Swings or Roundabouts

Jacke wie Hose (English-language title: Swings Or Roundabouts^[1]) is an East German comedy film, directed by Eduard Kubat. It was released in 1953.

Jacke wie Hose
Directed by	Eduard Kubat
Written by	Jan Koplowitz
Produced by	Werner Dau
Starring	Irene Korb, Günther Simon
Cinematography	Fritz Lehmann
Edited by	Ruth Schreiber
Music by	Joachim Werzlau
Production company	DEFA
Distributed by	Progress Film
Release date	30 April 1953 (1953-04-30)
Running time	87 minutes
Country	East Germany
Language	German

Plot

After a new government law forbids women to operate heavy machinery in steel factories, a group of female workers opposed to the ban propose a competition to their male counterparts: those who will produce the greatest quantity of steel will win. The men are certain that they will be victorious. One of them, Ernst Hollup, is angered by his wife's involvement with the other team, and he demands that she resign and become a housewife. The women develop a wagon that carries the molten iron to the steel furnace and greatly simplifies their work. They win the competition, as well as the respect of the men. The government lifts the ban.

Cast

• Irene Korb as Hilde Hollup
• Günther Simon as Ernst Hollup
• Fritz Diez as Hellwand
• Johanna Bucher as Manja
• Ruth Maria Kubitschek as Eva
• Charlotte Küter as Johanna
• Regine Lutz as Lisa
• Lieselotte Merbach as Zenzi
• Wolfgang Erich Parge as Triebel
• Herbert Richter as Meider
• Theo Shall as Mühlberger
• Edwin Marian as Peter
• Harry Hindemith as Steiger

Production

The film was planned after the East German public reacted negatively to the wave of highly ideological films released during the early 1950s. It was intended to present the ideas of socialism in a humorous fashion, and to provide entertainment for the audience.^[2]

Reception

East German film critic Leo Menter wrote that "Jacke wie Hose is a typical example of the films made in the peace-loving, Socialist countries... it is no gangster film, no opium for the masses; it is based on true life."^[3] On the other hand, Rolf Behrends, another East German journalist, asked "why are the characters shown solely as functionaries in the factory? The film lacks any private, human side."^[2] The West German Catholic Film Service regarded Jacke wie Hose as a "propagandistic... didactic, picture."^[4] Author Andrea Rinke cited it as an early example of the expression of feminist ideas in East German cinema, long before the subject became popular with DEFA filmmakers in the 1970.^[5]