Dreadfully Boring

It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

Throughout the 30s and 40s, everyone in Germany loved the Comedian Harmonists when they came over the radio, although it must have been the follow-up group rather than the original one. It is interesting and moving to see that original group and hear their songs again; and it illuminates once more the idiocy of the Nazis to silence and drive away such worthwhile people who felt as, and wanted to be, good Germans. However, their confrontation with the Storm Troopers as shown in the movie, and presumably taking place in 1933, is an unfortunate exaggeration, because window smashing and physical abuse did not occur that early during the Nazi regime. Also, railway stations were not adorned with giant swastika flags - they would have turned black quickly from the soot of the steam engines. There was no need by the producers to deviate on these points from the historical accuracy - a deviation that throws a somewhat questionable light on the rest of the story. Yet these producers did manage to find five men who sing beautifully, with the same perfection and tonal range of the Comedian Harmonists, which makes this film eminently enjoyable after all.

One of the finest German films I've had the pleasure of seeing, 'Comedian Harmonists' tells the true story of a sextet of male singers who form a very famous group in Berlin when Hitler's Socialist party is just starting to get powerful. Of the six, three of them happen to be Jewish, which puts a dampener on their future when it's decreed that only Aryan entertainers will be allowed to perform in Germany. With a love triangle thrown in the mix, as well as the confusion of this almost sudden racial division, the members struggle to really come to terms with their future together. There are some chilling moments involving the hypocritical Nazis, indulging in some ironic entertainment care of the Comedian Harmonists, as well as some great musical segments. With some great performances from the entire cast - the stand outs are Ulrich Noethen as Harry Frommermann and Meret Becker as Erna - the film is a joy to watch, especially the wonderful musical sections, which at first I found to be tedious but then seemed to lift the film. Go figure. Joseph Vilsmaier, director of the excellent 'Stalingrad', has crafted a very entertaining film in this at times funny, joyous and very moving picture. (Watch for the ending - sentimental it may be, but it's very sad, IMO.) Recommended.

That piece has to be one of my favorite movies of all time. It isn`t that much of a documentary but it`s a fine music film about an astonishing band and more than that, it shows the fearful end of friendship and art the nazis caused with their ways. Everybody should see it, even if you don`t know the group, they do represent the heights of German culture, right before the anti-culturals rose to power. And Germany never recovered...

This story entices the viewer. You follow the group's love for the song and entertainment until it erodes away under Hitler's power. Touching and as confounding as real life can be.Bravo, gentlemen, bravo.