The American Soldier

The American Soldier

80 mins | Drama, Action | Oct. 9, 1970

The German-born American GI Ricky (Karl Scheydt) returns to Munich from Vietnam and is promptly hired as a contract killer. Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s experimental noir is a subversive, self-reflexive gangster movie full of unexpected asides and stylistic flourishes, and features an audaciously bonkers final shot and memorable turns from many of the director’s rotating gallery of players.

The American Soldier

80 mins | Drama, Action | Oct. 9, 1970

The American Soldier
The German-born American GI Ricky (Karl Scheydt) returns to Munich from Vietnam and is promptly hired as a contract killer. Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s experimental noir is a subversive, self-reflexive gangster movie full of unexpected asides and stylistic flourishes, and features an audaciously bonkers final shot and memorable turns from many of the director’s rotating gallery of players.
IMDb rating 6.5
Producers Antiteater-X-Film
Original title Der amerikanische Soldat
Directors Kurt Raab, Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Writers Rainer Werner Fassbinder

Cast

Karl Scheydt

as Ricky

Elga Sorbas

as Rosa von Praunheim

Jan George

as Jan

Hark Bohm

as Doc

Ulli Lommel

as Tony le Gitano

Katrin Schaake

as Magdalena Fuller

Ingrid Caven

as Singer

Eva Ingeborg Scholz

as Ricky's Mother

Kurt Raab

as Ricky's Brother

Irm Hermann

as Whore

Gustl Datz

as Chief of Police

Marius Aicher

as Police Officer

Marquard Bohm

as Private Detective (uncredited)

Rainer Werner Fassbinder

as Franz Walsch (uncredited)

Peer Raben

as Hotel Receptionist (uncredited)