The Bat
1937, German. Directed by Paul Verhoeven & Hans H. Zerlett.
The delightful Johann Strauss comic opera Die Fledermaus was mercilessly lampooned in this truly bizarre production. For starters, a framing device has been added: After appearing in 300 consecutive appearances of Fledermaus (which translates as The Bat) the lead tenor (Georg Alexander) imagines that he's seeing bats everywhere. Driven a bit over the edge by all this, he falls asleep and has a nightmare about the opera, with a group of non-singers cast in the leading roles. The original libretto about romantic assignations, political imprisonments and mistaken identity is burlesqued to the hilt: at one point, the hero finds out that his prison cell is surrounded by rubber tubes!
- Runtime
- 1h 43m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- German
- Rated
- Check local
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Where to watch The Bat
The Bat isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 30 October 1937.
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Cast & crew
- Paul VerhoevenDirector
- Hans H. ZerlettDirector
- Lída BaarováMaria Weigel / Rosalinde
- Hans SöhnkerKammersänger Hans Weigel / Eisenstein
- Friedl CzepaHanni / Adele
- Jola JobstBerta / Ida
- Georg AlexanderStaatsanwalt Wentin / Frank
- Robert DorsayChauffeur Franz / Alfred
- Hans MoserHans Moser
- Harald PaulsenRechtsanwalt Dr. Rommel / Dr.Falke
- Karl StepanekAttaché Baranoff / Orlovsky
- Hans StiebnerKapellmeister
- Otto GrafRundfunkreporter
- Albert IhlePräsident
Details
- Released
- 30 October 1937
- Original title
- Die Fledermaus
- Country
- Germany
- Written by
- Walter Wassermann, Carl Haffner, Lotte Neumann
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News & fan talk
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The Bat: quick answers
Is The Bat worth watching?
The Bat doesn’t have enough ratings for a verdict yet.
How long is The Bat?
The Bat runs 103 minutes (1h 43m).
Does The Bat have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for The Bat. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
The Bat parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
No age rating is listed for The Bat yet.
Which OTT platform is The Bat on?
The Bat isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 30 October 1937. (Checked 30 October 2026.)
What movies are like The Bat?
If you liked The Bat, try A Night at the Opera, Louis C.K.: Ridiculous, Fun with Dick and Jane.
Who directed The Bat?
The Bat (1937) was directed by Paul Verhoeven and Hans H. Zerlett and stars Lída Baarová, Hans Söhnker, Friedl Czepa.