The Mortal Storm

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The Mortal Storm (1940)

PAL 25fps 1:
40:19

When man was new

upon the earth,

he was frightened by the

dangers of the elements.

He cried out, "The gods of

the lightning are angry,

and I must kill my fellow

man to appease them!"

As man grew older,

he created shelters against

the wind and the rain

and made harmless the

force of the lightning.

But within man himself were

elements strong as the wind

and terrible as the lightning,

and he denied the existence

of these elements

because he dared not face them.

The tale we are about to tell

is of the mortal storm in which

man finds himself today.

Again he is crying,

"I must kill my fellow man!"

Our story asks,

how soon will man find

wisdom in his heart

and build a lasting shelter

against his ignorant fears?

Good morning!

Good morning. Good morning.

Good morning, good morning,

you don't have to tell

me what day this is...

the Herr Professor's birthday.

Look at all the mail, twice

as much as last year.

My goodness, yes, and

this just the beginning.

Ja. Oh, give him my best

respects, will you?

I will, Hermann, I wll.

Good morning, good morning.

It's the post, Frau Professor...

just look.

There must be 50 letters.

I'll take them, Marta.

And the packages.

More than last year.

And the telegrams have

been coming all day long.

I tell you, I'm so excited.

Are all the children

down, Marta?

All but Rudi.

Oh, that child. I'll call him.

And Hermann says to give the

Professor his best respects.

That's very kind.

I'll tell him.

Rudi? You'll be late, Dear.

Half a minute, Mother.

What was wrong with

your breakfast, Viktor?

Nothing, nothing.

I enjoyed it very much.

You haven't touched a thing.

Come here this

minute and sit down.

Well, well, well, what

do you think of that?

Would you butter me

a roll, please, Dear?

What's all this?

The mail.

What, all for me?

Uh-huh.

Oh, thank you.

You look very smart today.

It's January 30.

Do you recall anything

that happened on that date?

Well, I...

I was born!

Right.

Good heavens, I'm 60!

Many happy returns

of the day, Darling.

You love me still?

Go on and eat your breakfast.

If you hadn't stuffed me so,

I might still have

my youthful figure.

You'll do.

Oh?

Good morning, boys.

Good morning, Mother.

See that your father

eats his breakfast.

I'm going to

collect his notes.

All right.

Many happy returns, Father.

Happy birthday, Father.

A volume apiece.

Well, thank you.

Oh, Neumann's new book...

just what I've been wanting.

You've written in it.

Where are my glasses?

It's nothing... just "to our

dear father, with affection."

Nothing? That's...

That's very much.

You know, you boys have

made me forget that,

unfortunately, I'm

only your stepfather.

You've been a real

father to us.

And you've been just like

my own children to me.

Well, speaking

of the angels...

Good morning, Father.

And a very happy birthday.

Many happy returns. Thank you.

They're peardrops, sir.

They're awfully good.

Oh, thank you.

Will you have one?

Don't mind if I do.

I've got to go, Father, or

I'll be late for school.

I'll walk with you as

far as the square.

Good-bye, Father.

Yes, good-bye, boys.

See you later.

No, thank you.

What's that? For me?

Don't be so impatient.

Drink your coffee.

I'll open it for you.

Do you like it?

Oh, that's wonderful!

Let me put it on you.

You look very

beautiful and brainy.

And I'm very, very

proud of you.

I'm overwhelmed.

Viktor, you'll be late, Dear.

Oh, yes.

Your notes are in

your inside pocket.

Don't forget to

take them to class.

No, I won't. Good-bye.

Good-bye.

He hasn't eaten a thing.

We must hurry.

Marta, have you the

Professor's rubbers?

Yes, I have them here.

Don't go without them, Dear.

No, no, Dear.

I won't, I won't.

Good morning, Professor.

Good morning, Professor.

Ah, good morning,

Lehman, good morning.

Good morning, Herr Professor.

It's a cold day.

Yes, yes, it's cold,

but it's sunny.

I... I find it

a very good day.

You're not rheumatic?

No, no, no, I feel pretty fit.

For 60.

Well, don't go into class

in your wet rubbers.

Uh... no, certainly not.

You did last Friday.

Yes, so you say,

Lehman, so you say.

The absent-minded professor...

a character in fiction,

my good friend.

Uh-uh-uh-uh. What?

And the other rubber?

Good morning, Rector.

Good morning, Professor.

Good morning, Professor.

Good morning, Professor.

Well... It's a fine day,

it's cold but sunny.

I'm late. I had

a little trouble

getting away from

home this morning.

It must be past 9:00.

9:
03, precisely.

Well, carpe diem,

I must go to work.

It is the 30th of

January, isn't it?

January 30, yes.

I thought so.

Well...

Professor?

Yes?

What's your hurry?

Oh, no hurry.

Though I would like to get

through in good time today.

And so would I.

Well, you see, this is

rather an occasion.

It is? Well, you've picked

a fine day for it.

Yes.

Well, I'll see you later.

Silenzio! Silenzio!

Pro candidato medicinae

Fritz Marlberg.

Et--et...

Pro candidato medicinae

veterinarae Martin Breitner.

Herr Professor,

we, your students,

offer you our hearty congratulations

on your anniversary.

We appreciate the privilege of

working under your guidance

and we are proud of the honor

that your accomplishments

have won for our university

and our Fatherland.

Professor Roth,

as a mere candidatus

medicinae veterinarae...

in plain language,

horse doctor...

I, uh... I, uh...

Have not had the good fortune

of attending your classes.

I had a few notes here someplace,

seem to have gotten away from me.

Well, I... I got in on

these doings because

I have had the rare privilege

of your friendship

for the best part of my life.

And I'm proud to

offer you this...

Uh, this little affair here

in the name of your class.

And I... I noticed that it

says here it comes to you

with the admiration and

affection of your students.

And that goes for every man

and girl in this university.

Well, here it is, sir.

My dear young people,

my colleagues,

thank you.

I...I have

a confession to make.

I thought that my anniversary

had been forgotten,

and, uh, I was trying to persuade

myself that I didn't very much care.

But I did... I was

quite put out.

So you will understand

how deeply touched I am

and how grateful for this

expression of your affection

that I reciprocate

with all my heart.

I thank you for your

beautiful gift.

It shows me, this

splendid torchbearer,

that you have understood

what I have tried to impart.

And that into your young hands

will be given the

torch of science

when it has fallen from the

hands of your masters.

I sincerely pray that you

will carry it worthily.

I thank you, Fritz Marlberg,

for your kind address,

and you, Martin Breitner, for your

very delightful presentation.

But before I lay this

flattering unction to my soul,

I must ask myself whether your

eagerness to do me homage

might not have some

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