The Last Bridge

Helmut Kaeutner was born in 1908 in Duesseldorf and died in 1980 in Italy. He studied German, Art History, Philosophy, Psychology and Theater Studies and was one of the founding members of the cabaret group “Die vier Nachrichter”, which was banned in 1935. Originally working in the theater as an actor and director, he began his film work as a scriptwriter. His directorial debut was with the film Kitty and the World Conference (Kitty und die Weltkonferenz, 1939), but the film was withdrawn by the Nazi government due to its “pro-English tendencies”. His other films include: Kleider machen Leute (1940), Auf Wiedersehen, Franziska! (1941), Anuschka (1942), Romance in a Minor Key (Romanze in Moll, 1943), Great Freedom No. 7 (Grosse Freiheit Nr. 7, 1944), Seven Journeys (In jenen Tagen, 1947), The Original Sin (Der Apfel ist ab, 1948), The Last Bridge (Die letzte Bruecke, 1953) – winner of a German Film Award in 1954, Sky Without Stars (Himmel ohne Sterne, 1955), The Devil’s General (Des Teufels General, 1955), The Captain of Koepenik (Der Hauptmann von Koepenik, 1956) – winner of two German Film Awards in 1957, The Affairs of Julie (Die Zuercher Verlobung, 1957), The Restless Years (Zu jung, 1958), Stranger in My Arms (Ein Fremder in meinen Armen, 1959), Lausbubengeschichten (1964), and Die Feuerzangenbowle (1970), among others. —german films