Jacob the Liar (1974)
Jakob der Lügner (original title)Reference View | Change View
- 1h 40min
- Comedy, Crime
- 17 Apr 1975 (East Germany)
- Movie
A Jewish ghetto in central Europe, 1944. By coincidence, Jakob Heym eavesdrops on a German radio broadcast announcing the Soviet Army is making slow by steady progress towards central Europe. In order to keep his companion in misfortune,...
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Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination.
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Photos and Videos
Cast
| Vlastimil Brodský | ... |
Jakob Heym
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| Erwin Geschonneck | ... |
Kowalski
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| Henry Hübchen | ... |
Mischa
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| Blanche Kommerell | ... |
Rosa Frankfurter
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Manuela Simon | ... |
Lina
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Dezsö Garas | ... |
Frankfurter
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Zsuzsa Gordon | ... |
Mrs. Frankfurter
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Friedrich Richter | ... |
Dr. Kirschbaum
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| Margit Bara | ... |
Josefa
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Reimar J. Baur | ... |
Herschel Schtamm
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| Armin Mueller-Stahl | ... |
Roman Schtamm
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Hermann Beyer | ... |
Wachhabender
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Klaus Brasch | ... |
Najdorf
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Jürgen Hilbrecht | ... |
Schwocj
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Paul Lewitt | ... |
Horowitz
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Fritz Links | ... |
Fajngold
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Edwin Marian | ... |
Abraham
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| Hans-Peter Reinecke | ... |
Soldat vor Latrine
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Helmut Schellhardt | ... |
Eisenbahner
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Peter Sturm | ... |
Schmidt
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Horst Preusker | ... |
Nachrichtensprecher (voice)
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Peter Bausch | ... |
Soldat
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Eckhard Bilz | ... |
Soldat in Giebelfenster
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Gerhard Brieger | ... |
Sowjetischer General
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Josef Englicki | ... |
Mann in Kowalskis Zimmer
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Harald Fischer | ... |
Turmposten
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Gabriele Gysi | ... |
Larissa
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Harald Henke | ... |
Soldat
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Otto Horstmann | ... |
Sowjetischer General
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Wilhelm Jordan | ... |
Sowjetischer General
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Karel Kalita | ... |
Siegfried
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Jarmila Karlovská | ... |
Mischas Nachbarin
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Josef Koci | ... |
Alter Mann in Kaftan
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Julius Kornstreicher | ... |
Mann in Kowalskis Zimmer
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Harry Lehnert | ... |
Polizist
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Fred Ludwig | ... |
Awron Minsch
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Joachim Lukas | ... |
Soldat
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Alfred Lux | ... |
Arbeiter
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Peter Pauli | ... |
Arbeiter
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Erich Petraschk | ... |
Chaim Balabusne
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Bernhard Schauder | ... |
Torposten
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Klaus-Jürgen Steinmann | ... |
Zivilist im Revier
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Pavel Vancura | ... |
Rafael
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Wilfried Zander | ... |
Schlittenkutscher
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Henry Zschoge | ... |
Soldat
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Directed by
| Frank Beyer | ||
Written by
| Jurek Becker | ... | (novel) |
| Jurek Becker | ... | (screenplay) |
| Frank Beyer | ... | () |
Produced by
| Gerd Zimmermann | ... | co-producer |
Music by
| Joachim Werzlau | ||
Cinematography by
| Günter Marczinkowsky | ||
Editing by
| Rita Hiller | ||
Production Design by
| Alfred Hirschmeier | ||
Costume Design by
| Joachim Dittrich | ||
Makeup Department
| Günter Hermstein | ... | makeup artist |
| Inge Merten | ... | assistant makeup artist |
| Monika Mörke | ... | assistant makeup artist |
Production Management
| Herbert Ehler | ... | production manager |
| Werner Teichmann | ... | unit manager |
| Gerd Zimmermann | ... | unit manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Harald Fischer | ... | assistant director |
| Günter Hoffmann | ... | assistant director |
Art Department
| Kurt Pentzien | ... | property master |
| Gisela Schulze | ... | set builder |
| Willi Schäfer | ... | set builder |
Sound Department
| Horst Mathuschek | ... | sound |
| Gerhard Ribbeck | ... | sound mixer |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Dietmar Kleist | ... | assistant camera |
| Herbert Kroiss | ... | still photographer |
| Dietrich Tillak | ... | lighting design |
Additional Crew
| Gerd Gericke | ... | dramaturgist |
Production Companies
- DEFA-Studio für Spielfilme
- Künstlerische Arbeitsgruppe "Johannisthal"
- Fernsehen der DDR
- Filmové studio Barrandov (co-production)
Distributors
- Progress Film-Verleih (1975) (East Germany) (theatrical)
- Artkino Pictures (1977) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- MacMillan Films Inc. (1977) (United States) (theatrical) (subtitled)
- Icestorm Entertainment (1999) (Germany) (DVD)
- Icestorm Entertainment (1999) (Germany) (VHS)
- First Run Features (1999) (United States) (DVD)
- Hen's Tooth Video (2004) (United States) (DVD)
- New Star (2016) (Greece) (theatrical) (re-release)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Studio Babelsberg (sound stages)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
A Jewish ghetto in central Europe, 1944. By coincidence, Jakob Heym eavesdrops on a German radio broadcast announcing the Soviet Army is making slow by steady progress towards central Europe. In order to keep his companion in misfortune, Mischa, from risking his life for a few potatoes, he tells him what he heard and announces that he is in possession of a radio - in the ghetto a crime punishable by death. It doesn't take long for word of Jakob's secret to spread - suddenly, there is new hope and something to live for - and so Jakob finds himself in the uncomforting position of having to come up with more and more stories. Written by c.winter |
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| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | 'Jakob der Lügner' is the only DEFA-Film ever nominated for an Academy Award (1976, Winner: Noirs et blancs en couleur). See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in 1952-1989 (1991). See more » |
| Quotes |
[last lines]
Lina: Remember the story? Jakob Heym: Which one? Lina: The sick princess. Is it a true story? Jakob Heym: Of course it is. Lina: The boys said it is silly. Jakob Heym: What is silly? Lina: well with cotton balls. She wanted a cotton ball as big as her pillow. Jakob Heym: She wanted a cloud. She thought clouds were made of cotton balls. Lina: Aren't clouds made of cotton balls? See more » |