Carbide and Sorrel (1963): Cast, Plot & Where to Watch
Carbide and Sorrel is a 1963 comedy directed by Frank Beyer, starring Erwin Geschonneck as Kalle, Marita Böhme and Margot Busse. It runs 1 hour 25 minutes. Stream it on Kanopy.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 25m (85 min)
- Director
- Frank Beyer
- Genre
- Comedy
- Original language
-
German - Studio
- DEFA
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Carbide and Sorrel About?
The premise of Carbide and Sorrel without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
In the aftermath of World II, Dresden lies in ruins and Kalle must restart the cigarette factory where he once worked. He journeys to Wittenberg, the only source of carbide, and is forced to hitchhike back to Dresden while hauling seven heavy barrels. His ingenuity and optimism turn the arduous trek into a series of amusing, adventurous episodes.
Carbide and Sorrel Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- horse
- can
- carbide
- barrel
- pier
- watercress
- meat
- butcher
- love
- stranding
- sleepover
- shock
+38 more Show fewer
- escape
- girlfriend
- pregnancy
- alcohol
- bicycle
- rebuilding
- reconstruction
- undercover
- police
- singing
- orphan
- repair
- dog
- cemetery
- funeral
- black market
- syrup
- leak
- water
- swimming
- rowing boat
- theft
- hay
- boat
- opera singer
- hiding place
- flat tire
- chalk
- dynamite fishing
- permission
- chicken
- egg
- movie business
- migration
- fugitive
- frog
- fish
- hitchhiking
Where to Watch Carbide and Sorrel
Stream it on Kanopy. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
Stream 1
Kanopy Streaming availability in the US, powered by 
Carbide and Sorrel Cast & Characters
Erwin Geschonneck leads the cast as Kalle, with Marita Böhme as Karla and Margot Busse as Karin. Directed by Frank Beyer; 39 actors are credited in all.
- Director Frank Beyer
- Erwin Geschonneck as Kalle
- Marita Böhme as Karla
- Margot Busse as Karin
- Manja Behrens as Clara
Also Starring in Carbide and Sorrel
· 35 more- Fred Delmare Kutscher
- Bruno Carstens Polizeikommissar
- Peter Dommisch
- Hans Hardt-Hardtloff
- Agnes Kraus
- Fred Ludwig
- Albert Zahn
- Jochen Diestelmann
- Günter Rüger
- Gerd Ehlers
- Fritz Diez
- Maria Besendahl
- Jochen Thomas
- Harald Moszdorf
- Hans-Dieter Schlegel US-Offizier
- Kurt Rackelmann Riese
Show all 39 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Gertrud Brendler
- Leonid Iudov
- Frank Michelis
- Peter Kalisch
- Horst Giese
- Elsa Grube-Deister
- Sabine Thalbach
- Georg Helge
- Hanna Rieger
- Werner Pfeifer
- Wolfram Handel
- Hermann Eckhardt
- Gisela Graupner
- Rudolf Asmus Sänger
- Aleksei Presnetsov Sowjetischer Kommandant
- Werner Möhring
- Else Korén
- Otto Saltzmann
- Gina Presgott
Carbide and Sorrel Plot Summary
What happens in Carbide and Sorrel from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the immediate aftermath of World War II in Europe, Karl Kalle Blücher returns to the ruined city of Dresden and the crumbling cigarette factory where he once worked. The workers, facing a cold reality of hunger and reconstruction, assign him the task of securing carbide to replace a destroyed roof. The community is tight on time and family duties—everyone is married and must provide for their households—while Karl, who is single and a vegetarian, is seen as someone who can survive the road and feed himself along the way. The mission becomes not just a supply run but a test of luck, improvisation, and stubborn resilience.
Full summary
The whole story of Carbide and Sorrel, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Carbide and Sorrel?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What material is Karl tasked with transporting to replace the destroyed roof?
Carbide and Sorrel Also Known As
Also known as “Карбид и щавель”.
- Also known as
-
- Карбид и щавель
Seen Carbide and Sorrel?
Movies Like Carbide and Sorrel
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Kaiserschmarrndrama, The Scarecrow and Lady Rettich, Czerni and I.
Carbide and Sorrel FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, post-credit scenes and language of Carbide and Sorrel, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Carbide and Sorrel?
Carbide and Sorrel runs 1 hour 25 minutes (85 minutes).
When was Carbide and Sorrel released?
Carbide and Sorrel was released on December 27, 1963.
Who directed Carbide and Sorrel?
Carbide and Sorrel was directed by Frank Beyer.
More films by Frank Beyer Who is in the cast of Carbide and Sorrel?
Carbide and Sorrel stars Erwin Geschonneck as Kalle, Marita Böhme as Karla and Margot Busse as Karin, among 39 credited actors.
Where can I watch Carbide and Sorrel?
In the US, Carbide and Sorrel is streaming on Kanopy (availability from JustWatch).
Does Carbide and Sorrel have a post-credit scene?
No. Carbide and Sorrel has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Carbide and Sorrel in?
The original language of Carbide and Sorrel is German.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
