Figure 1.--This image from Colonel Redl shows an Austrain cadet uniform in the late 19th century. The uniform may have been accurately portrayed, but I'm not at all sure about the hair cut.
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Figure 1.--This image from Colonel Redl shows an Austrain cadet uniform in the late 19th century. The uniform may have been accurately portrayed, but I'm not at all sure about the hair cut. |
An interesting German-language account of Alfred Redla, a carrer-oriented soldier from a working-class background, who rises to a leadership position in the pre-World War I Austro-Hungarian Army. His working-class background is further complicated by Jewish-Catholic roots. Much of the film is set in Prague. The film opens at an Austrian military academy in the latter years of the 19th century. There are two uniforms worn by cadets: a dress outfit with silver buttons and a simpler everyday outfit.
The story is based on the actual Colonel Alfred Redl and on John Osborne’s play A Patriot for Me. The film appears to be a Hungarian production with German actors. Determining the mationaliity of European films is becoming increasingly complicated. A HBC reader reports a book, A Game of Foxes about Colonel Redl.
I'm not sure who plays Alfred as a boy. Directed by Director István Szabó.
At an Austrian military academy, a young boy Alfred Redl, forms a friendship with aristocrat Kristof von Kubinyi and his sister, Katalin. a Alfred is Catholic, but has Jewish roots as well as being working class. Katalin falls in love with Alfred, cannot marry below a person from a working-class family, especially a Jewish working class family. After leaving the military academy, Alfred rises to high rank and becomes involved in Byzatine Austrian politics.
One author reports, "From 1905 Russia's most productive spy in the Austro-Hungarian military establishment was Colonel Alfred Redl, who also sold information to the French and Italian secret services. From 1900 until his exposure in May 1913 Redl served first as deputy chief of the Evidenzbüro, the military and counterespionage organization in Vienna, and then as intelligence chief of the Army's VIII Corps, headquartered in Prague." [Richelson, Century of Spies, pp. 14-15.] There appars to be some historical debate as to the real Colonel Redl's activities.
There are two uniforms worn by cadets: a dress outfit with silver buttons and a simpler everyday outfit. HBC does not know a great deal about cadet uniforms. Presumably they were based on the uniforms of the Austrian Army. They look more like World War I era uniforms than late 19th-century uniforms, but hopefully the film makers reserached the subject.
Figure 2.--HBC is unsure how accurately the cadet uniforms are portrayed in the film. |
HBC has only limited information on Austria at thuis time, but believes that boys, especially boys at military had their heads shaved. Cadets wearing bangs does not seem quite correct.
The film is a must-see for European movie-buffs seeking a cerebral film.
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