Das Geheimnis der roten Katze (1949)

I just sat through this film, in fact it's still running in the background. It's easy to see why cinema-goers in Germany were so much in love with Heinz Rühmann, and it's also easy to see why he is so much out of fashion today. A great comic talent, no doubt, poor Mr Rühmann once again has to be reduced to the most basic elements of popular comedy - dressed as a woman, as an 88-year man, as a woman again... Oh pardon, yes, and as a polar bear! Though I admit that these banal tricks have sold well since probably Egyptian times (and new films are constantly being made to showcase male comedians in drag), this act is better be somewhat motivated. It's not in this silly comedy about a precious diamond Halifax and the many villains out to get it. The film is set in turn of the century Paris, and involves a lot of running to and fro, some weird songs - and cross-dressing. And it's utterly incomprehensible why a necklace of such immense value isn't looked after better. If you want to get to know Heinz Rühmann, there are much, much better films out there on DVD, such as Florentinischer Hut.