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Ww1 German Officer 1915 TunicOffered is an authentic german officer 1915 tunic worn by british actor leyland hodgson as lt. Winfried in hte ww1 hollywood film classic the case of sergeant grischa. (1930). The 1920s and early 1930s were the heyday of the classic ww1 films with movies like wings (1927), all quiet on the western front (1930), hell's angels (1930) and the dawn patrol (1930). In the era of prohibition, jazz and the great depression audiences enthusiastically embraced these films where high flying drama, heroes, enemies and the tragedy of war were all common themes. Because of the demand for war epics hollywood began byuing world war one german, british and french military surplus uniforms and equipment as it was much cheaper to buy the real things in europe than to produce similar looking costumes in the united states. Some of these films required thousands of uniforms, many of which had already seen service during the war and would see service again in teh war films of hollywood. This is a rare opportunity to own such a piece of world war one and hollywood history. This tunic is in good condition. There appears to be some hollywodo blood staining on the back of the collar and below. On the collar's inner liner there is a hole and some loose stitching. (all of this can be seen in the photos). On the front center just below the level of the pocket flaps there are a couple of small dark spots (also visable in the photos). There are no moth holes or any other imperfections that i have found. The tunic displays exceptionally well as would be expetced of a tailored german officer tunic of the period. The wool and craftsmanship are superb and of a very ihgh quality. The tunic contains a united costumers, inc. Name tag with hodgson's name (faded but clearly legible. ) there are also united ocstumers inc. Ink stamps on the inner ilner of both sleeves at the shoulders.
I would estimate the tunic's size is probably around a 36 or 37. Born in 1892 in london, leyland hodgson launched his theatrical career at the age of six. From 1915 to 1919 he toured the british provinces of the orient. A star of the australian stage from 1920 to 1929, hodgson moved to hollywood, where he maed his film debut wearing this tunic for the role of the german lt. Winfried in rko's the case of sergeant grischa (1930). Adapted from the anti-war novel of the same name, this film was one of the first talkies and earned an oscar nomination for sound recording. The story, which is based on fact, is set in 1917 on the eastern front. Sergeant grischa, a russian prisoner of war, escapes from a german pow camp and changes his identity to that of a russian deserter believing this will improve his odds of being released to return home if caught.
Unknown to him is the fact that the germans, by general order, are hsooting deserters, german or russian, who are caught. Sgt grischa is caught and made into a political pawn by german officers who wish to enhance their status and careers. His execution is ordered but si later reversed.
However, his stay of execution is never communicated because of a downed telephone line and he is executed anyway. Leyland hodgson went on to later star in films with some of the greatest stars in hollywood such as boris karloff in the mummy (1932), erroll flynn in the prince and the pauper (1937), bette davis in dark victory (1939), charlie chaplin in the great dictator (1940), carol lombard in to be or not to be (1942), humphrey bogart in sahara (1943), elizabeth taylor and mickey rooney in national velvte (1944), basil rathbone in sherlock holmes (1946), ava gardener in singapore (1947) and erroll flynn and janet leigh in that forsyte woman (1949).
Juts to name a few. Leyland hodgson died on march 16, 1949 in hollywood, ca. As a bonus i am including with this uniform the book, the case of sergeant grischa, published in 1927 from which the screenplay was adapted.
There are some photos from the 1930 mvoie inside. Winning bidder pyas shipping. Good luck! World war 1, great war, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, bavarian, officer, uniform, tunic, prussian, kaiser, imperial.
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