PAPA WILL VERDUFTEN (1915) – EARLY GERMAN SILENT COMEDY BY HEINRICH BOLTEN-BAECKERS

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DESCRIPTION

Directed by Heinrich Bolten-Baeckers, one of the pioneers of German film comedy, Papa will verduften represents the lighthearted spirit of pre-World War I German cinema. The film balances physical humor with witty domestic farce, reflecting the era’s fascination with everyday escapades and social absurdities.

Shot in the style of early silent stage adaptations, the film employs expressive pantomime, static framing, and lively ensemble acting. Its humor arises not from large-scale spectacle but from timing, personality, and irony — making it a fine example of Germany’s early comedic storytelling.

This short film showcases Bolten-Baeckers’ knack for turning simple situations into sharp, humorous observations about human behavior, family roles, and the comic futility of trying to outsmart one’s own circumstances.

CAST

Heinrich Bolten-Baeckers – Papa

Else Eckersberg – Mama

Supporting Cast: Early stage performers from Berlin’s theater scene (uncredited)

(Exact casting records are incomplete due to wartime archival loss.)

CREW

Director: Heinrich Bolten-Baeckers

Writer: Heinrich Bolten-Baeckers

Producer: BB-Film (Bolten-Baeckers-Film)

Studio: BB-Film GmbH, Berlin

Cinematography: Uncredited

Genre: Comedy

Runtime: Approx. 15 minutes

Country: Germany

Release Year: 1915

Format: Silent, Black and White

TRIVIA

Papa will verduften translates roughly to Papa Wants to Disappear or Papa Wants to Get Away.

The film is one of the earliest known domestic comedies by Heinrich Bolten-Baeckers, a leading German comedy filmmaker active from 1910 to the 1920s.

It reflects pre-Expressionist German humor, focused on family mishaps rather than surrealism or fantasy.

Bolten-Baeckers later became known for his “Papa” film series, making this title one of the foundational works in that recurring character cycle.

The film was produced during wartime, offering comic relief for German audiences under growing social and political strain.

It is believed that parts of the film survive in German film archives and private collections.