Wait. Wait. Wait. Nazis can laugh?

If I were address the Broken Jug in a paper I think it would focus on comparing in contrasting. Contrasting the original play with the film, contrasting the contextual influence of this film with more dramatic films of Nazi cinema, and finally contrasting the comedic value of the Broken Jug with its Hollywood counterparts. In so doing a more conclusive understanding of the film itself would be gained particularly defining its position as a piece of Nazi Cinema.

First, I would compare and contrast the Gustav Ucicky’s version of the Broken Jug with the original Kleist play. What was different? What was the same? Emphasizing that the Nazis had a purpose behind everything, what were the motivations in the alterations they made to the play, and what was the resulting impact.

Second, I would address the actual contextual location of the film within the scope of the party’s reign. Recognizing the importance that it is indeed a Nazi film, despite being a comedy, which is a point to me that was surprising (Seriously, I had no idea that Nazis had a sense of humor since that they are so mad all he time). Addressing the influence of comedic film under the party, and emphasizing the value of the breadth of Nazi film not blatantly having to do with political issues, as we see with the likes of Hitler Youth Quex. Importantly, the question of, “why they would use comedy?” must be answered. Was it to show that the party was well rounded, were they still political? This is probably the most critical question of Nazi “Happy Films,” being their true nature.

Finally, I would like to look at the film providing at the film as if it were not made in Nazi Germany, but perhaps by Hollywood. Does it still have comedic value as a film if you remove it form the Nazi context. Is that value increased? How would Hollywood have made it differently? Another interesting question that this would raise, and perhaps would not fit in this essay, but, what type of social messages do Comedies send, what is the extent of their commentary on societal values: was a Nazi comedy really all that different from a Hollywood comedy?