The film “The Priest of St. Pauli” (German original title: “Der Pfarrer von St. Pauli“) by director Rolf Olsen, certainly not a promotional film for the Catholic Church, is available as of today in the new version scanned in 4K and restored in full HD on the label U8 Films Berlin by UCM.ONE in cooperation with moviemax. Quoted biblical passages are more of an ethical nature and make it clear that Johannsen (Curd Jürgens) is an exceptional character who also has to endure conflicts with his “superiors”. The crime film is set in the middle of Hamburg’s trendy St. Pauli district.
Summary
World War II: Submarine Captain Konrad Johannsen (Curd Jürgens) is in serious distress with his ship after an enemy attack. In his desperation he prays to God. He promises: if he should survive this mess, he will only consecrate his life to God and become a priest. More than two decades later, Father Johannsen has completed his transformation into a clergyman and quickly becomes a fixture on the neighbourhood, to whom the hearts of those stranded there in life quickly fly.
However, when he is drawn into a murder plot by the confession of a petty criminal, the hoodlums fake compromising recordings of the clergyman, who is then punitively transferred to a remote North Sea island. But the underworld as well as the church superiors have not reckoned with the intrepid determination of the former submarine captain…
Available formats and features
Limited Mediabook (Blu-Ray + DVD):
Theatrical version rescanned in 4K for the first time and restored in Full HD.
Blu-Ray picture format: WS 1.66:1 / 1080p 24; DVD picture format: WS 1.66:1 (anamorphic) | Total running time Blu-Ray: 103 min (German theatrical version); Total running time DVD: 99 min
Sound format Blu-Ray: German DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (mono); Sound format DVD: German DD 2.0 (mono)
Bonus material: German trailer, artwork gallery, media book with 20-page book section with lots of pictures and information, including exclusive miniature reprint of the 1970 film programme, trailers for “Der Arzt von St. Pauli” and “Käpt’n Raubein aus St. Pauli”; Video clip: “Everywhere in the world is beautiful”.
Rating: FSK 16 | FSK sticker removable
Blu-Ray:
Theatrical version rescanned in 4K for the first time and restored in Full HD.
Picture format: WS 1.66:1 / 1080p 24 | Total running time: 103 Min
Sound format : German DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (mono)
Bonus material: German trailer, artwork gallery, trailers for Der Arzt von St. Pauli u. Käpt’n Raubein aus St. Pauli. Video clip: “Everywhere in the world is beautiful”.
Rating: FSK 16 | Reversible cover without FSK logo
DVD:
Theatrical version rescanned in 4K for the first time and restored in Full HD.
Blu-Ray picture format: WS 1.66:1 / 1080p 24; DVD picture format: WS 1.66:1 (anamorphic)
Total running time Blu-Ray: 103 min (German cinema version); Total running time DVD: 99 min
Sound format Blu-Ray: German DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (mono); Sound format DVD: German DD 2.0 (mono)
Bonus material: German trailer, artwork gallery, media book with 20-page book section with lots of pictures and information, including exclusive miniature reprint of the 1970 film programme, trailers for Der Arzt von St. Pauli u. Käpt’n Raubein aus St. Pauli. Video clip: “Everywhere in the world is beautiful”.
Rating: FSK 16 | FSK sticker removable
Commants & feedbacks
“Colourful 70s trash with harmless neighbourhood eroticism” (Cinema.de).
“Routinely made entertainment with elements of drama, comedy and gangster film”. (Dictionary of International Film)
“The bottom line (oops, how ambiguous…) is that Der Pfarrer von St. Pauli is an intelligently made entertainment film that manages the balancing act between a superficially pro-clerical initial situation and a progressive mindset wonderfully.” (ofdb review)
“A very unholy “saint”: Curd Jürgens shines as a thuggish priest.” (fernsehserien.de)
More information about the movie: The Priest of St. Pauli
More information about the film label: U8 Films Berlin
