wieck a Fraulein von Bernburg.
November 18, 2020
E.W. Harrold
Ottawa Citizen
Of all the motion pictures which have come out of the German studios this year the one called Maedchen in Uniform is probably the most important and, incidentally, the most successful.
November 18, 2020
Martin Dickstein
Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Something unusual, something fine in motion pictures.
November 18, 2020
Charles Aaronson
Motion Picture Herald (Exhibitors Herald)
It is a beautifully conceived drama, masterfully directed and acted by the principals. It’s a thought-provoking film, handled with a strange charm and sensitive touch.
November 18, 2020
Film Daily Staff
The Film Daily…
Plot
German film in which a sensitive girl is sent to an all-girls boarding school and develops a romantic attachment to one of her teachers. One of the earliest narrative films to explicitly portray homosexuality.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features Hertha Thiele as Manuela von Meinhardis and Dorothea Wieck as Fräulein von Bernburg.
Leontine-Sagan.jpg
