#M ANNOTATED LLM RESPONSE
No actors from the film People on Sunday (Menschen am Sonntag, 1930) won any awards or received nominations for their roles. This is due to the unique nature of the production, the lack of established film awards in Germany at the time, and the film’s specific marketing as a "film without actors."
1. Non-Professional "Actors"
The primary reason no awards were given is that the cast consisted entirely of non-professionals (amateurs) playing versions of themselves. The film’s full German title was Menschen am Sonntag: Ein Film ohne Schauspieler (People on Sunday: A Film Without Actors).
- Erwin Splettstößer was a real-life taxi driver.
- Brigitte Borchert was a record shop sales assistant.
- Wolfgang von Waltershausen was a wine salesman.
- Christl Ehlers was a film extra.
- Annie Schreyer was a model.
The film explicitly informed the audience via title cards that these individuals returned to their normal jobs immediately after filming. Because they were not professional actors and the film was an experimental, low-budget independent work, they were never entered into any acting competitions.
2. Absence of Award Ceremonies
In 1930, there were no major cinematic award bodies in Germany. The German Film Awards (the Lola) were not established until 1951. While the film was a critical and commercial success in Berlin—running for six months—contemporary recognition came in the form of glowing reviews for its "authenticity" rather than formal accolades for the cast.
3. Who were they "up against"? (Contemporary Context)
If these amateurs had been eligible for the major award of that era—the Academy Awards (Oscars)—they would have been competing in the 3rd Annual Academy Awards (held in November 1930) or the 4th (1931). However, the Oscars were almost exclusively reserved for Hollywood productions.
For perspective, the "Best Actor" and "Best Actress" winners and nominees during the years People on Sunday was released were professional stars in major studio "talkies":
- Best Actor Winners: George Arliss (Disraeli, 1930) and Lionel Barrymore (A Free Soul, 1931).
- Best Actress Winners: Norma Shearer (The Divorcee, 1930) and Marie Dressler (Min and Bill, 1931).
- The Competition: These professional icons were up against stars like Greta Garbo (Anna Christie), Maurice Chevalier (The Love Parade), and Ronald Colman (Bulldog Drummond). An independent silent film with amateur actors from Berlin had no place in this Hollywood-centric system.
4. Crew Success vs. Cast Obscurity
While the actors received no awards, nearly every major member of the behind-the-scenes crew went on to become an Oscar-winning or nominated legend in Hollywood:
- Billy Wilder (Writer): Won 6 Academy Awards (including Best Director and Screenplay for The Apartment and The Lost Weekend).
- Fred Zinnemann (Assistant Cinematographer): Won 4 Academy Awards (including Best Director for From Here to Eternity and A Man for All Seasons).
- Eugen Schüfftan (Cinematographer): Won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography for The Hustler (1961).
- Robert Siodmak (Director): Received an Oscar nomination for Best Director for The Killers (1946).
In contrast, the actors' careers mostly ended with this film. Erwin Splettstößer died in a taxi accident just two years later in 1932, and Brigitte Borchert never acted again, though she lived to be 100 and was interviewed for a documentary about the film in 2000.
#F CORRECTION FEED (CLICK TO SEARCH)
[1] No actors from the film won awards. The film itself is highly regarded but received no contemporary awards.
[2] Erwin Splettstößer was a taxi driver in real life.
[3] Brigitte Borchert worked in a record shop.
[4] Wolfgang von Waltershausen was a wine salesman.
[5] Christl Ehlers was a film extra.
[6] Annie Schreyer was a model.
[7] The German Film Awards (Lola) were established in 1951.
[8] George Arliss won Best Actor in 1930 and Lionel Barrymore won in 1931.
[9] Norma Shearer won Best Actress in 1930 and Marie Dressler won in 1931.
[10] Greta Garbo, Maurice Chevalier, and Ronald Colman were major stars and nominees during this period.
[11] Billy Wilder won 6 competitive Academy Awards.
[12] Fred Zinnemann won 4 Academy Awards.
[13] Eugen Schüfftan won an Oscar for The Hustler.
[14] Robert Siodmak was nominated for Best Director for The Killers.
[15] Erwin Splettstößer appeared in two subsequent films ('Abschied' and 'Voruntersuchung') before his death, so his career did not end immediately with 'People on Sunday'.
[16] Erwin Splettstößer died in a taxi accident in 1932.
[17] Brigitte Borchert died in 2011 at the age of 100 and was interviewed for the documentary 'Weekend am Wannsee' in 2000.
#C RELATED QUERIES
#01 What other films did Erwin Splettstößer appear in?
#02 Did any other cast members of People on Sunday act again?
#03 Watch Weekend am Wannsee documentary
No actors from the film *People on Sunday* (*Menschen am Sonntag*, 1930) won any awards or received nominations for their roles. This is due to the unique nature of the production, the lack of established film awards in Germany at the time, and the film’s specific marketing as a "film without actors."
### **1. Non-Professional "Actors"**
The primary reason no awards were given is that the cast consisted entirely of **non-professionals** (amateurs) playing versions of themselves. The film’s full German title was *Menschen am Sonntag: Ein Film ohne Schauspieler* (**People on Sunday: A Film Without Actors**).
* **Erwin Splettstößer** was a real-life taxi driver.
* **Brigitte Borchert** was a record shop sales assistant.
* **Wolfgang von Waltershausen** was a wine salesman.
* **Christl Ehlers** was a film extra.
* **Annie Schreyer** was a model.
The film explicitly informed the audience via title cards that these individuals returned to their normal jobs immediately after filming. Because they were not professional actors and the film was an experimental, low-budget independent work, they were never entered into any acting competitions.
### **2. Absence of Award Ceremonies**
In 1930, there were no major cinematic award bodies in Germany. The **German Film Awards** (the *Lola*) were not established until 1951. While the film was a critical and commercial success in Berlin—running for six months—contemporary recognition came in the form of glowing reviews for its "authenticity" rather than formal accolades for the cast.
### **3. Who were they "up against"? (Contemporary Context)**
If these amateurs had been eligible for the major award of that era—the **Academy Awards** (Oscars)—they would have been competing in the 3rd Annual Academy Awards (held in November 1930) or the 4th (1931). However, the Oscars were almost exclusively reserved for Hollywood productions.
For perspective, the "Best Actor" and "Best Actress" winners and nominees during the years *People on Sunday* was released were professional stars in major studio "talkies":
* **Best Actor Winners:** George Arliss (*Disraeli*, 1930) and Lionel Barrymore (*A Free Soul*, 1931).
* **Best Actress Winners:** Norma Shearer (*The Divorcee*, 1930) and Marie Dressler (*Min and Bill*, 1931).
* **The Competition:** These professional icons were up against stars like **Greta Garbo** (*Anna Christie*), **Maurice Chevalier** (*The Love Parade*), and **Ronald Colman** (*Bulldog Drummond*). An independent silent film with amateur actors from Berlin had no place in this Hollywood-centric system.
### **4. Crew Success vs. Cast Obscurity**
While the actors received no awards, nearly every major member of the **behind-the-scenes crew** went on to become an Oscar-winning or nominated legend in Hollywood:
* **Billy Wilder (Writer):** Won 6 Academy Awards (including Best Director and Screenplay for *The Apartment* and *The Lost Weekend*).
* **Fred Zinnemann (Assistant Cinematographer):** Won 4 Academy Awards (including Best Director for *From Here to Eternity* and *A Man for All Seasons*).
* **Eugen Schüfftan (Cinematographer):** Won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography for *The Hustler* (1961).
* **Robert Siodmak (Director):** Received an Oscar nomination for Best Director for *The Killers* (1946).
In contrast, the actors' careers mostly ended with this film. **Erwin Splettstößer** died in a taxi accident just two years later in 1932, and **Brigitte Borchert** never acted again, though she lived to be 100 and was interviewed for a documentary about the film in 2000.