The Phony American
Cast & Crew
Akos Von Rathony
Christine Kaufmann
Michael Hinz
William Bendix
Ron Randell
Walter Gross
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Helmut, a German war orphan, is unofficially adopted by Captain Smith, an American pilot based in Berlin during the 1948 airlift. The boy is treated as Smith's own son until the pilot is reassigned to Korea and killed in action. Teenaged Helmut then goes to live with a German family and wins the love of the daughter, Inge, and the hatred of the son. Later, Helmut is unjustly accused of theft and imprisoned. When he is freed, he sets out to fulfill his ambition of joining the United States Air Force. With a stolen uniform, ID card, and other papers, he enters an American military camp. There he is befriended by Sergeant Harrigan; but just as he is about to be flown to the United States, Helmut's identity is discovered. Although Sergeant Harrigan offers to adopt him, Helmut decides to remain in Germany with Inge.
Director
Akos Von Rathony
Cast
Christine Kaufmann
Michael Hinz
William Bendix
Ron Randell
Walter Gross
Alfred Pongratz
Karl Lieffen
Gary Marshall
Oskar Paulig
Wera Frydtberg
Götz Burger
Bob Cunningham
Charles Hickman
Mal Sondock
Holger Hagen
Stefan Schnabel
Fred Dürr
William H. Taylor
Inge Benz
Leonardo Putzgruber
Al Hoosman
Burt Bertez
Paula Braend
Cheril Bernard
James Saeger
Frithjof Vierock
Karl Otto Alberty
Axel Scholz
Crew
Alexander Badal
Günther Bloch
Harold N. Even
Herbert Jarczyk
Ernst W. Kalinke
Rudolf Kalmowicz
Michael Krims
Margot Mohrbutter
Felix Von Podmanitzky
Adolf Rosen
Annaliese Schoennenbeck
Hans Sohnle
Alfred Strauss
Friedrich Thaler
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Released in West Germany in February 1962 as Toller Hecht auf krummer Tour; running time: 91 min. German prerelease title: Toller Hecht auf krummen Touren; original length: 97 min.