Movie spotlight
King of the Centre Forwards
König der Mittelstürmer / King of the Centre Forwards refers with the name of its hero to the German soccer legend of the twenties: Tull Harder, star of the Hamburger Sport Verein (HSV). But the story itself is completely fictitious: The son of a trade company's director falls in love with the daughter of a big American oil magnat. But she suspects him to be only interested in her money. So she buys his father's company to take revenge on him. The son's true love is soccer, and from the very first moment the soccer fever is present throughout the film. It starts with pictures of a soccer game and even an apple or a crumpled up paper must serve as substitute for a ball. Whereas Die elf Teufel promotes soccer as "the sport of the century", König der Mittelstürmer shows the hero's father who still has to be convinced from its importance. He hates soccer and blames everybody to be "soccer crazy".
Insights
Plot Summary
A silent film focusing on the life and career of a fictional center forward, likely exploring themes of ambition, rivalry, and the passion for the game of football. The narrative probably follows his rise to prominence and the challenges he faces both on and off the field.
Critical Reception
As a silent film from 1927, "King of the Centre Forwards" is not widely reviewed by modern standards. Information regarding its critical reception at the time of release is scarce and not readily available in contemporary databases. Its historical significance would likely be in its early depiction of sports within cinema.
What Reviewers Say
Likely praised for its dramatic portrayal of a sportsman's life.
May have been noted for its depiction of football action, groundbreaking for its era.
Contemporary reviews, if any survive, would focus on its storytelling and visual elements typical of 1920s cinema.
Google audience: No audience reviews are available for this early silent film.
Fun Fact
As a silent film, "King of the Centre Forwards" would have relied entirely on intertitles and expressive acting to convey its story and dialogue, a stark contrast to modern cinematic techniques.
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