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The American Soldier (Der amerikanische Soldat) (1970)

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Average Rating: 7.2/10
Reviews Counted: 10
Fresh: 8 | Rotten: 2

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 2
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 0

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Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 416

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Movie Info

American Soldier (originally Der Amerikanische Soldat) was the third of Rainer Werner Fassbinder's "gangster trilogy." The film stars Karl Scheid as a German/American Vietnam veteran who takes a job as a hired assassin on behalf of the Munich crime lords. Scheid works both sides of the fence when three policemen engage him to knock off some awkward malcontents. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Unrated, 1 hr. 20 min.

Art House & International, Drama

Directed By: Rainer Werner Fassbinder

Written By: Rainer Werner Fassbinder

In Theaters: Jan 29, 1976 Wide

On DVD: Nov 19, 2002

Cast

Karl Scheydt
Ricky
Elga Sorbas
Rosa
Jan George
Jan
Hark Bohm
Doc
Ingrid Caven
Songstress
Margarethe von Trotta
Maid
Irm Hermann
Whore
Eva-Ingeborg Scholz
Ricky's Mother
Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Franz Walsh
Ulli Lommel
Gypsy
Kurt Raab
Ricky's brother
Katrin Schaake
Magdalena Fuller
Marquard Bohm
Private Detective

Critic Reviews for The American Soldier (Der amerikanische Soldat)

All Critics (12) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (8) | Rotten (2) | DVD (1)

The film has a languorous, dreamlike pace, a feeling of slow motion.

May 9, 2005 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

Vincent Canby

New York Times

Top Critic

This is Fassbinder before he froze up as a Douglas Sirk impersonator: a real punk movie, full of wonderfully half-baked ideas.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

The phantoms of Old Germany are everywhere

October 10, 2009 Full Review Source: CinePassion

| Comment

Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

As Billy Wilder turned a crumbling Berlin into a slapstick, satirical playground in One, Two, Three, so Fassbinder offers up The American Soldier's Munich as a monochrome city of sadness.

January 28, 2009 Full Review Source: House Next Door

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Keith Uhlich

House Next Door

It is not as strong or as developed as his later masterpieces, but it is well worth seeing.

September 18, 2006 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

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TV Guide's Movie Guide

It's a strange film noir, but its unyielding manic mood, unpredictability and boldness cover up some of its incomprehensible moments.

April 4, 2006 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

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Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

doesn't really fit the Fassbinder oeuvre

November 24, 2002 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com

| Comment

Christopher Null

Filmcritic.com

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The American Soldier (Der amerikanische Soldat)

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The American Soldier is probably the most visually impressive of Fassbinder's early films. The opening credits of Gods of the Plague are the coolest opening credits I've ever seen and here, he's taken the same technique and made a whole film in the same style. The end 'Showdown' scene is just as good as Clint

February 7, 2011

Anthony Lawrie

Super Reviewer

Cooles, gut gespieltes und wundersch�n gefilmtes Werk von Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Es war ganz interessant zu sehen, dass er die Idee, der er dann sp�ter mit "Angst essen Seele auf" einem ganz Film gewidmet hat, in diesem Film schon einmal in einer Szene kurz angerissen hat. 3,5/5

August 10, 2010