The Burning Secret

For the silent film, see The Burning Secret (1923 film).

The Burning Secret (German: Brennendes Geheimnis) is a 1933 Austrian-German drama film directed by Robert Siodmak and starring Alfred Abel, Hilde Wagener and Hans Joachim Schaufuß. It was based on the 1913 novella of the same title by Stefan Zweig. It was released by the German branch of Universal Pictures.^[1] It was shot at the EFA Studios in Berlin and on location around Ascona in Switzerland. The film's sets were designed by the art director Robert A. Dietrich.^[2]

The Burning Secret
Directed by	Robert Siodmak
Written by	Frederick Kohner Alfred Polgar Robert Siodmak
Based on	The Burning Secret by Stefan Zweig
Produced by	Alfred Sternau
Starring	Alfred Abel Hilde Wagener Hans Joachim Schaufuß Lucie Höflich Willi Forst
Cinematography	Richard Angst Robert Baberske
Edited by	Max Brenner
Music by	Allan Gray
Production company	Tonal-Film
Distributed by	Deutsche Universal-Film
Release date	29 March 1933 (1933-03-29)
Running time	92 minutes
Countries	Austria Germany
Language	German

Because of its theme of adultery, the film was attacked by Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi Propaganda Minister.^[3]

Cast

• Alfred Abel as Der Mann
• Hilde Wagener as Die Frau
• Hans Joachim Schaufuß as Edgar
• Lucie Höflich as Mutter der Frau
• Willi Forst as Herr von Haller, Rennfahrer
• Ernst Dumcke as Baron Tosse
• Alfred Beierle as Müller, Hoteldetektiv
• Hans Richter as Fritz, Page
• Rina Marsa as Fräulein de la Roche
• Heinz Berghaus as Hotelportier
• Lotte Stein as Frau Klappholz

Production

The Burning Secret was the last film Robert Siodmak, who was Jewish, directed before the Nazi seizure of power. The film was based on the story by Stefan Zweig that was previously adapted as a silent film. The cinematography was done by Richard Angst.^[4]

Release

The film was released in Berlin on 29 March 1933, but was shown without the credits for director, composer, lyricist, and original author. Joseph Goebbels attacked Siodmak as a "corrupter of the German family" in Völkischer Beobachter. Siodmak and his brother later left Germany for France and then the United States.^[5]