The Bat(1937)
Die Fledermaus
The Bat Synopsis
The delightful Johann Strauss comic opera Die Fledermaus was mercilessly lampooned in this truly bizarre production. For starters, a framing device has been added: After appearing in 300 consecutive appearances of Fledermaus (which translates as The Bat) the lead tenor (Georg Alexander) imagines that he's seeing bats everywhere. Driven a bit over the edge by all this, he falls asleep and has a nightmare about the opera, with a group of non-singers cast in the leading roles. The original libretto about romantic assignations, political imprisonments and mistaken identity is burlesqued to the hilt: at one point, the hero finds out that his prison cell is surrounded by rubber tubes!
The Bat (1937) is a comedy film directed by Paul Verhoeven, released on October 30, 1937 with a runtime of 1h 43m. It stars Lída Baarová, Hans Söhnker, Friedl Czepa and Jola Jobst. Viewers rate it 4.2 out of 10 across 4 ratings.
- Director:
- Paul Verhoeven
- Writers:
- Walter Wassermann, Carl Haffner, Lotte Neumann
- Producers:
- Gerhard Staab
- Production:
- Imagoton, Tobis Filmkunst
- Status:
- Released
The Bat Cast & Crew
Main cast
Lída Baarová
as Maria Weigel / Rosalinde
Hans Söhnker
as Kammersänger Hans Weigel / Eisenstein
Friedl Czepa
as Hanni / Adele
- Jola Jobst
Jola Jobst
as Berta / Ida
Georg Alexander
as Staatsanwalt Wentin / Frank
- Robert Dorsay
Robert Dorsay
as Chauffeur Franz / Alfred
Hans Moser
as Hans Moser
Harald Paulsen
as Rechtsanwalt Dr. Rommel / Dr.Falke
Karl Stepanek
as Attaché Baranoff / Orlovsky
- Hans Stiebner
Hans Stiebner
as Kapellmeister
- Otto Graf
Otto Graf
as Rundfunkreporter
- Albert Ihle
Albert Ihle
as Präsident
Key crew
Directed by Paul Verhoeven, written by Walter Wassermann, Carl Haffner and Lotte Neumann, produced by Gerhard Staab.
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The Bat Reviews & Ratings
Average viewer score of 4.2/10 from 4 ratings.
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The Bat – Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch The Bat online?
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The Bat (1937) is currently available to rent or buy from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. No subscription streaming option is listed right now, so availability may change.
Who stars in The Bat?
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The main cast of The Bat (1937) includes Lída Baarová, Hans Söhnker, Friedl Czepa, Jola Jobst and Georg Alexander. The film was directed by Paul Verhoeven. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
When was The Bat released?
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The Bat was released on October 30, 1937 and runs for 1h 43m.
Is The Bat worth watching?
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The Bat (1937) holds an average rating of 4.2 out of 10 from 4 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy comedy films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.