Lili Marleen
Movie Poster
Country
Error creating thumbnail: File missing West Germany
Directed by
Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Release Date
January 14, 1981
Language
English German
Studio
Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR) CIP Filmproduktion GmbH Rialto Film Roxy Films
Distributor
Tobis
Main Cast
Character
Actor
Willie Bunterberg
Hanna Schygulla
Robert Mendelsson
Giancarlo Giannini
David Mendelsson
Mel Ferrer
Roman Henkel
Karl-Heinz von Hassel
Joachim von Strehlow
Erik Schumann
Hugo Taschner
Hark Bohm
Aaron Nolte
Gottfried John
Lili Marleen is a 1981 film directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder (World on a Wire ). The screenplay was written using the novel Heaven Has Many Colors by Lale Andersen. However, according to Lale Andersen's last husband Artur Beul, the film plot has not much in common with her real life. Zurich, 1938: The love between the German bar singer Willie Bunterberg and Robert Mendelsohn, the son of rich Jewish parents, is not under a good star from the beginning. The persecution of the Jews in Germany takes on ever more terrible proportions and a wartime mood prevails everywhere. Robert's father is also against their relationship and sees to it that Willie is deported to their homeland. In Germany, their song "Lili Marleen" is broadcast on the radio and immediately becomes a hit. Willie becomes a star overnight. While she is increasingly involved in Nazi propaganda campaigns, Robert is arrested by the Gestapo. With secret documents about extermination camps, which Willie smuggles out of Poland, she now tries to save Robert's life.
There is a 1950 British movie named Lilli Marlene with a completely different plot.
The following weapons were used in the film Lili Marleen :
Pistols
Luger P08
SS-Gruppenführer (Major General) Henkel (Karl-Heinz von Hassel) keeps a Luger P08 in his holster.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Luger P08 with black grips - 9x19mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The bottom of the grip can be seen. Also note the collar insignia which matches an SS-Brigadeführer (Brigadier General); one rank below the called rank in the movie. However, the shoulder insignia is correct.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another view of the holstered Luger.
Unknwon Pistol
An unknown pistol is seen in SS-Standartenführer (Colonel) von Strehlow's (Erik Schumann ) holster.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The pistol's grip is seen in his holster. His shoulder insignia is one of an SS-Sturmbannführer (Major); two ranks lower of the Standartenführer .
Submachine Guns
MP40
Some MP40s are carried by German soldiers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Maschinenpistole 40 - 9x19mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A soldier guarding a camp with his MP40.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Robert Mendelsson (Giancarlo Giannini ) looks at a Gestapo man pointing an MP40 at him.
Erma EMP 35
At least, one German soldier wields an Erma EMP .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Erma EMP (Erma EMP 35)- 9x19mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The soldier escorts Robert to the bridge meeting.
Sten Mk. II
The henchmen of David Mendelsson (Mel Ferrer) hold Sten Mk II submachine guns.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sten Mark II (Canadian) - 9x19mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing An agent holds his Sten.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Canadian stock of the Sten held by the right agent is seen.
Rifles
Karabiner 98k
Most of the German soldiers including Bernt (Rainer Will) and Hugo Taschner (Hark Bohm) are armed with Karabiner 98ks .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Karabiner 98k - 7.92x57mm Mauser
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The slung Kar98k of Obergefreiter (Corporal) Lederer (uncredited).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing German soldiers in a trench with Karabiners listening to Lili Marleen for the first time.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Willie next to two soldiers shouldering their carbines.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A view of the unhooded front sight of Bernt's Kar98k.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing German soldiers at the Swiss border hold their carbines.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Hugo (third from left) leads a small unit on the Eastern front. All of them carry Karabiner 98ks.
Mauser Puška vz. 98/22
Three German soldiers at the train station can be seen with full-length Mauser rifles which appear to be Vz. 98/22 Czech Mausers .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Puška CZ Brno 98/22 - 7.92x57mm Mauser
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The rifle is seen blurred in the background behind Willie and Hugo.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Two soldiers with their Mausers walking to the train. The tangent-leaf rear sight and straight bolt handle are visible.
Mauser Model 1943
At least, one German soldier is very briefly seen with a Mauser Carbine which appears to be an M43 Spanish Mauser .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mosquetón Mauser Coruña modelo 1943 - 7.92x57mm Mauser
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The soldier walks by Willie. Note the auxiliary bayonet lug.
Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk. III*
American, British, and some German soldiers can be seen with Lee-Enfield No.1 Mk.III* rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk. III* - .303 British
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Three SMLEs to the right are stucked together.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A U.S. Army Corporal clutches his SMLE while hearing the lovely song from the other side of the front.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A closer view of the muzzle.
M1903 Springfield
Although not seen in detail, M1903 Springfields can be seen in the hands of some British and U.S. soldiers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Springfield M1903 Transitional (pre-WW2) issue - .30-06 Springfield
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A British soldier stands with his Springfield rifle in the desert.
Mosin Nagant M91/30
Soviet soldiers carry Mosin Nagant M91/30 rifles at the end of the movie.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Full-length Mosin Nagant M91/30 - 7.62x54mmR
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Four Soviet soldiers aim their Mosin-Nagant rifles.
Machine Guns
Browning M1919A6
The barrel of a Browning M1919A6 can briefly be seen.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M1919A6, late WWII manufacture with muzzle booster - .30-06 Springfield
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Browning is seen on the left at the edge of the trench.
Maxim Mockup
Soviet soldiers can be seen with an unknown water-cooled machine gun which resembles a Maxim . The same machine gun is also manned by a German soldier.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Maxim MG08 on Schlittenlafette 08 mount - 7.92x57mm Mauser; for comparision
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Soviet soldiers rest next to their machine gun. It has both pistol grip and spade grips.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A German soldier on the left is seen with an unknown machine gun.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Soviet gunner mans the gun after firing it at German soldiers.
Trivia
Near all of the fighting scenes are taken from the 1977 WWII film Cross of Iron and its 1979 unofficial sequel Breakthrough .