German Title
Durchs Brandenburger Tor
(Through The Brandenburg Arch)

A Deutsche Universal Pictures Release
May 1929 - 2270 Meters
Directed by Wilhelm Dieterle and Max Knaake

FEATURED CAST
Paul Henckels
June Marlowe (as Frieda)
Albert Mog
Fritz Kampers
and
Emil Lauter

When June began production of her two German films, it was in the midst of touring Europe with her mother, Hattie.  Her use of the German language helped her to promote the films, and she was interviewed on German radio a number of times during production of both.

Production began in March of 1929, a month after the filming of The Unusual Past Of Thea Carter, June's other film produced in Germany.  The Brandenburg Gate, though filmed last, was released in May, which was a good six months before the release of Thea Carter.

June as the dutiful, but unhappy, wife and mother.

The plots of European films of the 1920s were usually very different from the films shown in the U.S., with  storylines somewhat more somber than those of Hollywood.  While this film had a Hollywood-type ending, the main message of the film was that of the sadness and sorrows wrought by war.

June played the betrothed of a man who goes to war, becomes a prisoner in Russia, and is eventually reported as killed in action.  She marries his friend, who has managed to cheat his way out of serving in the war and the marriage brings nothing but unhappiness to the bride.  When her first love comes home from the war alive and unhurt she divorces her no-account husband and marries her first love.

German critics were quite mixed in their reviews.  The Evening thought Universal should have presented "...better work."  Tempo Magazine thought the film "unique."  and "The cast is a success."  And of June the magazine stated: "June Marlowe plays the blonde German Girl (obviously there wasn't one in Germany that was German enough) sympathetic with clear open eyes [literal translation]."  The film also played in New York, where Variety simply said "Too bad to waste June Marlowe on such trash."

As mentioned before, the last film released in Germany was the first she made there.  In Thea Carter she was cast as a woman with an unsavory past . . . well, sort of.

Grateful thanks to Bram Reynhoudt and Glenn Moeckelmann for their research and translations.
Photograph is from the collection of Don Spears.

This film was shown at the 13th International Film History Congress in Hamburg, Germany on November 17, 2000
but is otherwise unavailable for viewing.