All language subtitles for The Buddenbrooks_

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.