Original subtitles

BUDDENBROOKS by Gerhard Lamprecht premiered in August 1923

at the UFA Tauentzien-Palast cinema.

In 2024, the film was digitized in 4K and restored in 2K resolution

on behalf of Deutsche Kinemathek by BASIS BERLIN Postproduktion.

The original negative is lost.

The reconstruction is based on an incomplete black-and-white nitrate print

from the Federal Archives.

A 35 mm nitrate print from Filmarchiv Austria and a 16 mm print from Deutsche Kinemathek

were used to complete the film.

The title cards used at the beginning and end of each act

are sourced from an analogue reconstruction made in 1999 using a rostrum camera.

The colour reconstruction is based on

the tinting and toning of a nitrate print from Filmarchiv Austria.

There are only a few remaining traces of the tinting colours,

such as small bleached-out patches along the edges where the film was joined.

The colour reconstruction is thus an approximation of the original colours

and is in part speculative.

The film was submitted to the censor in August 1923 with a length of 2383 m.

The digital reconstruction is approximately half a minute shorter than the original version.

Digitization was funded by the German film heritage program.

"BUDDENBROOKS"

Based on motifs from the novel by Thomas Mann.

Modernised for the screen by Alfred Fekete and L. Heilborn-Körbitz.

Directed by: Gerhard Lamprecht.

Set Construction: Otto Moldenhauer.

Director of Photography: Erich Waschneck.

Cinematography: Erich Waschneck and Herbert Stephan

Produced by: Albert Pommer.

Starring:

Peter Esser as Thomas Buddenbrook.

Alfred Abel as Christian, his brother.

Hildegard Imhof as Tony, his sister.

Mathilde Sussin as Elisabeth Buddenbrook, née Kröger, his mother.

Franz Egenieff as Shipowner Arnoldsen.

Mady Christians as Gerda, his daughter.

Rudolf del Zopp as Consul Leberecht Kröger.

Auguste Prasch-Grevenberg as Babette, his wife.

Ralph Arthur Roberts as Bendix Grünlich, an agent.

Charlotte Böcklin as Aline Puvogel.

Karl Platen as Marcus, Authorized Signatory of Buddenbrooks.

Elsa Wagner as Sesemi Weichbrodt, the housekeeper.

Rudolph Lettinger as Grobleben, the coachman.

Kurt Vespermann as René Throta.

Robert Leffler as Captain Kloot.

Hermann Vallentin as Smith.

Emil Heyse as Kesselmeyer.

Friedrich Taeger as Mayor Oeverdieck.

Paul Günther as a hunchback.

Tini Endres as a theatre ticket clerk.

ACT ONE.

"Mr Buddenbrook, the Senate must now make a decision."

"I warn against putting the City of Lübeck's largest grain contract

into the hands of a young businessman such as Thomas Buddenbrook!"

"Thomas Buddenbrook is as stubborn as his father was.

He will prove a hard nut to crack for many!"

"Mother, if I don't get this contract... "

"You got it!"

"Gerda!"

"Gerda Arnoldsen!!"

"We Buddenbrooks got the contract!"

"Well, what do you say to the contract from the Senate?"

"What incredible luck you Buddenbrooks have!"

"Mr Grünlich from Hamburg is outside.

He's offering us ships to transport our grain."

"Congratulations... congratulations! It's the talk of the entire city."

"You're here too late.

The Arnoldsen Company is taking care of the transport."

"What about the insurance?"

"You're a marvellously capable businessman, Mr Grünlich!"

"Patchouli!"

"Mr Grünlich."

"It's Bendix Grünlich."

"Will our cash funds be sufficient for such a large transaction?"

"Mother, I'm going to sell off our gardens."

"As long as I'm alive, nothing is to be sold."

"Then I shall have to find another way to get the money."

"Which of us two is the clumsy one?"

"The first strawberries from our greenhouse."

"I shall tell Thomas that he should marry Gerda..."

"... so that this greenhouse can be in our family."

"Thomas is asking if you can free up some money for him."

"Do as your grandparents did and get married!"

"Well, Throta, my friend, back in the city again?"

"Kesselmeyer, the shipping contract slipped through my fingers."

"And how do you intend to pay your debts?"

"Do you know Miss Tony Buddenbrook?"

"My dear Throta, let us call it a day."

"Thomas would like to speak to you."

"Gerda... would you like to be my wife?"

"Give me some time."

"Father, I cannot."

"The daughters of merchants cannot always follow their hearts."

"... If the company Johann M. Buddenbrook,

should, through its own negligence, fail to deliver the ordered grain

to the Lübeck City Senate within the time specified,

then the company must pay a contract penalty

three times the sum of the purchase price."

"Triple the sum? That is harsh!"

"A mere formality... for the Buddenbrook Company."

Marriage between the houses of Buddenbrook and Arnoldsen.

END OF ACT ONE.

"BUDDENBROOKS"

ACT TWO.

"Why have you called Christian back home?"

"Because I wish your brother to become a partner in the company."

"What is that dreadful fellow doing here again?"

"You'll see, child... you'll see!"

"Mr Buddenbrook... if I may be so bold:

Is your sister Tony still unattached?"

"He didn't throw me out at once, so... he didn't say no."

Family conference.

"I have an important family announcement to make... "

"I have an important family announcement to make:

Mr Bendix Grünlich, a prestigious businessman from Hamburg,

has asked for our Tony's hand in marriage."

"What have I ever done to this man?"

"Here are the references I obtained... all of them excellent."

"Our Captain Kloot, who is taking a shipment to Buenos Aires,

will bring your grain across."

"Here he is!"

"Where is Tony?"

"Tony is gone!"

A BUDDENBROOK DOES NOT MARRY

AGAINST HER WILL.

I'VE GONE TO STAY

WITH GRANDFATHER KRÖGER. TONY.

"Let us give the child time to think."

"Be sensible, Tony. You know this has always been the way:

The family has a right to demand, and you... have a duty to obey!"

"I consider it a crime to combine marriage and business."

"My brother will take over the foreign correspondence."

"Well... what answer can we give to Mr Grünlich?"

"Gerda, what... shall I... do?"

"We daughters of merchants cannot always follow our hearts."

END OF ACT TWO.

"BUDDENBROOKS"

ACT THREE.

"That polishes up tremendously."

"It's been almost fifty years for us. Do you remember... ?"

"Well, Grünlich, a girl like that polishes up tremendously."

"Are you content with me now?"

"Be happy, my dear child!"

"Well, Sesemi, soon it will be time for us to marry."

"... I mean, for each of us to get married."

"The ships have arrived in Buenos Aires!"

"I'd like an annual subscription."

"The ships are in Buenos Aires!"

"It's a boy!"

"Loading up must commence in Buenos Aires at once!"

"Did you inform Thomas that I am waiting for him?"

"Transfer the money at once

so that Smith can load up in Buenos Aires."

"All of our money is tied up in this deal..."

"Thomas... is coming!"

"Father, even at a time like this, he abandons me... "

"Mother... the light... hurts my eyes."

"Mr Smith, has the money from Lübeck come through?"

"If it's not here by tomorrow, I'll sell the grain elsewhere!"

"Well then... !"

"Being a merchant really is a truly delightful occupation."

HOLSTENTOR THEATRE - MONDAY STARRING ALINE PUVOGEL

"Why hasn't Buenos Aires confirmed receipt of the money?"

Aline Puvogel...

"See, kids, now that's what I like!"

The morning.

"Captain Kloot wired to say that the money has yet to arrive."

"Where is my brother?"

"Mr Thomas wishes to speak with you."

"Why haven't you transferred the money to Buenos Aires yet?"

"Could I have forgotten to do so?"

"In all the years since the company was founded

an error as grave as this one has never been made!"

"Have you ever had this, Thomas?

I keep getting this pain whenever I swallow of late... "

"Gerda... I have so many troubles at work."

"Make the transfer to Buenos Aires at once!

Christian's negligence almost led to a catastrophe."

"Look, there's a bluebottle sitting on the wall...

sitting on the wall, sitting on the wall... "

END OF ACT THREE.

"BUDDENBROOKS"

ACT FOUR.

Tivoli.

"If my Chrissy doesn't like it at his mother's house anymore

he should move in with his Aline."

"I sauntered out to promenade And there I chanced to see a maid

A walking up ahead!"

"I said: You're truly charming Me lovely miss

So please just let me ask you this:

Would you care to take me arm And stroll along?

She turned then, quite abrupt And looked me down and up't

And said: Go home, me boy You're very bold!"

"For outstanding services to the Tivoli!"

The morning.

"Boys... Aline Puvogel said that all merchants are crooks."

"You, a Buddenbrook, say that all merchants are crooks??!"

"Christian, you are a scoundrel!"

CHRISTIAN BUDDENBROOK

JOINT PROPRIETOR OF THE JOH. M. BUDDENBROOK COMPANY

"Starting from today, we shall resume our music evenings."

"Mother is inviting us to the House of Buddenbrook centenary."

"Meaning: You need a new dress!"

"The money from Lübeck has arrived... but I've already sold the grain."

"Are you not aware that you are ruining the company?!"

"I think that in the interim

we will refrain from lodging an appeal at court

as Mr Grünlich intends to pay after the House of Buddenbrook centenary."

The centenary.

"A centenary celebration like this polishes up tremendously."

"If I get in a pickle, play the music!"

"We're 'ere to pay our respects with all our hearts."

"We must all go t' grave in the end,

one man gets a fine, polished coffin, whilst t' other gets a dusty old box."

"But each of us returns to ma, to ma... to ma... "

TO BUDDENBROOK, LÜBECK

MONEY ARRIVED LATE. BUSINESS LOST TO YOU. KLOOT

"May I be granted the good fortune

to elevate the house of Buddenbrook to the proud heights that I envision."

"The citizenry has elected you as senator. Are you prepared to assume the position?"

"If only Father had lived to see this!"

"... And in carrying out my duty, not act to my own advantage

nor consider my familial ties nor my friendship... "

"... In particular I will keep secret that which I am told must remain secret.

So help me God!"

"An urgent telegram!"

"Go on down. The Senate will be here shortly."

BUDDENBROCK LÜBECK. MONEY ARRIVED LATE BUSINESS LOST TO YOU. KLOOT

"Marcus... we are... lost."

END OF ACT FOUR.

"BUDDENBROOKS"

ACT FIVE.

"Through the negligence of my... of one of my employees,

I am unable... to deliver...

the grain to the City of Lübeck by the agreed date."

"I am, of course, prepared to pay the contract penalty in its entirety."

"Excuse me, Mr Senator has taken the wrong hat."

"You must travel to the Grünlichs at once!"

"Mother, we can no longer escape our woes.

It is simply one thing after another."

"Go to your brother. You still have your share of the business... "

"You must help me, dearest father-in-law. I... I'm about to go bankrupt!"

"These are the balance sheets of a fraudster!"

"Do you not wish to help, or are you unable to?"

"Don't give him anything!"

"Summons to the public prosecutor!"

"I will have to help him.

Our name must not be tainted by such a scandal."

"We've just come from the registry office."

"Please, I'm a Buddenbrook now too!"

"Transfer this amount to Mr Grünlich."

"The whole amount in one go?"

"Mother, I am never going back to Grünlich again."

"We wish to have Christian's share of the business paid out to us."

"Bring me the books.

We have to see if there's any way to save ourselves."

"Throta... you have no idea what our musical evenings mean to me!"

"From now on these meetings with this Throta will cease!"

"Marcus... nothing can save us anymore."

"Now you'll see that we should never have married."

"Why not appeal to your father-in-law?"

"I don't want to go back to him!"

"I am in a difficult position...

Could you perhaps help me out with a large sum... ?"

"No. You did not make my child happy."

END OF ACT FIVE.

"BUDDENBROOKS"

ACT SIX.

"Arnoldsen turned me down... We have to go into liquidation."

"Did you tell Thomas that I'm here with you?"

"Gerda is gone!"

"Isn't that the bell?"

"Where is my wife?"

"Where is... my wife?"

"Mr Buddenbrooks... have you lost your way?"

"Throta, won't you offer your hand to me any more?"

"Haven't you heard anything?"

"I am to blame... "

I married Tony off to a fraudster.

I threw Christian out of the house.

I didn't make you happy.

Now it has all come toppling down around me... "

A new day.

"Marcus... I cannot see anything without my glasses."

"Nor do I need to see anything. I'll pay."

The end.