Whether you watch English-language or German-language films, veteran actor Jürgen Prochnow likely looks familiar. He’s portrayed a dictator in 1997’s Air Force One, the bad guy in 1987’s Beverly Hills Cop II, and a duke in 1984’s Dune.
Prochnow is also an accomplished and respected actor in his home country, having starred in important and memorable German language films.
This month, let’s learn German with the films of actor Jürgen Prochnow!
About Jürgen Prochnow
Jürgen Prochnow was born in Berlin on June 10, 1941. The son of a telecommunications engineer, his family moved to Düsseldorf in the early 1950s. His older brother, Dieter, also became an actor. Although Prochnow’s parents hoped he would work in a bank, he had other aspirations and decided to pursue acting.
He began his journey in drama at the Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus, working as an extra and with stage lighting. By the mid-1960s, he was studying acting at the Folkwanghochschule in Essen.
Since 2003, Prochnow has held United States citizenship. However, after years of splitting time between Los Angeles and Munich, he and his family moved back to Europe in 2017, Today, he resides in Berlin and on Italy’s Lake Garda.
Die Verlorene Ehre der Katharina Blum (The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum)
The 1975 classic film The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum was co-directed by Volker Schlöndorff and Margarethe von Trotta. It’s based on the book of the same title by Heinrich Böll.
Katharina meets Ludwig (portrayed by Prochnow) at a party and the two instantly connect. The next morning, the police arrive at Katharina’s apartment, revealing that Ludwig is a wanted man accused of terrorism and bank robbery. Suspicion falls on Katharina, too.
When the tabloid press gets wind of her association with Ludwig, they amplify the suspicion. Chased by both the police and the media, Katharina finds herself under unbearable pressure as no one listens to her side of the story.
While the film claims to be a work of fiction, its narrative echoes real-life events, particularly criticisms of the German tabloid newspaper Bild.
Das Boot
One of Prochnow’s most iconic roles, both in Germany and internationally, is in Das Boot. This 1981 adaption of Lothar-Günther Buchheim’s 1973 novel brings viewers into the claustrophobic and tense world of a German submarine during World War II.
The story follows the crew of a U-Boot as they patrol during the Battle of the Atlantic. Confined in tight quarters, tensions mount, even before considering the dangers of war. The film delivers edge-of-your-seat action and suspense.
Prochnow portrays the experienced yet weary captain of the U-Boot, who doesn’t always agree with the decisions of his superiors. The film also features musician-slash-actor Herbert Grönemeyer as a war correspondent embedded with the crew, unprepared for the grim reality he encounters.
Der Bulle und das Mädchen
Prochnow stars as a tough, no-nonsense cop (der Bulle) in the 1985 action and crime thriller Der Bulle und das Mädchen. Actress Annette von Klier stars as “the girl” promised in the title.
When the girl is harassed by a group of dangerous men, the cop steps in to protect her, acting as her bodyguard. However, after an altercation with fellow officers, the unlikely duo finds themselves on the run.
Practice practice practice! Discover other great German-language films! See previously featured actors, actresses, directors, and filmmakers.
Top photo courtesy of Management Lautenbacher UG. This post contains affiliate links.
