S.O.S. Iceberg (1932/33)

Inhalt - Content

Unter der Führung des Forschers Johannes Brand bricht eine Expedition nach Grönland auf, um den verschollen Professor Lawrence zu finden. Dabei strandet die Gruppe auf einem riesigen Eisberg, der ins offene Meer zu treiben droht. Auch ein verzweifelter Rettungsversuch von Lawrences Frau Ellen die im Flugzeug herbeieilt, scheitert. Doch als ihr Ende schon besiegelt scheint, werden die verbliebenen Überlebenden in allerletzter Minute von dem berühmten Piloten Ernst Udet gerettet.

Explorer Johannes Brand leads an expedition to Greenland, where he hopes to find his missing colleague Lawrence. During their mission, the group is stranded on a giant iceberg which threatens to drift into the open sea. When a desperate rescue attempt by Lawrence`s wife Ellen, whose plane crashes on landing, also fails, their fate appears to be sealed. But virtually in the last minute, the remaining survivors are rescued by famous pilot Ernst Udet.

Kritik

Aside from impressive scenes of gigantic icebergs turning over in the sea and a graphic conception of the sufferings of the members of an exploring expedition, there are in S.O.S. ICEBERG several stirring glimpses of polar bears and one interlude in which two of these animals battle with each other for a seal`s carcass. ... It is a lusty melodrama of the frozen wilds and as such it is lurid, and frequently the suspense is drawn out to the snapping point. Nevertheless, it is filled with flashes of the majestic walls of ice, and in one episode the explorers dart over the snow and ice on skis in the most expert fashion. ... Rod La Rocque does quite well as Lawrence and Leni Riefenstahl is acceptable as Mrs. Lawrence.

Mordaunt Hall: S.O.S. Iceberg. In: New York Times, 25.9.1933.


Regie: Tay Garnett. Regie-Assistenz: Werner Klingler.Script: Elisabeth Kind. Buch: Tom Reed. Original Story: Arnold Fanck. Dialoge: Edwin H. Knopf. Kamera: Hans Schneeberger, Richard Angst. Flugaufnahmen: Ernst Udet, Franz Schriek. Kamera-Assistenz: Fritz von Friedl, Heinz von Jaworsky, Luggi Föger. Standfotos: Ferdinand Vogel. Bauten: Fritz Maurischat, Ernst Petersen, Arno Richter. Maske: Paul Dannenberg. Schnitt: Andrew Marton, Maurice Pivar (Supervision). Ton: Zoltan J. Kegl. Musik, Musikalische Leitung: Paul Dessau. Ausführung: Orchester Tofio. Wissenschaftliche Beratung: Dr. Fritz Loewe, Dr. Ernst Sorge, Emmy Langberg.

Darsteller: Rod La Rocque (Dr. Carl Lawrence), Leni Riefenstahl (Ellen Lawrence), Sepp Rist (Dr. Johannes Brand), Gibson Gowland (John Dragan), Max Holzboer (Dr. Jan Matushek), Walter Riml (Fritz Kuemmel), Ernst Udet (Ernst Udet), Nakinak (Nakinak, the Eskimo Dog).

Produktion: Universal Pictures Company Inc., Universal City. President: Carl Laemmle. Produzent: Carl Laemmle Jr. Associate Producer: Paul Kohner. Produktionsmanager: Alfred Stern. Drehzeit: Juni – November 1932. Außenaufnahmen: Grönland (Westküste). Länge: 70 min, 1918 m. Format: 35mm, s/w, 1:1.33, Western Electric / Tobis-Klangfilm. Zensur: 5.10.1933, (c) LP4151. Uraufführung: 23.9.1933, New York (Criterion); 23.10.1933, Release.

Produced on the Westcoast of Greenland / Under the Auspices of the Danish Government and under the Protectorate of the renowned Polar Explorer Knud Rasmussen.