Pen spotting: the movie "Valkyrie"

[Martok]

Can't comment on the fountain pens used by the Nazi party but I can sure comment on the movie itself.

 

 

Save your money. The movie was absolutely terrible.

 

 

Nothing sucks more than seeing 3 german officers talk and then seeing the following.

1. They are all speaking in English

2. one fo the three is speaking with a British accent

3. Another of the 3 is speaking with an American accent

 

 

If that is not reality breaking enough for you, most of the story is a pure fabrication. Yes there was a plot to assassinate Hitler with a bomb (it did go off but only partially) but the rest was pure fantasy, and very badly one fantasy.

 

 

Save your money. Buy Pens, Ink and Paper instead

 

 

 

 

Martok

[bilbok]

Can't comment on the fountain pens used by the Nazi party but I can sure comment on the movie itself.

 

 

Save your money. The movie was absolutely terrible.

 

 

Nothing sucks more than seeing 3 german officers talk and then seeing the following.

1. They are all speaking in English

2. one fo the three is speaking with a British accent

3. Another of the 3 is speaking with an American accent

 

 

If that is not reality breaking enough for you, most of the story is a pure fabrication. Yes there was a plot to assassinate Hitler with a bomb (it did go off but only partially) but the rest was pure fantasy, and very badly one fantasy.

 

 

Save your money. Buy Pens, Ink and Paper instead

 

 

 

 

Martok

 

May be they were supposed to be double agents, spies and you didn't catch the movie ?

[MCR]

I enjoyed the movie. There were a lot of fountain pens and at least one pencil.

 

I loved the theme in the movie of getting signatures for official acts. Signing one's name is often mundane. Occasionally, it's a big deal---It's a commitment, a contract, your word, or your order. I loved the way the movie showed extraordinary actions, such as planning a coup, using mundane details like fountain pens and signatures on paper. It was a little detail that added realism.

[RevAaron]

Lets not forget that back then Montblanc and Pelikan were not "luxury" brands as in todays context. They were juts high quality pen makers during the early/middle of the 1900's.

 

Regards

George

 

Did any luxury brands make pens anyway ?

 

I would even ask, were luxury brands really existing ?

 

Luxury seems to be a modern concept, before only a few people could spend money in travel, nice clothes or pens. Luxury was more handcraft (tailors for exemple) than brands.

 

Pelikan, Montblanc, Kaweco and many other first-tier pen companies made and marketed luxury products. It's nothing new.

 

Luxury was all about being in that small group- "only a few people could spend money in travel, nice clothes or pens." That's why it's luxurious, because not everyone has it. Those who lived luxuriously in the West during the pre-war era would find what you define as luxury to be crass and crude.

[bilbok]

Lets not forget that back then Montblanc and Pelikan were not "luxury" brands as in todays context. They were juts high quality pen makers during the early/middle of the 1900's.

 

Regards

George

 

Did any luxury brands make pens anyway ?

 

I would even ask, were luxury brands really existing ?

 

Luxury seems to be a modern concept, before only a few people could spend money in travel, nice clothes or pens. Luxury was more handcraft (tailors for exemple) than brands.

 

Pelikan, Montblanc, Kaweco and many other first-tier pen companies made and marketed luxury products. It's nothing new.

 

Luxury was all about being in that small group- "only a few people could spend money in travel, nice clothes or pens." That's why it's luxurious, because not everyone has it. Those who lived luxuriously in the West during the pre-war era would find what you define as luxury to be crass and crude.

 

True but to build a brand, you need to have many customers. You can not have a brand if you sell 3 pens per year. And before the after war, to fex people had enough money to buy even a luxury pen.

 

Isn't luxury anything that you don't need but buy at a relatively high price, not necessary very very exclusive ? For exemple, a 200 euros pen when you can write as well with a 20 euros pen.

 

Today, anyone can buy a 1 000 euros Montblanc ball point, does it mean that it is not a luxury pen ?

Edited February 12, 2009 by bilbok

[Talos]

Can't comment on the fountain pens used by the Nazi party but I can sure comment on the movie itself.

 

 

Save your money. The movie was absolutely terrible.

 

 

Nothing sucks more than seeing 3 german officers talk and then seeing the following.

1. They are all speaking in English

2. one fo the three is speaking with a British accent

3. Another of the 3 is speaking with an American accent

 

 

If that is not reality breaking enough for you, most of the story is a pure fabrication. Yes there was a plot to assassinate Hitler with a bomb (it did go off but only partially) but the rest was pure fantasy, and very badly one fantasy.

 

 

Save your money. Buy Pens, Ink and Paper instead

 

 

 

 

Martok

 

May be they were supposed to be double agents, spies and you didn't catch the movie ?

 

This same issue I have with "The Bunker", a British horror movie about a bunch of Germans hiding in a bunker during WWII. The Germans all speak like Tony Blair. (quite a good movie though) Another similar movie which I liked better is OUTPOST... also regarding a bunker, but this time the bunker is getting attacked by a kind of zombie Nazis. Liked this one... it was also a British movie btw.

 

Talking about war movies, a real serious, 'deep' war movie is "Come and See" about WWII... wow... made in the Soviet Union. (Russians speak Russian, Germans speak German) Recommended. You can find it on Youtube, in 7 or so parts. Impressive, raw movie. I have never seen anything quite like it, recommended. Don't watch immediately the last part, but just start with the first part. Don't expect Saving Private Ryan, but something totally different/surreal. (warning; 18 +)

Edited February 12, 2009 by Talos

[memm]

I liked the various ink blotters that could be seen on different desks.

 

The discussion re "Hitler's pen" reminded me of this pictures I found a few weeks ago: A reform FP from 1936 with a swastika http://blog.yam.com/homerchou/article/6475720

[mucephei]

Not "Valkyrie" I know, but there is a Pelikan pen in the excellent film "Das Boot" where one of the crew on the sub writes love letters to his pregnant girlfriend. I'm guessing it's a Pelikan 100 but I certainly am no expert....

[altecniblick]

Irving denies that the Nazis used fountain pens at all. It never happened.

[Shangas]

I wonder if the actors had to attend a special class about how to use a fountain pen correctly...

[memm]

I wonder if the actors had to attend a special class about how to use a fountain pen correctly...

 

I always thought that using a fountain pen is so intuitive that there's not much you can do wrong (but then I'm from Bavaria where you have to use a fountain pen in School ...so it would feel intuitive as everybody 'learns' how to use a FP as a child). In live in England now, and was surprised when one of my older colleagues wanted to use my Pelikano jr. to amend the time table on the notice board and couldn't write with the FP. As the time table was hanging on the wall it was obviously 'enhanced difficulty', but I thought if even one of my first year students is using a FP to make notes, the older generations should definitely know how to use FPs.

Edited February 28, 2009 by memm

[Gothmeister]

No company would want to have any association with Hitler these days.

 

I wonder how many people striding about in Hugo Boss suits realise the connection................

 

[Gothmeister]

When he traveled from Berlin to his retreat at the Adler's Nest, he took a commercial train.

 

A popular misconception. He hardly, if ever, went to the Eagle's Nest. He was afraid of heights. His retreat was the Berghaus, further down on the Obersalzberg.

 

[Gothmeister]

I have not seen the movie and I'm not sure if I will, but I think it's interesting that somebody mentioned David Irving and I assume it's the same person that was sentenced to prison in my home country for glorifying Nazis.

 

I'm not sure he ever glorified National Socialism. He has tried to cast doubt on whether the holocaust took place (or at least whether Hitler was aware of or ordered it) which, apparently, is a crime in Austria.

 

[fuchsiaprincess]

Not "Valkyrie" I know, but there is a Pelikan pen in the excellent film "Das Boot" where one of the crew on the sub writes love letters to his pregnant girlfriend. I'm guessing it's a Pelikan 100 but I certainly am no expert....

 

That was a good movie!