Der Stern von Afrika (1956) Review

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(More customer reviews)Fortunately most DVD players are produced for multiple markets and easily convert between regions and format. The settings aren't in the manual, but are readily available on the Internet. Make sure your DVD player has this capability, though, before buying a foreign DVD and finding it won't work on your system. If you don't want to tweak your system, there is an English-language version, distributed by Beta Films, which will work without modifications.
Released in 1957, Der Stern von Afrika is a fictionalized account of the life of Hans-Joachim Marseille, who is generally regarded as the leading Luftwaffe ace prior to his death in 1942. It depicts his notorious lack of discipline, his carefree lifestyle, and the rock star-like status he attained during his lifetime. Not surprisingly, given the era in which the film was made, political discussion is largely limited to the tragedy of war. Only swastikas on uniforms and planes serve as stark reminders of National Socialism.
As portrayed by Joachim Hansen, Marseille comes off as handsome, shallow, self-indulgent, and not terribly likeable, despite his evident popularity. His redeeming characteristic is his success in shooting down British airplanes in his Bf-109 over North Africa -- at one point downing 17 in one day.
Marianne Koch, better known perhaps for her role as Marisol in Sergio Leone's A Fistful of Dollars, is Marseille's schoolteacher girlfriend, Brigette. Beautiful and full of tragic foreboding, she never develops much chemistry with Marseille as played by Hansen. Even she can't seem to give his character much depth.
The flying sequences aren't terribly compelling. Planes are mostly borrowed period pieces from the Spanish, but the aerial combat is repetitive and the special effects are primitive -- although no worse than in Battle of Britain, which was released a decade later.
Depiction of life in the Luftwaffe at an airfield in North Africa is interesting - especially the role of the black servant (slave?), played by Roberto Blanco, who is prized by the flyers for his dancing ability.
Der Stern von Afrika is by no means a classic, or even particularly good, film, but it's an interesting look at the life and death of a top Luftwaffe Ace.

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