Anders als die Andern

December 15, 2006 5:08 PM

Anders als die Andern ("Different From the Others") [IMDB|Wikipedia] was one of a series of films on sexual issues directed by Richard Oswald in the late 1910s and sponsored by Magnus Hirschfeld's Institute for Sexual Science. The 1919 movie (photo reconstruction), "the first major gay-themed film ever made," and "the world's first homosexual emancipation film," was made in part to protest against Paragraph 175, which was added to Germany's Reich Penal Code in 1871 and prohibited sex acts "between persons of male sex." [more inside]
posted by kirkaracha (10 comments total)

Mod note: The final shot of the film wishfully showed Paragraph 175 being crossed out, but Nazi Germany persecuted male homosexuals under an expanded Paragraph 175. (Lesbians, not so much.) The documentary Paragraph 175 (review, directors interview) profiled concentration camp survivors of the Nazi persecution. Paragraph 175 was revoked in 1994 after the reunification of Germany. Anders als die Andern was recently made available on DVD.

The movie starred Conrad Veidt IMDB|Wikipedia, who's probably best known for his potrayal of Major Strasser in Casablanca. He was also in The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, and his performance in The Man Who Laughs was the visual inspiration for The Joker.

Anders als die Andern wasn't the first protest against Paragraph 175. A 1897 petition was signed by Albert Einstein, Hermann Hesse, Thomas Mann, Rainer Maria Rilke, and Leo Tolstoy.

Background and context of Magnus Hirschfeld's research.
posted by kirkaracha (staff) at 5:09 PM on December 15, 2006 [1 favorite]

previously. (not a callout)
posted by kolophon at 5:48 PM on December 15, 2006

what was the question again, liquorice?
posted by kolophon at 6:19 PM on December 15, 2006

From the lesbian history link: In 1928, for example, the police banned Die Freundin and other lesbian literature based on the Protection of Youth from Obscene Publications Act.

Interesting to see that "won't somebody think of the children!!!" law names have such a long history.
posted by D.C. at 6:20 PM on December 15, 2006

What is with all teh ghey around here these days?

It's on our agenda, right between turning all kids gay from 10 to 10:30, and going out dancing from 10:35 to 4. ; >
posted by amberglow at 7:01 PM on December 15, 2006

aside from the political aspects of it this is an interesting and informative look at early films.
posted by altman at 7:10 PM on December 15, 2006

Wow, this was really good.
posted by Kirklander at 7:23 PM on December 15, 2006

I watched this movie for a gay and lesbian literature and film class. And while yes, it is fascinating for its historical value, if anyone is interested in another early German film that deals frankly with homosexuality and also happens not to suck horribly as a movie (as "Different from the Others" unfortunately does), I'd recommend watching Leontine Sagan's "Maedchen in Uniform" instead.
posted by freetshirt at 9:35 PM on December 15, 2006

Fantastic post, thank you.
posted by jokeefe at 11:09 AM on December 17, 2006

Nice post
posted by caddis at 8:50 AM on December 18, 2006