Like 'Immer wenn der Tag beginnt' this strange mix of drama and coming-of-age story deals with the tribulations of school teachers and stars a top box-office draw in the lead (Lilli Palmer vs. Ruth Leuwerik), but otherwise they differ widely. While 'Immer wenn der Tag beginnt' is sensitive, delicate and poignant this horrible remake of a classic masterpiece misses all the way.
Miss Palmer, who just wowed critics and public alike with her wonderful 'Anstasia - Die letzte Zarentochter', is much too young and much to elegant for the requirements of the part. Her scenes with Romy Schneider, desperate to escape the saccharine and schmaltzy 'Sissi' trilogy, miss sparkle and their heavily hyped 'kiss' is as shocking as a milk-shake. The chilling social comment, that made the original version in 1932 an all time classic is now completely passé and all that's left is just a beautifully photographed ante-bellum frou-frou about a gaggle of glamour girls. They laugh, they cry and after 90 minutes of tame misunderstandings the nonplussed viewer is left with a 'So what?' feeling.
Miss Palmer, who just wowed critics and public alike with her wonderful 'Anstasia - Die letzte Zarentochter', is much too young and much to elegant for the requirements of the part. Her scenes with Romy Schneider, desperate to escape the saccharine and schmaltzy 'Sissi' trilogy, miss sparkle and their heavily hyped 'kiss' is as shocking as a milk-shake. The chilling social comment, that made the original version in 1932 an all time classic is now completely passé and all that's left is just a beautifully photographed ante-bellum frou-frou about a gaggle of glamour girls. They laugh, they cry and after 90 minutes of tame misunderstandings the nonplussed viewer is left with a 'So what?' feeling.