form y separately published work icon I Was A Criminal single work   film/TV   crime   historical fiction  
Alternative title: Captain of Kopenick; Passport to Heaven; Great Awakening
Adaptation of Der Hauptmann von Köpenick Albrecht Joseph , Carl Zuckmayer , 1931 single work film/TV
Issue Details: First known date: 1945... 1945 I Was A Criminal
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'Based on the "Captain of Kopenick" incident of 1906, when an unemployed cobbler, in order to get a passport, dresses as a staff officer and takes over the town hall only to find it has no passport office. Because he is taken for a military officer everybody obeys him without question. His cheek ultimately gets him a passport.'

Source: British Film Institute (http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/248560). (Sighted: 17/9/2013)

Notes

  • Based on an actual incident: in Germany, Wilhelm Voigt is more a folk-hero figure than a criminal figure.
  • The British Film Institute notes that there's some confusion over the actual title under which this film was released, but the most commonly used title appears to be I Was A Criminal.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

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Last amended 9 Dec 2013 16:40:30
Richard Oswald
Subjects:
Settings:
  • c
    Germany,
    c
    Western Europe, Europe,
  • 1906
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