Emil and the Detectives

Name: Emil and the Detectives
Genre: Comedy, Crime
Released: 1935-02-05
Rating: 5.5

ComedyCrime1h 10m

🍅83%

🍅

83%

Tomatometer

🍿

46%

Popcornmeter

5.5

TMDB

Storyline

Erich Kästner’s beloved novel has been adapted for film or television six times since its publication in 1929; this 1935 British version was the first in English. Believed lost for decades, it was recently rediscovered by the BFI and has now been restored. The film moves the action from Berlin to London, where Emil goes to stay with his grandmother and cousin. Thereafter, the tale of Emil’s adventures with a gang of streetwise London children faithfully follows the original plot.

Details

DirectorMilton Rosmer

ReleasedFeb 5, 1935

Budget

Not disclosed

Revenue

Not disclosed

Reviews

7 reviews · 5 critics · 1 fan

5 fresh · 1 rotten

Eugene Archer

RTNew York TimesDec 2, 2020

[Director Peter Tweksbury] has kept the kiddies from gushing too coyly, suppressed the mugging of a comic trio of thieves, photographed the fresh Berlin setting in effective color, and juxtaposed suspense and wit with a nice, bouncing pace.

Louis Cook

RTDetroit Free PressDec 2, 2020

The children will howl and grown-ups will look on with smiling indulgence.

Philip K. Scheuer

RTLos Angeles TimesDec 2, 2020

Slezak and his pals, known as the three skrinks, are amusing in their blundering progress and the many kids respond enthusiastically to Peter Tewksbury's direction.

Joe Lipsett

RTHazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr PodcastMar 21, 2023

While the shot-on-location adaptation of Erich Kästner's classic makes Emil and the Detectives feel like a Berlin vacation, the film loses sight of its plucky protagonist in favour of Gustav and raises the stakes far too dramatically (child murder?!)