Written by Linda
March 01, 2009
The Harmonists is based on the true account of what happened to Europe's most popular male vocal group at the onset of WWII. The Comedian Harmonists (as the sextet was called) were a sensation in their day, selling out theaters all across Europe, and even touring in America in the 1930s. But as the war approached, the problem turned out to be not that they were a German group, but that half of their members (including the co-founder) were Jewish.
The story mainly follows Harry (Ulrich Noethen), the Jewish man who thought up the group, and his partner Bob (Ben Becker), a blonde Aryan, who helped pull the singers together. Like any good rags-to-riches story, we follow their trials and errors, as they search for vocalists, invent a unique style, and try to get gigs. When their careers take off, a love triangle between Harry, Bob, and Harry's girlfriend (Meret Becker) flares up, causing tension between the men and in the group. Not only that, but as Hitler comes to power in Germany, the group starts to fear for their survival, both metaphorically, and literally.
What certainly could have been an intriguing premise for a feature film unfortunately comes across as somewhat bland, emotionally uninvolving, and ultimately forgettable. It is too bad, really, as The Harmonists has a lot going for it. The art direction is spot-on, especially in the re-creations of the Comedian Harmonists concerts. Apparently the original recordings of the supergroup were remastered to use in the film—and the songs are certainly a treat. Plus, films highlighting the experience of German Jews (in this case celebrities) are rare and important.
Fans of 1930s vocal stylings may be interested in The Harmonists, but those looking for a good drama to back up the music should skip this one.
