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The Harmonists

Play trailer Poster for The Harmonists R,  1997,  1h 55m,  Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 80% 35 Reviews Tomatometer 87% 500+ Ratings Popcornmeter
80% Tomatometer 35 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
The Comedian Harmonists were one of the most beloved musical groups in the 1930s Germany. Inspired by black American vocalists, Harry Frommermann (Ulrich Noethen) founded the six-person act in the late 1920s. While audiences swooned, Frommermann vied with fellow singer Robert Biberti (Ben Becker) for the heart of shop clerk Erna (Meret Becker). When the Third Reich took power, however, anti-Semitism imperiled both the future of the romance and the group's stirring harmonies.
The Harmonists

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Reflecting historical upheaval through the group dynamics of a talented troupe, The Harmonists is a spirited depiction of entertainment and politics intersecting.

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Critics Reviews

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Liam Lacey Globe and Mail Mar 19, 2002
2.5/4
The movie is history as kitsch, not quite on the Life is Beautiful level of manipulation, but clumsy. Go to Full Review
Marc Savlov Austin Chronicle Jan 1, 2000
2.5/5
Mildly engrossing but, ultimately, the sort of film that demands more attention than it should, The Harmonists resonates with barely a dull thud. Go to Full Review
Susan Stark Detroit News Jan 1, 2000
3/4
A true story from the Nazi era, it deftly fuses politics and show business. Go to Full Review
CSM Staff Christian Science Monitor Mar 21, 2019
3/4
Like the Harmonists in their shows, this neatly assembled German production serves up a beguiling blend of humor, sentiment, and nostalgia. Go to Full Review
Mark Halverson Sacramento News & Review Aug 7, 2008
4/5
Sean Axmaker Seattle Weekly Apr 30, 2007
... a grandly realized and skillfully executed melodrama that seems all too familiar. Go to Full Review
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The Harmonists

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Cast & Crew

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Joseph Vilsmaier

Director

Ben Becker

Robert Biberti

Heino Ferch

Roman Cycowski

Ulrich Noethen

Harry Frommermann

Heinrich Schafmeister

Erich A. Collin

Max Tidof

Ari Leschnikoff

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The Harmonists

The Harmonists (1998) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis The Comedian Harmonists were one of the most beloved musical groups in the 1930s Germany. Inspired by black American vocalists, Harry Frommermann (Ulrich Noethen) founded the six-person act in the late 1920s. While audiences swooned, Frommermann vied with fellow singer Robert Biberti (Ben Becker) for the heart of shop clerk Erna (Meret Becker). When the Third Reich took power, however, anti-Semitism imperiled both the future of the romance and the group's stirring harmonies.
Director
Joseph Vilsmaier
Producer
Hanno Huth, Reinhard Klooss, Danny Krausz
Distributor
Miramax Films
Production Co
Miramax
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
German
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 25, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 17, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$491.1K
Runtime
1h 55m
Sound Mix
Surround
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