Karl May 50 years old

This ethereal, three-hour biopic is the middle film in Hans-Jürgen Syberberg’s “German Trilogy” on the mythological foundations of the Third Reich. By fusing theater, music, and cinema, Syberberg conjures up Karl May (1842-1912), the immensely popular German author, who set many of his adventure novels in an idealized version of the American Wild West. His tales of the cowboy and the Ubermensch alike were beloved by many, including (Our) Hitler, who supposedly ordered his generals to read May works after defeats in the Russian campaign.

Credits

Karl May Cast

Name Character
Wolfgang Büttner He was 62, 78 years old when he died as Kriminalgerichtsvorsitzender Ehricke
André Heller He was 27, now 77 years old as Robert Müller, Vorsitzender des akadem. Vereins
Rudolf Prack He was 69, 76 years old when he died as sächsischer Justizminister
Mady Rahl She was 59, 94 years old when she died as Pauline Münchmeyer
Helmut Käutner He was 66, 72 years old when he died as Karl May
Heinz Moog He was 66, 80 years old when he died as Oskar Gerlach
Kristina Söderbaum She was 62, 88 years old when she died as Emma May
Marquard Bohm He was 33, 64 years old when he died
Peter Kern He was 25, 66 years old when he died as George Grosz
Harry Hardt He was 75, 81 years old when he died
Käthe Gold She was 67, 90 years old when she died as Klara May
Alexander Golling He was 69, 83 years old when he died as Möbelhändler Fischer
Peter Moland He was 34, now 84 years old
Leon Askin He was 67, 97 years old when he died
Attila Hörbiger He was 78, 91 years old when he died as Schriftsteller Dittrich
Rudolf Schündler He was 68, 82 years old when he died as Konditor Kreutzkamm
Peter Chatel He was 30, 42 years old when he died
Rudolf Fernau He was 76, 87 years old when he died as Anwalt Bredereck
Stephan Paryla-Raky He was 26, now 76 years old
Egon von Jordan He was 72, 76 years old when he died
Lil Dagover She was 87, 92 years old when she died as Berta von Suttner
Erwin Faber He was 83, 97 years old when he died
Fritz von Friedl He was 33, now 83 years old
Rudolf Lenz He was 54, 67 years old when he died as Casella
Rainer von Artenfels He was 35, 51 years old when he died
Guido Wieland He was 67, 86 years old when he died
Willy Trenk-Trebitsch He was 72, 81 years old when he died

Karl May Crew

Name Department
Annette Dorn as Editor. She was 31 (69) years old when She died Editing
Ingrid Broszat as Editor. She was 25 (now 24) years old Editing
Dietrich Lohmann as Director of Photography. He was 31 (54) years old when He died Camera
Hans-Jürgen Syberberg as Director. He was 38 (now 89) years old Directing
Hans-Jürgen Syberberg as Producer. He was 38 (now 89) years old Production
Hans-Jürgen Syberberg as Writer. He was 38 (now 89) years old Writing
Karl May (50 years)

  • Release day: Friday, October 18, 1974
  • Runtime: 187 minutes