DER VERLORENE
Germany, 1951, 98 minutes, Black and white.
Peter Lorre, Karl John.
Directed by Peter Lorre.
Der Verlorene is a little seen German film of 1951. It was the only film-directed by Peter Lorre, who collaborated with the screenplay and starred. It is reminiscent of the German films of the years between the wars and, of course, Fritz Lang's M with Peter Lorre as the psychopathic killer. Once again, there is a psychopathic killer.
The setting is World War II, laboratories for the identification of bacilli presumably used for either chemical warfare or executions. Lorre effectively portrays a rather shy scientist who discovers his sexual Jealousy and murders a woman. He like its and murders another. He becomes involved in the background to the plan to kill Hitler and escapes to a hospital. However, he is tracked down by a fellow staff member to whom he tells his story. He then kills himself by standing in front of a train - in the manner of Anna Karenina.
The film is directed and photographed in striking black and white, again reminiscent of the expressionist style of the 20s and 30s. Lorre leads a very good German cast which, although the film is stylised, make the characters credible. There is a strong sense of menace in the portrait of this gentle character who is deranged and commits violence.
1. Interesting German film? In itself? The work of Peter Lorre?
2. Black and white photography, the striking contrasts of light and shadows, black and white, tableaux, action in the dark, in the light? pace? The authentic locations and atmosphere of Germany during the war, Hamburg? musical score - orchestral and melodramatic?
3. The title, the focus on Karl and his experiences, death?
4. The portrait of Karl and Peter Lorre's screen presence, his previous performances as deranged characters? Seeing him as work, with the patients? Seemingly a kindly doctor? The injections? The question about Novak and Novak’s arrival? His reaction to Novak, walking away? Novak’s gun? The confrontation between the two men, Karl taking control, going to dinner? His telling his story, the insertion of the flashbacks, the growing tension? Hoesch getting drunker? The gradual revelation of Karl's psyche, his behaviour? The political implications, the war? His own self doubt, the effect of the confession? Hoesch's collapse? Karl going out, watching the train, standing on the train line, his death?
5. Karl as a scientist, his work at the laboratory? In the boarding house? The relationship with Inge, his devotion, shyness? Her confession, the affair with Hoesch? Her pleading with him, confidence in him? His sense of disgust, the voice over comment to Hoesch? The killing of Inge and his back blocking audience view and the screen going dark? The cover-up of the killing? His wanting to move out, Inge's mother making hint stay? His continued work, the interaction with Hoesch, with Winkler, responsible for the cover-up? Urszela and his meeting her at the meal? Going into her room, her fear? With the mother? His going to the hotel, with the prostitute, her accusations, in the dark, her fears, his getting himself out of the situation? Saved from killing! On the train, the woman and her advances, talk? The air raid, remaining on the train? Her fear, his killing, her? The effect, going to Winkler's house, Hoesch's betrayal? The irony of the attempt on Hitler? His being able to get away? His hiding? Hoesch's
discovering him? The confession, telling the story, his own death? Portrait of a madman?
6. Hoesch, working in the laboratories, Nazi? the cover-up? His suspicions of Karl? the affair with Inge? The irony of the Hitler plot? Phone calls, Hoesch's loyalty and the generals? Tracking down Karl, the news of Winkler death? His drunken collapse?
7. Winkler, the general, the cover-tip of the murder? The magistrate and the decision about suicide? Winkler and Hoesch, the generals, the attempt on Hitler's life, the arrival of Hoesch's men, his being able to cover-up with Karl? His escape? The news of his death?
8. The women in the film: Inge and her relationship with Karl, talking of her affair, attracted to him, her death? Her mother and her concern for Karl, keeping him in the house? Urszela and her talk, attraction and fear? The woman in the train, telling her story, being seductive, her death?
9. The background of Nazi Germany, the war, the laboratories, death, betrayal, the attempt on Hitler’s life? Ordinary people and their talk about the war, privations, the woman buying the toy? The air raids and the train?
10. A view of Germany and its madness in the setting of Nazism and the war?
