De Jantjes (1934) User Reviews

A nostalgic trip.

[Boba_Fett1138 · 7/10 · 8 September 2011]

This movie is based on a fairly well known ad still popular Dutch play, set in the Jordaan. A neighborhood where the the working class of Amsterdam used to live. So its source material is quite familiar but what makes it unique is that this was the first version of it that used sounds. A real important aspect, considering that it's a story that is being filled with lots of songs and other forms of old fashioned cabaret.

What makes these sort of movies typical is its nostalgic feeling and atmosphere to it. It's absolutely fantastic to see the old Amsterdam (though not that much has changed about its look) with its old fashioned people, doing all kinds of old fashioned things that we even forgot about mostly. The movie does an extremely good job at capturing this sense of nostalgia and is part of the reason why this movie is an absolute joy to watch.

Another reason is its story. It's a simple premise that is really well written though, which provides the movie with plenty of great characters and moments in it. It are especially its characters that really make this movie. The movie follows a main plot line but at the same time also plenty of side-plots, involving the many different characters. It gives the simple story lots of depth and heart, which makes the movie feel like a very honest and charming movie.

Yes, despite all of its heavy and serious subjects this movie mostly remains a very pleasant one to watch at all times. No matter how dramatic stuff gets, the movie is always bright and cheerful. You could say that it feels like a very Innocent movie that you can watch, feel touched by but never feel depressed or down by any of it

In all fairness though, the ending was just incredibly bad and rushed. The last 20 minutes didn't feel at all in tone with the rest of the movie, mostly also because it is then that the movie gets set outside of Amsterdam. It just feels like it's an entire movie on its own, only done in 20 minutes. Perhaps they should had just saved it for a sequel, though sequels weren't really a thing they had heard of back in 1934. Yes, I'm not lying when I'm saying that I would had rated this movie higher if the last 20 minutes of it had been left out entirely.

I can't always call this movie a well made one. It's sloppy in its editing at times and it too often is also using archive footage, which feels too much out of tone with this movie, since it obviously got shot with a different camera and frame rate. The footage also looks far older, like it's from the 1920's actually. This was really a distraction at times, especially when the movie tries to combine the archive footage with the newly shot footage for the movie.

It's funny to see how much this movie actually looks like a German movie from the 1920's. The style of acting, the positioning of the camera, even the make-up. I don't know if the Dutch actually 'borrowed' this style from the Germans because German movies were quite popular back in those days, or if this is a style that can also be considered to be typical Dutch. Since after all, the Netherlands and Germany are neighboring countries, who perhaps got inspired and influenced by the same things and received the same sort of of training when it comes down to film-making.

It's already worth watching for its nostalgic feeling alone but besides that it also has a really well written story and plenty of fun in it to consider this a more than watchable and recommendable movie, though its hard to find- or watch anywhere.

7/10

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A little gem

[kip70 · 9/10 · 21 July 2004]

Yes, this sure is a little pre-war Dutch gem. I always liked the Astaire/Rogers musicals, and watched this Dutch musical with quite a bit of anticipation. Could it be anywhere near as good as the Astaire/Rogers classics? Well... yes! Taking into account the budget, which must have been 1/1000th of the budget on an American film, De Jantjes came out very well indeed. Good story line, nice camera work, OK acting (although it always surprises me how 'old' Dutch from the 30s sounds) and a couple of classic songs. I didn't even know some of the songs in the movie were from that era. Thought they were much younger. A Chance to see Heintje David play and sing shouldn't be missed either. You should go see this movie when you get the chance!

The adventures of three Dutch former bluejackets

[eabakkum · 21 November 2011]

The film De Jantjes ("The bluejackets") is in many aspects a unique produce. It features film shots of the city life in Amsterdam during the years of the Great Depression. The film cast contains the well known Dutch players Johan Kaart and Fien de la Mar, and the revue artists Heintje Davids and Sylvain Poons. The songs "Draaien, altijd maar draaien" (Turn, turn) and "Omdat ik zoveel van je hou" (Because I love you so) have remained popular even today. However the most interesting aspect about this film is perhaps the story line. During the main part of the film the viewer is lured into thinking that De Jantjes is a predecessor of all those famous Bob Hope/Danny Kaye/Frank Sinatra/Dean Martin movies. Three sailors return from their military service in the navy. Dolle Dries is happily united with his girlfriend Blonde Greet. Schele Manus courts Jans, but is less lucky, since she adores luxury. The third sailor, De Blauwe, is usually tipsy. The three sailors continue their comradeship, and support each other during hardships. Unfortunately Dolle Dries is deeply offended, when his girlfriend has been spotted in a cabaret, while dancing with another man. This cabaret is a small miracle in itself, since the stage consists of a mock-up of a battleship. Perhaps this is a reflection on Hitlers rearmament (remember, it is 1934). Since the three comrades are also unlucky in their job applications (it is 1934), they decide to enlist at the colonial army of the Dutch Indies. It is only then that Dolle Dries is again convinced about the honesty of his girlfriend. In horror he realizes that he will be separated from her for another six years. Here the story deviates from the usual happy ending. For about a quarter of an hour the film laments in a sentimental way the separation from the Dutch fatherland and from the grieving mothers. We witness film shots from the Dutch Indies and the military quarters. Dolle Dries and Schele Manus get promoted to the rank of sergeant, whereas De Blauwe meets his death. Finally Dolle Dries and his girlfriend wed by means of a radio broadcast, while he is still in the Indies and she in Amsterdam. This second half of the narration is almost an anti-military ridicule, although an overt criticism of colonialism is lacking. Somehow the message of the film is confused, and this may be the reflection of a time, that witnessed the collapse of capitalism and the emergence of dictatorships and fascism. In a sense it breathes the atmosphere of Charlie Chaplins "The great dictator", although the theme of course is different. In our days it is difficult to appreciate the appeal, that De Jantjes had to the public of the depressing thirties. Still it is worth watching, although sentimentalism is not really my thing.