"Dieser Film ist ein Loblied auf die Schule, aber es ist möglich, daß die Schule es nicht merkt." Translation
— Motto at the beginning of the film
Die Feuerzangenbowle is a 1933 German novel by Heinrich Spoerl of which three film adaptations were made. The second one (b/w) from 1944 (sometimes called The Punch Bowl in English) is actually the best-known one, which is why this article will be based on this film instead of the book. That 1944 film is very close to the book, and it is also notable as (within Germany) possibly the most enduringly popular movie from Nazi Germany.
The plot: The young but already successful playwright Dr. Johannes Pfeiffer (played by German star Heinz Rühmann) meets his friends, some older men who are sitting together, drinking the eponymous Feuerzangenbowle
and reminiscence about their school time, the fun they had, the pranks they played on their teachers... then, Pfeiffer (with three "f") confesses that he never went to a school, having had private teachers instead, and missed all the fun. So the others suggest him jokingly (and under the influence) to disguise himself as a student and go to a school, just for a few weeks, to know how life at school is - in the small German city of Babenberg, where nobody knows about the famous author Pfeiffer. Hilarity Ensues.
You can watch the movie for free on archive.org, here.
Examples:
- All Just a Dream: At the end, we learn that Pfeiffer didn't realize this zany idea. He just thinks it would have been great.
- Anachronism Stew: During the chemistry lesson, the element radium is mentioned, which was discovered in 1898. But in the principal's room, there's a picture of the supposed current emperor Wilhelm I on the wall - who died in 1888. Of course, the whole town is way behind the times (otherwise someone would recognize the famous young playwright).
- Back to School: The whole premise (though the purpose is just for fun).
- Betty and Veronica: Marion, originally Pfeiffer's girlfriend, is the Veronica. Eva, 17-year-old daughter of the school's Direktor (principal), is Betty. Who wins at the end.
- Bunny-Ears Lawyer: Most of the teachers are quite quirky, with their dialects and other peculiarities.
- Can't Get Away with Nuthin': In geography, the protagonist helps his fellow student by using the reflection of a pocket mirror to show him on the map where the goths (the Germanic people) went during the Völkerwanderung. Unfortunately, Dr. Brett isn't fooled.
- Can't Hold His Liquor: Subverted as a prank. When the chemistry teacher "Schnauz" lets the students taste "a teensy-tiny drop" of alcohol (blueberry wine), all of them act as if they were completely drunk.
- Catchphrase: Bömmel's "Da stellen wir uns einmal janz dumm..." (Let's act real dumb...)
- Class Clown: What Pfeiffer soon becomes. Hey, he has nothing to fear.
- Clock Tampering: Pfeiffer manages to set all clocks at Professor Crey's home he can get hold of back by one hour. This being Pfeiffer, it's of course part of something way more elaborate.
- Comically Missing the Point: Intentionally. One day, Pfeiffer puts up a sign at the school gate which tells that there's no school that day. After being fooled like that, the teachers decide to act as if nothing happened. Which leads to this dialogue:Tattletale: "But professor, I wanted to say, 'cause of the sign..."Schnauz: "It's not ''cause of the sign', but 'because of the sign'!"
- Department of Redundancy Department: Thanks to blueberry wine. Or not?Pfeiffer: "Die alkoholische Gärung oder die Gärung des Alkohols erzeugt Alkohol, der Alkohol erzeugt Gärung, die alkoholische Gärung."note
- Elopement: Towards the end, Pfeiffer threatens to do this with Eva just to get thrown out of school which still hasn't happened after all he's done.
- Emergency Impersonation: After Pfeiffer causes "Schnauz" to be late, he dresses up as the teacher and gives the lesson in his place. He also invites a class from the nearby girls' school over. When the superintendent makes a surprise visit to inspect Schnauz, who is up for a promotion, the principal begs Pfeiffer to keep up the masquerade. Pfeiffer does so admirably. Then the real Schnauz walks in.
- Everyone Has Standards: After "Schnauz" gets in trouble with the principal for making the seniors drunk, Pfeiffer confesses that they were just pretending.
- Film of the Book: There are three and Rühmann played the main role in the first two. The second film is the most famous by far.
- Framing Device: See the description.
- Gilligan Cut: Several in a row. We see the face of the protagonist change bit by bit while he protests his friend's wacky plan: "Do you really expect me to take off my dear moustache, cut the long hair, put on some glasses and a student's uniform?"
- Girl Next Door: Eva.
- I Gave My Word: When the principal needs Pfeiffer to keep up the teacher impersonation so as not to embarrass the whole school in front of the superintendent, he promises not to punish Pfeiffer. After the superintendent is gone, Pfeiffer is annoyed that he still won't be kicked out of school (the impersonation was supposed to be his grand finale). The principal replies that he gave his word.
- Important Haircut: To look like a student and not like an author.
- In Vino Veritas: Those stuffy old German guys are really fond of good pranks.
- Late for School: "Schnauz", because Pfeiffer adjusted all his clocks so that he could impersonate him. Unfortunately, the superintendent wants to inspect Schnauz that very day.
- Moral Guardians: Education minister Rust tried to stop the movie on account of it making fun of school and authorities. Heinz Rühmann saved it by showing the movie in a private show to Hermann Göring, who convinced Adolf Hitler otherwise, and trumped Rust. At the time, Germany was making lots of comedies to keep up the people's spirit.
- Mrs. Robinson: Bömmel suspects Marion of being this when she comes looking for her fiancee. She is not actually older than Pfeiffer, but the latter is pretending to be of school age.
- My Nayme Is: Subverted by Pfeiffer. "Your name?" - "Pfeiffer." - "With one or two F?" - "With three." - "Three??" - "One before the 'ei', two after." note
- The Nicknamer: The students call the chemistry teacher "Schnauz" (for his big moustache), the physics teacher "Bömmel" and the principal "Zeus".
- No-Sell: One does not simply successfully prank Dr. Brett.
- Nostalgia Filter: Wilhelmine Germany never was so light-hearted and funny as in this movie.
- Only Sane Man: Dr. Brett is noticeably younger than his fellow teachers, has no obvious quirks, and is not just competent but also unprankable (even for Pfeiffer).
- The Prankster: Pfeiffer again.
- Private Tutor: The reason Pfeiffer missed out on school and all those delicious pranks.
- Real Name as an Alias: Dr. Johannes Pfeiffer becomes the student Hans Pfeiffer ("Hans" being a common abbreviation).
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Dr. Brett, probably to appease the Nazi Moral Guardians. It is no coincidence that the one class we see him teach is about The Migration Period.
- Screw the Rules, I Have Connections!: Used by Rühmann for a good effect. Play out Hitler himself against his minister to save the movie from being forbidden.
- Stern Teacher: Dr. Brett. Due to
Executive Meddling, since the NS propaganda wanted a teacher who wasn't a joke character. - Xanatos Gambit: The "Closed due to construction" sign on the school gates.
- The normal reaction would be for the teachers to go outside and remove the sign. No day off, but everyone would know that all the teachers plus the principal have been pranked. Pfeiffer would win by fooling them all in one fell swoop.
- Bömmel's suggestion is to leave the sign hanging and make the school building look like there has been actual construction work. The school would stay closed for a day, but the teachers keep their dignity, so this is what they actually do. Still, Pfeiffer wins by giving all students a day off.
