The Harmonists 124 min • German/Austria, 1998 German w/subtitles Joseph Vilsmaier, Director

The Harmonists charts the extraordinary, true story of the meteoric rise and dramatic fall of pre-War Europe’s most popular vocal group, The Comedian Harmonists. Beloved national celebrities until 1935, when half of the group was forced into exile, these six young men took the Western world by storm with their crystalline a capella renderings. When the Nazis came to power, however, the group’s distinguishing character became not their artistry, but their heredity – three of the members were Jews. Blinded by their sudden stardom, none of the members took Hitler’s rise seriously, despite clear warnings from the Reich Ministry. Entertaining and nostalgic on a grand scale.

Gala Dessert Reception following screening