Reviews

Jan is absolutely right when saying that this film is bizarre and fetishistic. What a strange juxtaposition to have in a family orientated film. When Lillian Harvey's character Christel Weinzinger, a poor glove seller is arrested for throwing some flowers at the czar, as he passed through the street, she is hauled off the local magistrates court. We are suddenly taken into some sort of sub plot with strange overtures. The judge finds her guilty and sentences her to 25 blows of the rod across her bare posterior! Presumably this was the standard punishment for misdemeanours back in 19th century Germany? The next scene sees Christel in the punishment room — you can tell this by the way the walls are adorned with a huge selection of different size canes. A leering young man, who clearly enjoys his work, selects the prescribed size rod and proceeds to secure Christel over a bench with the use of a large strap. Once in place he lifts her dress when..... see the film and find out! The remake of this film in 1956 did include a punishment scene but it was done in a far less provocative style.