King of the Centre Forwards (1927)
A Weimar-era German silent drama where football fever, romance, and class rivalry collide on and off the pitch.
King of the Centre Forwards - Movie Information
- Original Title: Der König der Mittelstürmer
- Release Year: 1927
- Directed by: Fritz Freisler
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Runtime: 1h 35m
- Original Language: German
- Spoken Languages: No Language
- Release Date (Theatrical): November 24, 1927 (Germany)
- Production Companies: Olympia-Film GmbH
- Production Countries: Germany
King of the Centre Forwards - Plot
König der Mittelstürmer / King of the Centre Forwards refers with the name of its hero to the German soccer legend of the twenties: Tull Harder, star of the Hamburger Sport Verein (HSV). But the story itself is completely fictitious: The son of a trade company's director falls in love with the daughter of a big American oil magnat. But she suspects him to be only interested in her money. So she buys his father's company to take revenge on him. The son's true love is soccer, and from the very first moment the soccer fever is present throughout the film. It starts with pictures of a soccer game and even an apple or a crumpled up paper must serve as substitute for a ball. Whereas Die elf Teufel promotes soccer as "the sport of the century", König der Mittelstürmer shows the hero's father who still has to be convinced from its importance. He hates soccer and blames everybody to be "soccer crazy".
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King of the Centre Forwards - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Fritz Freisler
Main Cast
- Paul Richter
- Fritz Alberti
- Colette Brettel
- Aud Egede-Nissen
- Rudolf Lettinger
- Carl Walther Meyer
- Teddy Bill
- Gustav Trautschold
Writers
- Kurt Lauermann
- Hugo Huxhol
King of the Centre Forwards - FAQs
Is King of the Centre Forwards based on a true story?
The film draws its title and hero's name from real Hamburg soccer legend Tull Harder, a star of Hamburger Sport Verein in the 1920s. However, the actual story — a romance entangled with business rivalry and class tension — is entirely fictional and not based on real events.
Who are the main actors in King of the Centre Forwards?
The cast features Paul Richter as footballer Tull Harper, Fritz Alberti as his disapproving father, Aud Egede-Nissen as the American heiress Miss Mabel Douglas, Colette Brettel, Rudolf Lettinger, Carl Walther Meyer, Teddy Bill, and Gustav Trautschold rounding out the ensemble.
What is King of the Centre Forwards about?
A young man falls for a wealthy American oil heiress, but she suspects he's only after her fortune and buys his father's company for revenge. Throughout it all, his true passion is football — a sport his father despises — weaving romance, class conflict, and soccer fever into one entertaining silent drama.
When was King of the Centre Forwards released?
King of the Centre Forwards premiered on November 24, 1927, in Germany. It was part of a wave of German silent films from the Weimar era that embraced football as a popular cultural subject, reflecting the sport's growing significance in 1920s European society.
Who directed King of the Centre Forwards?
Fritz Freisler directed King of the Centre Forwards. The film was produced by Olympia-Film GmbH in Germany and features cinematography by Günther Krampf and Artur von Schwertführer, with the screenplay written by Kurt Lauermann and Hugo Huxhol.
How does King of the Centre Forwards portray football?
Football is woven into nearly every frame — the film opens with match footage and even everyday objects like apples and crumpled paper stand in as makeshift balls. Unlike contemporaries that celebrated soccer outright, this film adds nuance by featuring a father who must be gradually won over to the sport's appeal.
What are similar movies to King of the Centre Forwards?
If you enjoy King of the Centre Forwards, you might also like The Champion (2019), Ultras (2020), The Coach (2018), In the Aisles (2018), and Night of the Kings (2021). These films share themes of passion, ambition, and human drama that resonate with the spirit of this 1927 classic.
Who wrote the screenplay for King of the Centre Forwards?
The screenplay for King of the Centre Forwards was written by Kurt Lauermann and Hugo Huxhol. Their script cleverly uses football as both a narrative engine and a cultural battleground, pitting generational attitudes toward the sport against a backdrop of romance and business rivalry.
More About King of the Centre Forwards
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