The Threepenny Opera (1931)

Not Recommended

Germany
Feature Film
Original Title: Die 3 Groschen-Oper
Director: G.W. Pabst
Writers: Brecht, Balazs, Lania, Vajda
Cinematographer: F.A. Wagner
Composer: Kurt Weill
Cast: Rudolf Forster, Carola Neher, Reinhold Schünzel, Fritz Rasp, Valeska Gert, Lotte Lenya, Wladimir Sokolow

Pabst’s stuttering version of Brecht’s updating of The Beggar’s Opera, depicting the aftermath of the marriage between Mack the Knife and Polly Peachum, daughter of the King of the beggars in early twentieth century London, is a visually stunning work that is unfortunately fatally let down by some rather stilted dialogue and a general lack of credibility. Iain.Stott