''Cat and Mouse'' () is a 1967 West German drama film directed by Hansjürgen Pohland, based on the novel of the same name by

Günter Grass Günter Wilhelm Grass (; 16 October 1927 – 13 April 2015) was a German novelist, poet, playwright, illustrator, graphic artist, sculptor, and recipient of the 1999 Nobel Prize in Literature. He was born in the Free City of Danzig (now Gda ...

, the second book in the

Danzig Trilogy The ''Danzig Trilogy'' () is a series of novels and novellas by German author Günter Grass. The trilogy focuses on the interwar and wartime period in the Free City of Danzig (now Gdańsk, Poland). The three books in the trilogy are: *''The Tin ...

. It is about Mahlke, an alienated child in Danzig during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. Pohland was initially only the producer of the film, but took over as director when the intended director died unexpectedly. The film was released in West German cinemas on 7 February 1967. The film was part of the

New German Cinema New German Cinema () is a period in Cinema of Germany, West German cinema which lasted from 1962 to 1982, in which a new generation of directors emerged who, working with low budgets, and influenced by the French New Wave and Italian Neorealism, ...

and became highly controversial in Germany upon its release, largely due to the inclusion of a masturbation scene and the casting of the

Social Democratic Social democracy is a Social philosophy, social, Economic ideology, economic, and political philosophy within socialism that supports Democracy, political and economic democracy and a gradualist, reformist, and democratic approach toward achi ...

leader

Willy Brandt Willy Brandt (; born Herbert Ernst Karl Frahm; 18 December 1913 – 8 October 1992) was a German politician and statesman who was leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) from 1964 to 1987 and concurrently served as the Chancellor ...

's sons in the roles of Mahlke at different ages. The film has received little attention after the initial release and has been described as a failure.

Cast

* as younger Mahlke * as older Mahlke * Claudia Bremer as Tulla *

Wolfgang Neuss Wolfgang Neuss (3 December 1923 – 5 May 1989) was a German actor and Kabarett artist. Wolfgang Neuss and (1922–1960) were a popular double act. Beginning in the mid-1960s, Neuss also became famous for his political engagement, first for ...

as Pilenz *

Ingrid van Bergen Ingrid van Bergen (; born 15 June 1931) is a German film actress. She has appeared in 100 films since 1954. She was born in Free City of Danzig, today Gdańsk, Poland. Career Since 1954, Ingrid van Bergen appeared in more than 170 film and tele ...

as Mahlke's aunt *

Michael Hinz Michael Hinz (28 December 1939 – 6 November 2008) was a German actor. Life and career Hinz came from an acting family, his parents were Werner Hinz and Ehmi Bessel, both actors, as well as his brother Knut and half-sister Dinah. After gro ...

as fighter pilot *

Herbert Weißbach Herbert Weißbach (12 November 1901 – 13 October 1995) was a German actor, cabaret artist, and voice actor. Born in Bernburg, he appeared in more than 240 films and television shows between 1935 and 1994. Selected filmography * ''Donog ...

as Klohse * as

Kapitänleutnant , short: KptLt/in lists: KL, ( or ''lieutenant captain'') is an officer grade of the captains' military hierarchy group () of the modern German . The rank is rated Ranks and insignia of NATO navies' officers, OF-2 in NATO, and equivalent to i ...

* as Sonntag * Hans-Peter Brandes as Esch

References

External links

* 1967 films German war drama films German World War II films Films based on German novels Adaptations of works by Günter Grass Films set in Gdańsk Obscenity controversies in film Danzig Trilogy {{WWII-film-stub