Herr Puntila and His Servant Matti

This first film adaptation of Bertolt Brecht’s play about class distinctions was made in 1955 in the Vienna Rosenhügel studios, but it was only premiered five years later. Curt Bois plays the rich capitalist Puntila who only becomes somewhat agreeable when he is drunk (which he is most of the time in this film). In his inebriated state, Puntila not only gets amorously involved with three different ladies but also suggests that his daughter Eva marries his chauffeur Matti. The chauffeur, however, doesn’t really agree…

• Alberto CavalcantiDirector
• Bertolt BrechtWriter
• Hanns EislerOriginal Music Composer
• Alberto CavalcantiScreenplay

• Curt BoisJohannes Puntila
• Maria EmoEva Puntila
• Heinz EngelmannMatti Altonen
• Elfriede IrrallLisu
• Karl SkraupPharmacist Josef
• Dorothea NeffPröpstin
• Gaby BanschenbachLaina
• Erika PelikowskySandra
• Edith KlingerManda
• Erland ErlandsenAttaché
• Fritz LinksProvost
• Elisabeth StieplSmuggler Emma