This new law created also the Filmprüfstelle, the film assessment committee. It worked after the film was completed and it was charged to verify that the film was conform to the pre-approved script by the Reichsfilmdramaturg. The committee decided to forbid the film or could ask to modify it. The Filmprüfstelle also decided the rating of the film: it can be allowed to every public, forbidden to children under 14 or under 18 years old.
It decerned one or many “merits” (Prädikat) to the film. These merits recognized the worth of political, artistic or cultural qualities of film. The most prestigious awards even enable producers to pay lower taxes, which acts as an incentive to comply with the state’s expectations regarding film. It was through this mechanism that the Nazis established a film industry that aligned with the regime’s values and excluded any form of criticism.
Only about twenty films have been forbidden after their completion between 1933 and 1945. Often, these films are censored because the emotions they might evoke are no longer in keeping with the context in which they are released. It was the case for the film Titanic (Herbert Selpin, 1943), despite an important cost of production, who is forbidden in Germany (and in the annexed territories). The nazis estimated that the public can associated the sinking of the liner with the situation of the Third Reich after the lost battle of Stalingrad (February 1943).
Photo 9 : BNUS – Programm in the newspaper Mülhauser Volksblatt on january 17, 1941. It announced the diffusion of the film Schiller, der Triumpf eines Genies (1940, Herbet Maisch) at the movie theater Palast in Mulhouse. It indicated that the film has obtained two “Prädikat” : « Staatpolitisch und künstlerisch wertvoll. » (Recommended for its political and artistic merit). This mention shows the artistic and political values of films. 17 films have obtained this mention between 1933 and 1945.
Photo 10 : Droits réservés – Movie poster of Titanic (1943) who was forbidden in Germany.
Photo 11 : BNUS – Programm in the newspaper Mülhauser Volksblatt on november 29, 1941 ; announcing the screening of the film Komödianten (1941, G.W. Pabst) at the Wasgau Lichtspiel in Mulhouse. It is noted that the film received two ‘distinctions’ (Prädikat): ‘Staatpolitisch u. künstler. Besonders wertvoll.’ (recommended for its political and artistic merit). The SKBW distinction was among the rarest to be awarded. It recognized films possessing a clear ideological dimension combined with high cinematic quality. 28 films received this distinction, including Jud Süss, Ohm Krüger and the historical films Bismarck and Die Entlassung.
Photo 12 : Bundesarchiv – Censor card given by the Filmprüfstelle to the opening credits of Jud Süss (09.21.1940). The card accompanies the film copies and enables cinema operators to enforce the age rating rules. A green card indicates that the film is authorised for viewers aged 14 and over.