Damals, 1943

Cast: Zarah Leander, Hans Stüwe, Rossano Brazzi, Jutta von Alpen, Hilde Körber, Elisabeth Markus, Hermann Bräuer

Synopsis: This is an interesting film as the last one of the war years from Zarah Leander. On one level we might call it a damsel-in-distress chick flick: strong woman gets deeper and deeper in trouble as she lies to her husband about meeting an old friend, gets divorced, emigrates to Switzerland, works as doctor, gets fired for disobeying her boss's orders, emigrates to Portugal, dances in nightclub, emigrates to some unnamed Latin American country...On another level it's a whodunit thriller - murder in the hotel, mysterious woman, false identity, detective work to find out what happened.It also appears to have had strong influences from Citizen Kane: the flashbacks, told by different people, which bring the story together in bits and pieces (though in ordered time sequence). Other effects remind almost of slapstick films (the train wreck) or expressionism (the symbolism of the stopped, then restarted clock).

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=1MLF2PMZ 

http://www.podnapisi.net/damals-1943-subtitles-p694147

Zarah Leander Biography

Beginning her acting-singing career in provincial Swedish theaters with operetta in 1928 and a success in a touring revue by Ernst Rolf in 1929, she soon worked her way up to starring roles in Stockholm and earned well from records. In 1935 she got a leading operetta role in Vienna, offered by 'Max Hansen', despite her initially imperfect command of German.

In 1936 she signed a contract with the Berlin film studio, UFA, that soon would be nationalized by Nazi Germany. In the following years she became the highest-paid star of German cinema. After the war broke out in 1939, she sent her family back to Sweden and shared her time between work in Germany and the family at home. She returned to Sweden in 1942 after finishing her work with the last of her films made in Nazi Germany - and after having declined a proposition by Dr. Goebbels, Minister of Propaganda, for German citizenship.

In November 1944, Swedish radio decided to no longer play her records, and her career was definitely in the doldrums. Her home, a manor at the Swedish coast of the Baltic, became sanctuary for many a refugee having escaped over the Baltic in fear of the Soviet rule. After the war she strove to re-establish her career in Sweden, and succeeded in 1949 to overcome producers' fear for association with an artist that had been a prominent film star in Germany during the war. Her return was greeted enthusiastically by the audience, but in Sweden she would remain considered politically controversial in the eyes of many outside of her faithful audience.

In Austria and Germany her comeback was less difficult, but although the film Gabriela in 1950 was the third biggest box office hit in Germany, later films would prove that her film career had run its course.

In addition to a few musicals and some TV show appearances, concerts would for the rest of her life be her appearance of choice.

Zarah Leander - Mein Leben Für Die Liebe on Odeon, 1959

A1. Mein Leben Für Die Liebe
A2. Kann Denn Liebe Sünde Sein?
A3. Der Wind Hat Mir Ein Lied Erzählt
A4. Von Der Puszta Will Ich Träumen
A5. Er Heißt Waldemar
A6. Yes Sir!
A7. Ich Weiß, Es Wird Einmal Ein Wunder Gescheh'n
B1. Nur Nicht Aus Liebe Weinen
B2. Ein Kleiner Akkord
B3. Gebundene Hände
B4. Merci, Mon Ami
B5. Ich Steh' Im Regen
B6. Ein Paar Tränen Werd' Ich Weinen Um Dich
B7. Davon Geht Die Welt Nicht Unter

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=PPUDDM75

La Habanera, 1937

Cast: Zarah Leander, Ferdinand Marian, Karl Martell, Julia Serda, Boris Alekin

Synopsis: Don Pedro, the elegant landowner of Puerto Rico, is conquered by Astree, the rebellious travelling Swedish woman. They get married and have a child. Their relationship begins to change and Don holds Astree a prisoner. Homesicked, all Astree's pent-up hatred of her husband and his island breaks out when her childhood friend Dr. Sven appears to investigate the cause of a vicious fever to which the island has fallen prey. Don is determined at all costs to prevent the epidemic from becoming public knowledge in order to save his fruit export business.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=DV2ZEU9U

note: English subtitles included