Es Geschah am Hellichten Tag (1958)
Genre: Crime / Thriller
Duration: 95 minuten
Alternative title: It Happened in Broad Daylight
Country:
West Germany / Switzerland / Spain
Directed by: Ladislao Vajda
Stars: Heinz Rühmann, Gert Fröbe and Siegfried Lowitz
IMDb score:
7,8 (6.127)
Releasedate: 9 June 1958
Es Geschah am Hellichten Tag plot
A police officer resigns to focus on finding a child murderer. To lure the killer into a trap, he develops a friendship with a single mother and her daughter.
Actors and actresses
Oberleutnant Matthäi
Det. Feller
Lt. Heinzi
Jacquier
Polizeikommandant
Schrott
Frau Schrott
Prof. Manz
Frau Heller
Annemarie Heller
Reviews & comments
Spetie
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- 38871 messages
- 8247 votes
Great movie this.
The script is strong. A sinister story is told about a bloodthirsty child murderer. At the beginning everyone thinks they already know who the murderer is, but Commissioner Matei is the only one not convinced and starts his own search.
Matei is very well portrayed by the unknown Heinz Rühmann. He looks determined, but also knows how to convey emotions such as doubt and uncertainty. My compliments also to Gert Fröbe, who fantastic portrays a psychopath. His role in Goldfinger may well be partly due to this role.
The black and white photography looks very good and the second half of the film is really exciting. In addition, a beautiful portrait is painted of a man who wants to do everything he can to catch a murderer. That he even goes so far as to say that the killer could have pre-killed another girl only gives more food for thought and makes it all that little bit more impressive.
This could just be a Hitchcock. But a very good one and a German one, that too. But for those who want to see a classic suspenseful thriller, with a subject that is still topical, you should try this topper.
4.5*
Translated from Dutch · View original
baspls
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- 4118 messages
- 1673 votes
A Swiss police officer has his last day of work before going to Jordan. On this very day they have to deal with the painful case of a child murderer. A tramp is arrested, but the officer is not reassured. As a private investigator, he continues the investigation and discovers an important clue in a child's drawing...
Es Geschah am Helchten Tag is a pleasant somewhat Hitchcockian thriller from Switzerland. The comparison with M by Fritz Lang is of course quickly made, but this film certainly has its own additions to the concept.
Very nice that everyone spoke with a Swiss-German accent in the film, especially the children very much. Switzerland is of course also a beautiful setting. Perhaps this could have been used a little more. All in all, I thought it was a well-made film with strong roles by Heinz Rühmann and Gert Fröbe.
Translated from Dutch · View original
pjmj
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- 311 messages
- 288 votes
Previously seen on German TV. I was around 10 years old then and I remember that I didn't dare to go to bed after that..... brrr I was so scared then.
Now revised on Blu-ray (for sale at Amazon.de, among others) and again I was completely captivated by the penetratingly gloomy atmosphere, provided by razor-sharp black-and-white images and the dangerously disturbed Gert Fröbe who managed to portray his role very well . Reminded me at times of the movie "Never Take Sweets From a Stranger" from 1960, but I thought "Es schah am helchten Tag" was worth a whole star more in terms of tension and the film environment and especially the way in which the the fear of the little girl who is in constant danger.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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