On the Sunny Side

On the Sunny Side is an East German musical comedy film, directed by Ralf Kirsten and starring Manfred Krug. It was released in 1962. Plot Martin Hoff, a steel smelter and an amateur actor and Jazz singer, is sent to a drama school by his factory's committee. Due to his troublesome conduct, he is expelled. Hoff meets a young woman called Ottilie who is unimpressed by him; he bets with his friends that he shall manage to charm her. Hoff begins to work in the construction site where she serves as a group manager, although she has troubles enforcing her will on her male subordinates. He only has success with her after director Jens Krüger guides him to become a diligent laborer. In addition to his work, he continues to perform in amateur plays. When theater manager Pabst sees him acting, he invites him to join his cast. Hoff and Ottilie decide to marry. Cast Manfred Krug: Martin Hoff Marita Böhme: Ottilie Zinn Heinz Schubert: Felix Schnepf Rolf Herricht: Hoff's friend Peter Sturm: Pabst Fred Mahr: Jens Krüger Gert Andreae: Matze Wind Günter Naumann: driver Werner Lierck: director Willi Neuenhahn: viewer Rolf Römer: Hoff's friend Heinz Lyschik: Hoff's friend Production During the end of the 1950s, the DEFA Studio's management noted the public's demand for entertainment and responded by producing a series of light comedies, relatively free from ideological messages. According to Heiko R. Blum, On the Sunny Side "distinguished itself by its unmitigated portrayal of real life."