Stolen Identity (Abenteuer in Wien)

Date: 1953
Director: Gunther von Fritsch, Emile E. Reinert
Production Company: Schönbrunn-Film Ernst Müller, Kreidl KG, Trans-Globe Film

Stars: Gustav Fröhlich (A), Donald Buka (US), Cornell Borchers (A), Joan Camden (US), Franz Lederer, Adrienne Gessner
Location(s): Vienna (Austria)

Region(s):

Storyline:

A jealous concert pianist murders his wife’s lover, then frames an innocent taxi driver for the crime.

Additional Information:

Screen shots uploaded by Phil Wilkinson from source material provided by John Tunstill.

Two versions of this film were released. One in German for Austria and the other in English for the US market. Each film had different stars in the lead roles.

 

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We are aware that there are films on the site that were added when the criteria for the inclusion of locations was very different from today and, as a result, there may be scenes missing from some productions. Please do not forward additional screen captures to us but bring the detail to our attention, for we do, and are, 're-addressing' these older entries as time allows.

  • Capture 1
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Frau Anna Fraser (Adrienne Gessner) leaves the main Post Office after collecting a telegram for Karin Manelli. This appears to be Fleischmarkt in Vienna 1010, Austria.

  • Capture 2
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Frau Fraser arrives at the home where she is employed by Claude and Karin Manelli. Unknown location.

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Karin Manelli (Cornell Borchers) looks down from a window as Frau Fraser enters the house.

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After intercepting the telegram from Jack Mortimer to Karin, Krüger (Egon von Jordan) hands it over to her husband Claude Manelli (Francis Lederer).

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Krüger escorts the pianist to his car as he leaves to play in a rehearsal before the evening's performance.

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Claude drives from the house.

  • Capture 7
  • 24 Jan 2018

The musician continues his journey. A gateway to the Hofburg Palace in Vienna.

Three arches of the Gateway to Hofburg Imperial Palace, Vienna

Busier than it looks, I wasn't prepared to stand in the middle here. (RL)

  • Capture 8
  • 24 Jan 2018

Claude speeds through an archway and nearly collides with Toni Sponer's taxi.

A view of the main entrance gate of the Hofburg Palace

An albeit brief break in the tour groups at the grand entrance to the Hofburg Palace. (RL)

  • Capture 9
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Toni, a drifter trapped in Vienna, draws up outside Ferdl Heintl's apartment block. Unknown location.

  • Capture 10
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The cabby makes his way through the block to find Heintl, a fellow driver who shares shifts in the taxi.

  • Capture 11
  • 17 Nov 2016

Having taken her passport, Karin makes her way to meet with Jack Mortimer. Hotel zum Goldenen Löwen on Bräunerstraße, Vienna 10.

Mark o'Neill captured this location and the two that follow, from memory during a recent visit. (RL)

  • Capture 12
  • 17 Nov 2016

When finding that Heintl is drunk, Toni puts some extra time in driving the cab. These are the, then, new buildings of Wien Westbahnhof opened in 1952 which stand on Gürtel / Europaplatz, in front of the station. Vienna 1150.

Mark was not able to be pedantic about the time. (RL)

  • Capture 13
  • 17 Nov 2016

Toni picks Mortimer up at the station, but someone is watching. As the neon sign states, this is Westbahnhof in Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus, Vienna's 15th District. The station has recently been renovated (2011).

Mark admits that going from memory he overlooked three other captures but now has an excuse to return. (RL)

  • Capture 14
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Mortimer stops off at the BEA airline office and Toni checks in his luggage whilst arranging for the flight ticket to be sent to his hotel. Unidentified location.

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The journey is resumed but, before long, Toni Sponer (Gustav Fröhlich) discovers that Mortimer has been shot whilst in the back of the cab. Unknown location.

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Toni drives on to find a policeman but when he does, he is told to keep moving along the busy street. Unidentified location.

  • Capture 17
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The cab is driven away from the main road. Somewhere in Wien 15 (Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus) as is identified by the Postamt building to the right.

  • Capture 18
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Toni Sponer (Donald Buka) pulls up outside the Sphinx Bar and enters to telephone the police. As different actors play the lead roles in the two versions of this film, this is a capture from the US print, but still an unknown location.

  • Capture 19
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When the police ask too many questions, Toni opens the passport retrieved from Mortimer and has the idea of taking on his identity before disposing of the body in the river. Unidentified location.

  • Capture 20
  • 17 Nov 2016

Karin Manelli is waiting as Toni visits the hotel that Mortimer was booked into to collect the airline ticket. Hotel zum Goldenen Löwen, Bräunerstraße.

A lighter daytime shot from Mark. (RL)

  • Capture 21
  • 09 Jun 2024

Police arrive on the scene after Karin alerts them about the impostor. The junction of Bräunerstraße and Der Graben with the Pestsäule (plague column) in the left background.

Today, there's more interest in the monument that was erected following the Great Plague epidemic in 1679. PW

  • Capture 22
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After Toni is detained but freed when identified by Claude, he explains his circumstances to Karen Manelli (Joan Camden). An unidentified location in a frame from the US version.

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The police arrive outside whilst Toni and Karin visit Heintl's Wife. Unknown location.

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Toni and Karin make their getaway. Unidentified location.

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Police follow as the pair run through the crowded streets. Unknown location.

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More shots of nighttime Vienna as Toni and Karin continue their escape. Unidentified location.

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Policemen carry on chasing. Unknown location.

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Toni and Karin dodge traffic as they cross a busy road. Unidentified location.

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Police climb through parked cars as they gain on Toni and Karin.

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The two run through alleyways, finally losing their pursuers. Unknown location.

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The airport bus approaches as Toni and Karin find the road out of the city. Unidentified location.

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Toni crosses the tarmac towards the waiting flight to the USA. IMDB claims Airport Vienna-Schwechat, Schwechat, Austria.

  • Capture 33
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And finally . . . . . . a shot from the beginning of the US version showing a train pulling into the station where Jack Mortimer sends the telegram to Karin from. An unknown location but this time somewhere in the USA.