1988
In post-WWII Berlin, American Major Steve Arnold, a former insurance assessor, investigates world-renowned German conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler for Nazi collaboration. As Steve aggressively seeks evidence of complicity, his team uncovers files suggesting Furtwängler protected Jewish musicians and resisted Nazi cultural policies. The investigation intensifies with a confrontation with a Russian officer and a growing rift between Steve and his liaison, who believes in Furtwängler's innocence. Furtwängler is ultimately cleared, but archive footage of him conducting for Nazi officials leaves the audience to ponder the complexities of his wartime actions.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Major Steve Arnold is tasked with interrogating famed conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler on his wartime associations.
Open full beat sheetMajor Steve Arnold is listed as Investigator. An American major and former insurance claims assessor tasked with denazifying Furtwängler. In the parsed data, Major Steve Arnold is connected to 34 scenes, 137 dialogue lines, 137 text mentions, first appearing around scene 7.
34 scenes / 137 dialogue linesLieutenant David Wills is listed as Liaison Officer. A young Jewish-German refugee serving as a liaison officer. In the parsed data, Lieutenant David Wills is connected to 32 scenes, 37 dialogue lines, 38 text mentions, first appearing around scene 13.
32 scenes / 37 dialogue linesEmmi Straube is listed as Secretary. Steve's secretary, daughter of a German officer executed for the plot against Hitler. In the parsed data, Emmi Straube is connected to 29 scenes, 23 dialogue lines, 24 text mentions, first appearing around scene 13.
29 scenes / 23 dialogue linesWilhelm Furtwängler is listed as Conductor. A world-renowned conductor accused of collaborating with the Nazi regime. In the parsed data, Wilhelm Furtwängler is connected to 19 scenes, 79 dialogue lines, 82 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
19 scenes / 79 dialogue linesHelmuth Rode is listed as Violinist. A second violinist in the Berlin Philharmonic. In the parsed data, Helmuth Rode is connected to 6 scenes, 15 dialogue lines, 15 text mentions, first appearing around scene 14.
6 scenes / 15 dialogue linesColonel Dymshitz is listed as Russian Officer. An art historian and Russian officer interested in Furtwängler. In the parsed data, Colonel Dymshitz is connected to 4 scenes, 7 dialogue lines, 7 text mentions, first appearing around scene 11.
4 scenes / 7 dialogue linesRudolf Werner is listed as Oboist. A member of the Berlin Philharmonic wind section. In the parsed data, Rudolf Werner is connected to 2 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 9.
2 scenes / 1 dialogue linesSchlee is listed as Timpani Player. A member of the Berlin Philharmonic percussion section. In the parsed data, Schlee is connected to 2 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 10.
2 scenes / 1 dialogue linesGeneral Wallace is listed as Military Officer. Steve's superior officer. In the parsed data, General Wallace is connected to 1 scene, 1 dialogue line, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 4.
1 scenes / 1 dialogue linesWilhelm Furtwängler conducts Beethoven during an air raid until the power fails.
Wilhelm FurtwänglerAn attendant leads Nazi officials to Furtwängler's room.
Wilhelm FurtwänglerThe Reichsminister visits Furtwängler to apologize for the power failure and warn him about the war.
Wilhelm FurtwänglerGeneral Wallace briefs Major Steve Arnold on Furtwängler's case using archive footage.
Major Steve Arnold, General WallaceSteve suffers from a nightmare and later listens to radio warnings about non-fraternization.
Major Steve ArnoldSteve arrives at his office while a swastika is removed from the building.
Major Steve ArnoldSteve meets his secretary Emmi Straube and discusses the Furtwängler case.
Major Steve Arnold, Emmi StraubeLieutenant David Wills reports to Steve.
Major Steve Arnold, Emmi Straube, Lieutenant David WillsSteve interrogates Rudolf Werner about Furtwängler.
Major Steve Arnold, Emmi Straube, Lieutenant David Wills, Rudolf WernerSteve interrogates Schlee about Furtwängler.
Major Steve Arnold, Emmi Straube, Lieutenant David Wills, SchleeSteve and David travel to a mansion to meet Colonel Dymshitz.
Major Steve Arnold, Lieutenant David Wills, Colonel DymshitzRode waits nervously while hearing laughter from Steve's office.
Helmuth Rode, Lieutenant David WillsDavid and Emmi share a lighthearted moment before Steve enters.
Emmi Straube, Lieutenant David Wills, Major Steve ArnoldSteve interrogates Helmuth Rode.
Major Steve Arnold, Lieutenant David Wills, Emmi Straube, Helmuth RodeSteve works alone in his office listening to music.
Major Steve ArnoldFurtwängler is recognized on a crowded tram.
Wilhelm FurtwänglerFurtwängler arrives at Steve's building.
Wilhelm Furtwängler, Emmi StraubeSteve prepares to keep Furtwängler waiting.
Major Steve Arnold, Lieutenant David Wills, Emmi StraubeFurtwängler waits and interacts briefly with Emmi.
Wilhelm Furtwängler, Emmi StraubeThe interrogation of Furtwängler begins.
Major Steve Arnold, Lieutenant David Wills, Emmi Straube, Wilhelm FurtwänglerThe interrogation continues with a phone call interruption.
Major Steve Arnold, Lieutenant David Wills, Emmi Straube, Wilhelm FurtwänglerDavid confronts Furtwängler as he tries to leave.
Lieutenant David Wills, Wilhelm Furtwängler, Emmi Straube, Major Steve ArnoldSteve, David, and Emmi begin working in the archive room to process files on musicians.
Major Steve Arnold, Emmi Straube, Lieutenant David WillsDavid realizes the archive room was a synagogue and pays his respects.
Lieutenant David WillsEmmi and David work on files; Steve observes them suspiciously.
Major Steve Arnold, Emmi Straube, Lieutenant David WillsFurtwängler attends a concert in the ruins; Dymshitz approaches him.
Wilhelm Furtwängler, Emmi Straube, Lieutenant David Wills, Colonel DymshitzSteve decides to leave his room during a storm.
Major Steve ArnoldSteve confronts David and Emmi at the club.
Major Steve Arnold, Emmi Straube, Lieutenant David WillsDavid and Emmi share an awkward moment at the stairs.
Emmi Straube, Lieutenant David WillsEmmi finds a file on Rode; David is called away.
Major Steve Arnold, Emmi Straube, Lieutenant David Wills, Helmuth RodeSteve meets Rode, who reveals information about Furtwängler.
Major Steve Arnold, Helmuth RodeSteve finds the file on Karajan.
Major Steve ArnoldCaptain Martin tasks David with building a defense case.
Lieutenant David WillsDavid meets with orchestra members.
Lieutenant David Wills, Rudolf Werner, SchleeSteve and Dymshitz drink and argue about Furtwängler.
Major Steve Arnold, Colonel DymshitzSteve watches a military propaganda film while drunk.
Major Steve ArnoldEmmi and David shop at a flea market and find a tandem bicycle.
Emmi Straube, Lieutenant David WillsEmmi and David ride the tandem bicycle through the hills.
Emmi Straube, Lieutenant David WillsEmmi and David discuss Furtwängler's past choices.
Emmi Straube, Lieutenant David WillsSteve prepares for Furtwängler's arrival while Emmi and David observe.
Major Steve Arnold, Emmi Straube, Lieutenant David WillsFurtwängler arrives and is sent back to the waiting room by Steve.
Wilhelm Furtwängler, Major Steve Arnold, Emmi Straube, Lieutenant David WillsRode attempts to offer Furtwängler water.
Wilhelm Furtwängler, Helmuth RodeThe interrogation of Furtwängler begins.
Wilhelm Furtwängler, Major Steve Arnold, Emmi Straube, Lieutenant David Wills, Helmuth RodeSteve and David argue about Furtwängler.
Major Steve Arnold, Lieutenant David WillsDavid convinces Emmi to return to work.
Emmi Straube, Lieutenant David WillsSteve continues the interrogation regarding Furtwängler's anti-Semitic remarks.
Wilhelm Furtwängler, Major Steve Arnold, Emmi Straube, Lieutenant David WillsSteve interrogates Furtwängler about his Nazi associations while David and Emmi observe and provide evidence of his assistance to Jews.
Wilhelm Furtwängler, Major Steve Arnold, Emmi Straube, Lieutenant David WillsEmmi helps a shaken Furtwängler to a chair.
Wilhelm Furtwängler, Emmi StraubeSteve calls General Wallace while David plays Beethoven's Ninth.
Major Steve Arnold, Lieutenant David WillsFurtwängler walks down the stairs.
Wilhelm Furtwängler, Emmi StraubeSteve demands the music be turned off.
Major Steve Arnold, Lieutenant David WillsFurtwängler hears the music and continues down the stairs.
Wilhelm FurtwänglerArchive footage of Furtwängler conducting for Nazis.
Wilhelm FurtwänglerI wrote an open letter to the newspapers condemning what they were doing to music, making these distinctions between Jews and non-Jews. For my part, the only divide in art is between good and bad. Eventually, Goebbels summoned me and told me I could leave the country if I wanted to but under no condition would I ever be allowed to return. I always believe that you have to fight from the inside not from without. I asked myself, what's the duty of an artist, to stay or to leave? And then Goebbels demanded that I acknowledge Hitler as solely responsible for cultural policy. Well, that was a fact and it seemed pointless to deny it. I simply acknowledged that Hitler and the Minister of Culture appointed by him were solely responsible for the cultural policy of the Reich. What I wanted to express was that I, personally, had no responsibility whatsoever for their cultural policy. I have always had the view that art and politics should... should have nothing to do with each other.
Have you ever smelled burning flesh? I smelt it four miles away. Four miles away, I smelt it. Have you ever seen the gas chambers, the crematoria? Have you seen the mounds of rotting corpses? You talk to me about culture, art and music? You putting that in the scales, Wilhelm? You setting culture, art and music against the millions put to death by your pals? They had orchestras in the camps. They played Beethoven, Wagner. The hangmen were playing chamber music at home with their families. I don't understand the Germans' relationship with music. What do you need music for? Your pals you could call to save a few Jews when millions of them were being annihilated? Yes, I blame you for not getting hanged, I blame you for your cowardice. You strutted and swaggered, you fucking piece of shit, king-pin in a shithouse. You talk to me about walking a tightrope between exile and the gallows, and I say to you, lies!
'Please remember that Dr. Furtwängler risked his life to help anyone who asked him. I personally testify to having seen literally hundreds of people lined up outside his dressing room after concerts to ask for his help. He never turned anyone away. After he heard me play... I am a violinist... he gave me money because I was unable to feed myself or my family and then he helped me to escape to Sweden. He helped countless people in similar ways.'
This is a transcript of the proceedings at Nuremberg. A Swedish businessman, Birger Dahlerus, testified in cross-examination that he had several meetings with Hermann Goering. 'I first saw Goering,' Dahlerus testified, 'embroiled in a stormy interview with Wilhelm Furtwängler, the famous conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic, who was vainly seeking permission to keep his Jewish concert master.
The problem was how could he avoid giving the Devil's salute when Satan was actually sitting there. And, I said, 'Dr. Furtwängler, why not enter with the baton in your right hand? Hitler will be sitting in the front row. If you give the salute with the baton in your right hand it'll look like you're going to poke his eyes out.'
Everybody says what a great benefactor you were to the Jews. But-- I have things here you said and wrote. Listen to this: 'The Jew composer Schonberg is admired by the Jewish International.' And what about this: 'Jewish musicians lack a genuine affinity with our music.' 'Jewish musicians are good businessmen with few scruples,
When he made his decision, he couldn't have known everything. Especially not the way people like you do, who've returned from exile and feel that you have a right to pass judgement. Because you are blameless, you think you know best who is a sinner and who deserves forgiveness. But you have no idea how people lived here.
Well, I tried, you got to admit I tried. I thought I might just trap you there, Wilhelm, but David here was too quick for me. Smart move, David, smart move. No, I don't have the telegram, but I know it exists. And I want you to know, Wilhelm, we're going to keep looking for it because I believe you sent it.
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