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Poster for The Great Love

The Great Love

Seen it?

1942 | 100 min | Drama, Romance

Weeknight Watchearly rating

Why it’s a Weeknight Watch

With almost no lasting buzz, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for romantics. If you loved The French Lieutenant's Woman, start here.
The mood
Warm and romantic.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 40 min.
What might put you off
  • It's in German, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Made in 1942: an older pace and style.

The attractive Oberleutnant Paul Wendlandt is stationed in North Africa as a fighter pilot. While in Berlin to deliver a report he is given a day's leave, and on the stage of the cabaret theatre "Skala" sees the popular Danish singer Hanna Holberg. For Paul it is love at first sight. When Hanna visits friends after the end of the performance, he follows her, and speaks to her in the U-Bahn. After the party in her friends' flat, he accompanies her home and chance throws them further together when an air raid warning forces them to take cover in the air raid shelter. Hanna reciprocates Paul's feelings, but after a night spent together Paul has to return immediately to the front. There now follows a whole series of misunderstandings, and one missed opportunity after another. While Hanna waits in vain for some sign of life from Paul, he is flying on missions in North Africa. When he tries to visit her in her Berlin flat, she is giving a Christmas concert in Paris.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsNot counted

    Not enough reviews on record yet

  • AudiencesNot counted

    Not measured yet: not enough ratings

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Reach & staying powerSolid

    Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactWeak

    About 4K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Rolf Hansen

  • Zarah LeanderHanna Holberg
  • Grethe WeiserKaethe, Hannas Zofe
  • Viktor StaalPaul Wendlandt
  • Paul HörbigerAlexander Rudnitzky, Komponist
  • Wolfgang PreissOberleutnant von Etzdorf
  • Hans Schwarz Jr.Artist Alfred Vanloo
  • Victor JansonTheaterdirektor Mocelli
  • Leopold von LedeburHerr Westphal
  • Julia SerdaFrau Westphal
  • Paul BildtUnfreundlicher Oberkellner