People on Sunday (1930)

A delightful companion piece to Berlin Symphony of a Great City is People on Sunday, directed by Robert Siodmak and Edgar Ulmar, with help from the soon-to-be-legendary Billy Wilder. It's the story of a group of young Berliners (all amateur actors!) who go on an excursion to the parks outside of Berlin. It gives some fantastic images of Weimar Berlin and a great sense of the lifestyle. Here's a trailer from the recent edition lovingly restored by Criterion. And here's a somewhat sexier clip.

Robert Siodmak (1900-1973) went on to a successful career in Hollywood, where he was known for his films noirs, such as Phantom Lady (1944). Here's the trailer, which will make you want to see it! After the war, he went back to Germany. Robert's brother Curt (1902-2000) was also in the film industry, as a writer.

Billy Wilder (1906-2002) went on to become incredibly successful, directing such fantastic films as Some Like It Hot, Sunset Boulevard, The Apartment, and Double Indemnity. Watch all of them!