Search - The Harmonists on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Nudity, Adult Situations Movie Release: 1998 DVD Release: 07/02/2002 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: French, German Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 55 mins Studio: Miramax Members Wishing: 0 Genres: Drama, Docudrama, Musical Drama

Joseph Vilsmaier (Stalingrad and Brother of Sleep) directed this fact-based German musical drama about a popular barbershop sextet in Nazi Germany of the '30s. In 1927, musician Harry Frommermann (Ulrich Noethen), attracted to music-shop assistant Erna (Meret Becker), joins ambitious vocalist Robert Biberti (Ben Becker) in forming a vocal group with arranger Erwin (Kai Wiesinger) and Bulgarian cafe-singer Ari (Max Tidof). As their fame increases, the authorities, who object to the Jews in the group, pressure them to perform National Socialist material. Traveling to New York, they eventually must decide whether to remain in the U.S. or return to Germany. The musical numbers use digitally remastered recordings by the real-life group, and computer graphics were employed to re-create a 1934 concert aboard an aircraft carrier in New York harbor. Barry Manilow's stage musical Harmony is based on this same music group. Shown at the 1998 Berlin Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

Ben Becker - Robert Biberti
Heino Ferch - Roman Cycowski
Ulrich Noethen - Harry Frommermann
Heinrich Schafmeister - Erich A. Collin
Max Tidof - Ari Leschnikoff

Joseph Vilsmaier's story of a Jewish singing group in Nazi Germany, The Harmonists, comes to DVD with a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1. French and German soundtracks are rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1. English subtitles are accessible. There are no supplemental materials of any consequence, which is something of a disappointment considering the amount of historical information that could have been provided. This is, however, a solid disc from Disney/Buena Vista that boasts strong picture and sound quality. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide