Emil and the Detectives (1931 film)

Emil and the Detectives German Emil und die Detektive is a 1931 German adventure film directed by Gerhard Lamprecht and starring Rolf Wenkhaus. It is based on the 1929 novel by Erich Kstner, who also contributed to the films script. The film script was written by Billy Wilder. Until today, this film is generally considered to be the best film adaption of Emil and the Detectives.

After following Grundeis to a hotel and spying on him all night, Emil and the gang follow the thief to the bank. Emil gets his money back when Herr Grundeis tries to exchange the money. Emil proves that the money was his by describing the holes left by the needle he used to pin the bills in the lining of his jacket. Herr Grundeis tries to run away, but Emils new friends cling onto him until a police officer arrives. Once arrested, Herr Grundeis is found out to be a notorious bank robber. Emil receives a reward of 1000 marks for capturing Herr Grundeis. In the last scene, a plane takes Emil back to Neustaat where he is greeted as a local hero.The film was a critical and commercial success and got also popular with international audiences. It also launched the career of Billy Wilder as a screenwriter. Mordaunt Hall wrote in his New York Times review in 1931 It is a pity that the audience that welcomed Emil und die Detektive, a Germanlanguage childrens film, to the UfaCosmopolitan yesterday afternoon did not have the chance to meet the youthful actors in the flesh, as happened when this delightful picture had its premiere at the Kurfrstendamm Theatre in Berlin several weeks ago. For every one would have enjoyed seeing these clever boys, who furnish eloquent proof that Hollywood has no monopoly on juvenile screen talent. And Inge Landgut, the solitary girl in a leading rle, is up to the high standard set by her colleagues, although a little mature for her part. Those who may imagine that American boys have exclusive rights on Indians, Cops and Robbers, et al., will discover that such isnt the case and will settle down to enjoy the interesting and rapid development of a tale beginning with Emil Rolf Wenkhaus and two companions throwing dice to see who shall remodel a statue in Neustadt in defiance of the police and winding up with his return from Berlin in an airplane, hailed as the hero who has effected the arrest of a notorious bank robber. There are many good scenes

Source: Wikipedia