The doer of this movie were producer Erich Pommer, the ingenious script writer and author Thea von Harbou as well as director Fritz Lang.
Fritz Lang was in America because of an invitation of a great motion-picture company. This visit left a great impression to him especially the entrance into the harbour of New York and the huge buildings which seemed to grow out of the sea. In Fritz Lang the intention matured this impression to include as a focal point in his next film.
He discussed the matter of his intention with his wife Thea von Harbou and Erich Pommer. Pommer had considered the possibility of a realisation of such a gigantic project. Even the UFA wouldn't be in a position to build skyscrapers for the film studio, this would come too expensive. But Fritz Lang knew how to dissipate his objection. He was familiar with a new method which was developed by cinematographer Eugen Schüfftan. This method allowed to put models in the picture through a complicated discharge of reflection and re-reflection (called the Schüfftan-method) that it looked like huge buildings. This method was made perfectly during the shooting. 
Now nothing was in the way against a realisation of the movie. 
 

The content:
Metropolis is a huge industrial town divided into an upper and a lower town. In the lower one, where the sunlight hardly reaches the lowlands, there live and work the destitute people which have to operate enormous machines in order to provide the city with the necessary energy.  In the upper town there live the rich bigwigs in immense luxury. The constellation of either sides reminds strong of the pharaoes and their slaves, which scraped a hopeless living in the shadow of their sovereigns. But the rabble mobilizes his strength and starts a rebellion against the oppressors. In order to give the story the necessary spice, Freder, the son of one of the most powerful big industrialists, stand by the side of the rebel workmen. Beside Freder, played by Gustav Fröhlich, who was an unknown actor in those days, there performs Brigitte Helm, who made her debut in the film business in the role of Maria. This Maria tries to convince the workmen to give up their resistance and get on well with the rulers. Her philosophy is that it depends only on the "unification of heart and brain" to become well in anything. Freder falls in love with Maria and together they try to direct the threating escalation into a controlled course.

But Freder's father Joh. Fredersen, acted by the incomparable actor Alfred Abel, has other plans. He eavesdrop on a speech of Maria and looks upon her as a threat for the existing system. He makes plans to produce an imitation of Maria in order to provoke the workmen to an act of violence. Because of that he would have the possibility to take action against the rebels and to put down the revolution bloody. To realize his devilish plan he instructs the genius but also mad inventor Rotwang, acted by  Rudolf Klein-Rogge, who took part in nearly all movies of Fritz Lang. But the plan has a catch. Rotwang has a deep resentment against Fredersen. That one snatched that woman away from him who he loved so dearly but still she became the wife of Joh. Fredersen.

But the plans of the two go wrong. The Roboter-Maria develops own instincts and finally incite the workmen to destroy the big machines. Flood gates have been opened and a colossal tidal wave pours over the lower town. Countless children and adults threatened to drown. The rebellion get out of control and degenerates in a bloody revolution.
In this general chaos Rotwang sees the chance to revenge himself on Joh. Fredersen and his son and kidnaps the real Maria. Shortly afterwards Freder notices that the inciting Maria couldn't be the same person he has known. He finds Rotwang out and picks up the pursuit. Rotwang climbs up to a church tower with the unconscious Maria where he was hunted down by Freder. A life-and-death struggle breaks out. 
Joh. Fredersen watches helpless the occurrence at the foot of the church. He gets so into excitement that his hair becomes snow-white from one moment to the other. Finally the villain Rotwang falls into the depth. Maria and Freder arrive in the nick of time in order to save the escalating situation. The Roboter-Maria has been burnt, merely a steel skeleton is left.
The industrialist Joh. Fredersen becomes reconciled with his son, with Maria and the leader of the workmen.
 

The movie Metropolis is very remarkable in many respects.
Together with the huge sceneries which were built as high as two meters, some such as the gigantic heart machine for the production of the energy or the sport stadium for the youth were built in life size. 
Instead of cars the movie shows air taxis which fly through the street gorges like planes, for these days a new idea of the future.
Even an allusion to the forthcoming age of TV was shown in a scene as Fredersen calls the foreman and looks at him at the same time. For this scene it was the first time at all that the method of a back projection was used, the method was invented beside as it were.
Also for the making of the imitated human Fritz Lang reached deep into the trick box. Fascinating electronic rings like glorioles slid up and down along the roboter and conjured up a nightmarish scenario on the screen.
 

For the production of the movie Fritz Lang asked for six thousand extras, which had to come with shaven heads and to look like prisoners. The production managers hurried to the film associations but the extras didn't think of to shave their heads for few Deutsch Mark. Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow other directors would turn down them because of their appearance. But the problem solves itself. In this time there were more than enough unemployed persons in Berlin. These people agreed to shave their head, after all they had to provide their wife and children. Pommer granted "only" one thousand extras. In his opinion it shoud be possible to give one thousand people the impression of six thousand. Now the engaged persons had to do exactly the opposite of their real life, namely to slave away unspeakable right to the collapse. 
Till all scenes were done to Fritz Lang's satisfaction many extras got into a sweat. 
They were taken to a further toughness test, when the scene with the open floodgate followed. Although in the finished film this sequence lasted only 10 minutes, the shooting needed more than six weeks. The extras had to tremble in cold water and the situation was nearly similar like the movie itself, with Fritz Lang as their oppressor.
Also countless children were employed for the mass scene. The children had to look underfed. The production manager flocked through Berlin looking for such children and found enough of them, more than enough, far too much.
 

The movie appeared at the beginning of 1927. At the first night all the notables were present. The whole government and even the old Reichspräsident Paul von Hindenburg didn't let slid this event. 
After the show Hindenburg gave to understand how strong the movie had impressed him. Though bad tongues claimed that Hindenburg was slumbin in his chair especially at the most thrilling passages. 
When Fritz Lang and Brigitte Helm stepped out of the drapes the people came into rage for a good half an hour. Later Fritz Lang could celebrate a further triumph when Metropolis was a box-office success in the USA. At the beginning the USA were not taking over the film but then it turned out that Lang's work not only was "nearly" American, but also more American then most of the American movies itself. 
 

Unfortunately "Metropolis" doesn't exist in a complete version today. Merely a version of Paramount, shortened by a third, is available. However in the last years there were developed some sections time and again in different film libraries, sometimes it is only about some meters. But every shred was integrated in the existing film, even studio photos of not to be founded scenes were installed.
 

"Metropolis" had his last height at his first run in 1984 with the new setting by Giorgio Moroder's songs. The actor Gustav Fröhlich was personally present at the show and described the work as loud but very beautiful.

In the year 2001 "Metropolis" was entered into the Unesco register "Memory of the World" as the only movie. For years later followed the next headline when an original movie poster - of which only four are existing - was auctioned off to the record price of 398'000 British pounds.
 
 

Copyright Schulze-Mittendorf

The course into the film business wasn't proceeded by Brigitte Helm (her civil name was Brigitte Eva Gisela Schittenhelm), it was her mother who pressed ahead with her daughter's career. 
When Fritz Lang shooted the film "Die Nibelungen", Brigitte Helm's mother had written to Thea von Harbou, in which she suggested to her, how talented her daughter would be. Such letters arrived the film makers at thousands and normally landed in the wastebasket. But a picture of Brigitte Helm, which was enclosed to the letter triggered off by Thea von Harbou. Brigitte Helm didn't know anything of this and one day she stood quite abrupt in the film studio where she should play something to Fritz Lang. 
It is true that Birgitte Helm wasn't engaged for "Die Nibelungen", but the course was set for her first film appearance in "Metropolis". This film was constituted simultaneously the climax of her career. In it she played a double role whose persons didn't differ on the face of it. Thus a differentiated performance was demanded which could characterize the good Maria and the evil Maria. 
Brigitte Helm signed a ten-year contract with the UFA and actec nearly exclusive in leading roles. 
At the transition to the sound film she went on from her preceded successes, in addition she also played in France and England, where she appeared among other things in foreign versions of her German movies. In those days it was usual to shoot various speech versions of international successful movies, partly with an other cast, depending on the knowledge of language of the actors. 
In the following years she acted successful in many films. But in 1935, when her contract with the UFA came to an end , she didn't renew it. After a conversation with the chief of production Ernst Hugo Corell, who tried to bring her round, she kept her decision. She had planned to marry and didn't want to play in films moreover. Perhaps an other reason for her decision was the negative press reports which went round because of several traffic accidents she caused and of a short prison sentence as a result of it. 
In 1935 she got married with the industrial Hugo Kunheim with whom she lived dissociated in Swiss Ascona till her death.

In spite of her absence of film business for more than 50 years she always answered questions for her signature and her signature adorns a good many collections.

All movies with Brigitte Helm (the foreign-language versions are not listed specifically):
Metropolis (1926) Am Rande der Welt (27) Die Liebe der Jeanne Ney (27) Alraune (1928) Abwege (1928) Die Yacht der sieben Sünden (1928) Geld! Geld!! Geld!!! (1929) Manolescu - Der König der Hochstapler (1929) Skandal in Baden-Baden (1929) Die wunderbare Lüge der Nina Petrowna (1929) Alraune (1930) Die singende Stadt (1930) Gloria (1931) Im Geheimdienst (1931) Die Gräfin von Monte Christo (1932) The Blue Danube (1932) Eine von uns (1932) Die Herrin von Atlantis (1932) Hochzeitsreise zu dritt (1932) Inge und die Millionen (1933) Der Läufer von Marathon (1933) Die schönen Tage von Aranjuez (1933) Spione am Werk (1933) L'étoile de Valencia (1933) Gold (1934) Fürst Woronzeff (1934) Die Insel (1934) Vers l'abime (1934) Ein idealer Gatte (1935) 
 

Original autograph of Brigitte Helm for sale - click here.

Gustav Heinrich Fröhlich grew up in the care of foster-parents. During the World War I he volunteered for a duty in the occupied Brussels as supervisioner of the press. His literary talent appeared in the writing down of two issues of a dime novel called "Heinz Brandt, der Fremdenlegionär".
After some entrances in a vaudeville theater with the stage name Gustav Geef he takes lesson in acting in Heilbronn. In the next few years he appeared in different German stages.
In 1922 he made his debit in film with "Paganini" in the role of the composer Franz Liszt.
At the beginning of "Metropolis" Fröhlich was only scheduled for a part as one of the workmen but four weeks after the beginning he was promoted leading actor by Fritz Lang when Thea von Harbou call her husband's attention to Fröhlich. A new star was born. Fröhlich acted in some well-known productions before he was called to Hollywood through Warner Bros. in 1930. There he appeared in different German version of American movies like "Die heilige Flamme" (30) and "Kismet" (31).
Because of his carefree attendance he soon was subscribed to play smart gentlemen. Seldom he could act other characters. One of his greatest successes was his part in "Oberwachtmeister Schwenke" in (1934), where he played the helpful and likeable policeman.

Between 1931 and 1935 Gustav Fröhlich was get married with the actress Gitta Alpar, later he lived together with actress Lida Baarova, with who he also realised some movies. There was a rumour that Fröhlich, after he had lost Lida Baarova to Propaganda-Minister Joseph Goebbels, had a fierce quarrel with him what culminated in slap in the face of Goebbels. 
Since 1941 Fröhlich had to report for duty for the Wehrmacht which was interim interrupted with shooting. 
When Gustav Fröhlich tried to escape from the standard roles of a charming gentleman with the part of a doomed painter in "Die Sünderin" (1950) the effort went down in the chaos of the scandal the movie produced because of a brief nude performance of Hildegard Knef. 

Gustav Fröhlich gradual retired from the film business, the television engaged him rarely.
Since 1956 he lived in Switzerland in the small town Brissago by the lakeside of Lago Maggiore. In 1987 he closed his eyes for ever. 

All movies with Gustav Fröhlich:
Paganini (1923) Die Frau mit dem schlechten Ruf (1925) Schiff in Not (1925) Friesenblut (1925) Metropolis (1926) Die Frau, die nicht "Nein" sagen kann (1926) Die leichte Isabell (1927) Der Meister von Nürnberg (1927) Jugendrausch (1927) Gehetzte Frauen (1927) Ihr letztes Liebesabenteuer/Ich heirate meine Frau (1927) Die Pflicht zu schweigen (1927) Die elf Teufel (1927) Schwere Jungen - leichte Mädchen (1927) Jahrmakrt des Lebens (1927) Fremdenlegionär/Wenn die Schwalben heimwärts ziehen (1928) Die Rothausgasse (1928) Heimkehr 81928) Angst (1928) Hurrah! Ich lebe! (1928) Das brennende Herz (1929) Asphalt (1929) Hochverrat (1929) Der unsterbliche Lump (1930) Brand in der Oper (1930) Zwei Menschen (1930) Liebeslied (1930) Die heilige Flamme (1930) Kismet (1931) Voruntersuchung (1931) Solang' noch ein Walzer vom Strauss erklingt (1931) Gloria (1931) Liebeskommando (1931) Mein Leopold (1931) Unter falscher Flagge (1932) Die verliebte Firma (1932) Gitte entdeckd ihr Herz (1932) Ein Lied, ein Kuss, ein Mädel (1932) Ich will nicht wisser, wer Du bist (1932) Ein Mann mit Herz (1932) Was Frauen träumen (1933) Die Nacht der grossen Liebe (1933) Sonnenstrahl (1933) Rund um eine Mi8llion (1933) Rakoczy-Marsch (1933) Der Flüchtling aus Chicago (1934) Abenteuer eines jungen Herrn in Polen (1934) Oberwachtmeister Schwenke (1934) Barcarole (1935) Nacht der Verwandlung (1935) Leutnant Bobby, der Teufelskerl (1935) Stradivari (1935) Liebesleute (1935) Es flüstert die Liebe (1935) Die Entführung (1936) Die unmögliche Frau (1936) Die Stunde der Versuchung (1936) Inkognito (1936) Stadt Anatol (1936) Gleisdreieck (1936) Alarm in Peking (1937) Gabriele, eins, zwei, drei (1937) Es leuchten die Sterne (1938) Die kleine und die grosse Liebe (1938) Frau Sixta (1938) In geheimer Mission (1938) Renate im Quartett (1939) Alarm auf Station III (1939) Ihr Privatsekretär (1940) Alles Schwindel (1940) Herz modern möbliert (1940) Herz geht vor Anker (1940) Der grosse König (1942) Clarissa (1941) Sechs Tage Heimaturlaub (1941) Mit den Augen einer Frau (1942) Tolle Nacht (1943) Familie Buchholz (1943) Neigungsehe (1943) Der grosse Preis (1944) Das Konzert (1944) Eine alltägliche Geschichte (1945) Der grosse Fall (1945) Leb' wohl, Christina (1945) Sag' die Wahrheit (1946) Wege im Zwielicht (1948) Das verlorene Gesicht (1948) Diese Nacht vergess' ich nie (1949) Der Bagnosträfling (1949) Dieser Mann gehört mir (1950) Die Lüge (1950) Die Sünderin (1950) Stips (1951) Torreani (1951) Abenteuer in Wien/Gefährliches Abenteuer (1952) Haus des Lebens (1952) Ehe für eine Nacht (1953) Von Liebe reden wir später (1953) Die kleine Stadt will schlafen gehen (1953) Rosen aus dem Süden (1954) Ball der Nationen (1954) Der erste Frühlingstag (1956) Vergiss, wenn Du kannst (1956) ...und keiner schämte sich (1960) Der neue Talar (1961) Die Dubarry (1963) Laubenkolonie (1968) Der lachende Apfel (1976) Pommi Stern (1981) Serie "Die Laurents" (1982) 

Direction:
Rakoczy-Marsch (1933) Abenteuer eines jungen Herrn (1934) Leb' wohl, Christina (1945) Wege im Zwielicht (1948) Der Bagnosträfling (1949) Die Lüge (1950) Torreani (1951) Seine Tochter ist der Peter (1955) 

Original autograph of Gustav Fröhlich for sale - click here.

Alfred Abel made his debut around the turn of the century and his career led him soon to Berlin, the metropolis of theater in Germany. In 1913 he acted under the direction of Max Reinhardt in "Eine venezianische Nacht" celebrated his debut as a movie actor. Alfred Abel belonged to the sensitive actors who made out that the film business wasn't the a medium which needed wild gestures a discreet play of gestures in order to create a convincing character. In the early days of the silent movie you could tell by their appearance that their roots came from the theater where a overdrew character could be appropriate, in the film business it looked strange.
Soon it came to light that Abel was employable for any role. His great repertoire was brought into play by celebrity directors as  Ernst Lubitsch, Fritz Lang and F. W. Murnau.
With the rise of the sound movie he was pinned down to play roles of the elegant gentleman. In Berlin he was reputadet to be one of the best-dressed men and he gladly gave his opinion to questions for fashion. 
Along with the acting Alfred Abel was also a director for four movies. Already in 1921 he directed for "Der Streik der Diebe" and sat a last time down on this chair in 1935.
After a longer illness the likeable actor died in Berlin. Along with his wife he left a daughter called Ursula, who tried to follow her father's footsteps but was imposed with a ban on pursuing her career because she couldn't produce an Arier proof for her father. 

All movies with Alfred Abel:
Eine venezianische Nacht (1913) Die Geschichte der stillen Mühle (1914) Lache, Bajazzo! (1914) Das Laster (1915) §51 StGB/Der Weg zum Guten (1915) Das Spiel ist aus (1916) Peter Lump (1916) Ernst ist das Leben (1916) Das Geständnis der grünen Maske/Der grüne Dämon (1916) Wenn Menschen reif zur Liebe werden (1916) Der Seele Saiten schwingen nicht (1917) Ein Blatt im Sturm (1917) Es werde Licht!, Teil 4: Sündige Mütter (1918) Drohende Wolken am Firmament (1918) Colomba (1918) Lola Montez (1918) Tanzendes Gift (1918) Die Dame, der Teufel und die Probiermamsell (1918) Lucas, Kapitel 15/Der verlorene Sohn (1918) Die rote Herzogin (1919) Taumel (1919) Rausch (1919) Eine junge Dame aus guter Familie (1919) Kameraden (1919) Die Geächteten/Der Ritualmord (1919) Die Frau ohne Seele (1920) Der schwarze Graf (1920) Die Frau im Himmel (1920) Der Ruf aus dem Jenseits (1920) Fakir der Liebe (1920) Wenn der junge Kaktus blüht (1920) Mord...die Tragödie des Hauses Garrick (1920) Die Präriediva (1920) Der Streik der Diebe (1921) Irrende Seelen/Sklaven der Sinne (1921) Die grosse und die kleine Welt (1921) Das Opfer der Ellen Larsen (1921) Mann über Bord (1921) Der Schrecken der roten Mühle (1921) Grausige Nächte (1921) Sappho (1921) Die rote Mühle (21) Die Geschichte des grauen Hauses, Teil 1: Der Mord aus verschmähter Liebe (1921) Die im Schatten gehen (1921) Lotte Lore (1921) Die Intrigen der Madame de la Pommeraye (1921) Menschenofper (1922) Der brennende Acker (1922) Die Jagd nach der Frau (1922) Dr. Mabuse, der Spieler (1922) Zwischen Tag und Traum (1922) Scheine des Todes (1922) Die Flamme (1922) Phantom (1922) Bigamie (1922) Der falsche Dimitry (1922) Die Prinzessin Suwarin (1923) Arme Sünderin (1923) Buddenbrooks (1923) Das Spiel der Liebe (1923) Im Rausch der Leidenschaft (1923) Das Laster des Spiels (1923) Die Finanzen des Grossherzogs (1923) Dudu, ein Menschenschicksal/Menschen (1923) Das Spiel mit dem Schicksal/Die Frau in Versuchung/Wer das Scheiden hat erfunden (1924) Mensch gegen Mensch (1924) Die Frau im Feuer (1924) Die Feuertänzerin (1925) Der Herr Generaldirektor (1925) Der Bankkrach unter den Linden (1925) Der Gardeoffizier (1925) Tragödie einer Ehe (1926) Metropolis (1926) Menschen untereinander (1926) Eine Dubarry von heute (1926) Die lachende Grille (1926) Die Tragödie eines Verlorenen (1926) Laster der Menschheit (1927) Ein Tag der Rosen im August...da hat die Garde fortgemusst (1927) Das tanzende Wien (1927) Das Geheimnis von Genf (1927) Jahrmarkt des Lebens (1927) Wer das Scheiden hat erfunden (1928) Eine Nacht in Yoshiwara (1928) Heut' spielt der Strauss/Der Walzerkönig (1928) Prinzessin Olala (1928) Rasputins Liebesabenteuer (1928) Ariane im Hoppegarten (1928) Mein Herz ist eine Jazzband (1928) Geld! Geld!! Geld!!! (1928) Narkose (1929) Graf Cagliostro (1929) Giftgas (1929) Ehe in Not/Ehen zu dritt (1929) Sei gegrüsst, Du mein schönes Sorrent (1929) Dolly macht Karriere (1930) Das Schicksal der Renate Langen (1930) 1914, die letzten Tage vor dem Weltbrand (1930) Mary/Sir John greift ein (1930) Das Ekel (1931) Meine Frau, die Hochstaplerin (1931) Der Herzog von Reichstadt (1931) Der Kongress tanzt (1931) Der Herr Bürovorsteher (1931) Die Koffer des Herrn O.F. (1931) Johnny stiehlt Europa (1932) Das schöne Abenteuer (1932) Das Mädel vom Montparnasse (1932) Spione im Savoy-Hotel (1932) Der weisse Dämon (1932) Kampf (1932) Salon Dora Green (1933) Manolescu, der Fürst der Diebe (1933) Brennendes Geheimnis (1933) Die kleine Schwindlerin (1933) Wege zur guten Ehe (1933) Die Liebe siegt (1934) Eine Siebzehnjährige (1934) Viktoria (1935) Kater Lampe (1936) Ein seltsamer Gast (1936) Maria, die Magd (1936) Spiel an Bord (1936) Und Du, mein Schatz, fährst mit (1936) Das Hofkonzert (1936) Skandal um die Fledermaus (1936) Millionenerbschaft (1937) Unter Ausschluss der Oeffentlichkeit (1937) Sieben Ohrfeigen (1937) Millionäre/Ich möcht' so gern mit Dir allein sein (1937) Frau Sylvelin (1938)

Direction:
Der Streik der Diebe (1921) Narkose (1929) Glückliche Reise (1933) Alles um eine Frau (1935)

Rudolf Klein-Rogge made his debut in 1909 at the Stadttheater Halberstadt. In 1915 he went to Nuremberg where was one of the most important actors. Rudolf Klein-Rogge got married with script writer and author Thea von Harbou (1914 - 1921). He earned around 12'000 Deutsch Mark a year as star of the Nürnberger Stadttheater, his wife earned as many as 100'000 Deutsch Mark but it could me still more fi she would live in Berlin. Thus, the married couple went to Berlin. Klein-Rogge was employed with the Lessing-Theater and Thea von Harbou could press ahead with her successful career. Berlin turned out to be a harder place in comparison with Nuremberg and his career stagnated. Finally his marriage broke but both were still friends. When Thea von Harbou entered with Fritz Lang into one of the most fruitful connections in the history of the German movie, Rudolf Klein-Rogge appeared in most of Fritz Lang's future movies (till 1932), from which many made history. 
Since 1919 Klein-Rogge acted for the time being in smaller roles. Because of his stocky figur he soon was assigned f verrückte Erfinder Rotwang.
During the shooting for "Die Nibelungen" he wasn't too good for himself to take Paul Richter's place (he played Siegfried) as his double after Richter refused to play in that scene where "Siegfried" has a bath in the blood of the just killed dragon. Klein-Rogge wasn't embarrassed to show his uncovered back in front of the camera.
From 1928 Klein-Rogge was often engaged in France where he appeared in one of the first great French sound movie -  "Le Requin" (1929),directed by Henri Chomette.
The sound movie continued to retain the role cliché for him, it happened rarely that Klein-Rogge was engaged for a comedian part (Das Hofkonzert (1936), Die göttliche Jette (1937). 
At the beginning of the 40ies Rudolf Klein-Rogge retired completely from the film business. He got married with the Swedish actress Mary Johnson. When he died in 1955 in Graz he was nearly forgotten by the public.

All movies with Rudolf Klein-Rogge:
Das Licht am Fenster (1919) Flitter Dörtje (1919) Die Schreckensnacht im Irrenhaus Ivoy (1919) Morphium (1919) Die Launen eines Milliardärs (1919) Der schwarze Graf (1920) Wildes Blut (1920) Das wanderne Bild (1920) Kämpfende Herzen (1921) Die Nächte des Cornelius Brouwer (1921) Der müde Tod (1921) Zirkus des Lebens (1921) Dr. Mabuse, der Spieler (1922) Der steinerne Reiter (1922) Die Nibelungen (1924) Die Prinzessin Suwarin (1923) Pietro, der Korsar (1925) Der Mann seiner Frau (1925) Der rosa Diamant (1925) Metropolis (1926) Mädchenhandel (1926) Die lachende Grille (1926) Der Herr der Nacht (1926) Der Zigeunerbaron (1927) Die letzte Nacht (1926) Casanova (1927) Die raffinierteste Frau Berlins (1927) Das Mädchen aus Frisco (1927) Die Sandgräfin (1927) Tinge-Tangel/Das Mädel vom Tingel-Tangel/Trommelfeuer der Liebe (1927) Spione (1928) Eine Nacht in Yoshiwara (1928) Die schönste Frau von Paris (1928) Wolge - Wolga (1928) Mädchenschicksale (1928) La faute de Monique (1929) Le requin (1929) Tarakanova, die falsche Zarentochter (1929) Tu m'appartiens! (1929) Der weisse Gott (1931) Das Testament des Dr. Mabuse (1933) Der Judas von Tirol (1933) Elisabeth und der Narr (1933) Die Welt ohne Maske (1934) Hanneles Himmelfahrt (1934) Grenzfeuer (1934) Gern hab' ich die Frau'n geküsst (1934) Der Fall Brenken (1934) Zwischen Himmel und Erde (1934) Die Frauen vom Tannhof (1934) Der alte und der junge König (1935) Der Kosak und die Nachtigall (1935) Das Einmaleins der Liebe (1935) Der Ammenkönig (1935) Der Kaiser von Kalifornien (1936) Ein seltsamer Gast (1936) Die Stunde der Versuchung (1936) Moral (1936) Intermezzo (1936) Die un-erhörte Frau (1936) Truxa (1936) Das Hofkonzert (1936) Der Herrscher (1937) Die göttliche Jette (1937) Madame Bovary (1937) Streit um den Knaben Jo (1937) Die gelbe Flagge (1937) Der Katzensteg (1937) Ab Mitternacht (1937) Die Frau und der Tod/Abenteuer in Marokko (1937) Zwei Frauen (1938) Menschen vom Variété (1939) Parkstrasse 13 (1939) Schneider Wibbel (1939) Robert Koch, der Bekämpfer des Todes (1939) Kennwort Machin (1939) Rheinische Brautfahrt (1939) Das Herz der Königin (1940) Die unvollkommene Liebe (1940) Hochzeit auf Bärenhof (1942)

The actor Fritz Rasp was a very noticeable figure and he was predestined to personify dubious fellows.
He was born in Bayreuth as the 13th child. Since 1909 he received his first engagement at the Schauspielhaus in Munich in a play called "Jugend". When he joined the Reinhardt ensemble he could get in touch with many other actors. In 1915 he came in contact with the medium film for the first time. The title of his first movie can't be proved, in all probability in concerns the movie "Zucker und Zimt" of director Ernst Matray. In the following year he acted under the direction of the legendary director Ernst Lubitsch in his film "Schuhpalast Pinkus". First his roles were pinned down to the comedy the roles shifted in the 20ies to villainic, sly characters.
G.W. Pabst, also an important director in these days, wrote about Rasp in later days: "Of all actors in my movie "Die Liebe der Jeanne Ney" in 1927 Fritz Rasp was the one who pleased me most. He looked like a veritable scoundrel. When he bit the girl into her arm and covered the wound immediately afterwards with a dollar note instead of a adhesive plaster, I forgot that an actor was in front of me".
Fritz Lang employed Fritz Rasp for several films, normally in weighty minor parts.
The sound movie was unable to get at the career of Fritz Rasp. He already played in the 30ies in several Edgar-Wallace pictures, which were very popular in Germany. Especially in the 50ies and 60ies there were a lot of remakes based on stories by Edgar Wallace which could lure a huge number of spectators into the cinema. Of course Rasp was also called to play one of the suspects, e.g. "Die seltsame Gräfin" in 1961). 
During and after the first years of World War II engagement kept rareness. Not until in the mid of the 50ies Rasp could continue his earlier success, not least with the mentioned Edgar-Wallace pictures.
Fritz Rasp was also engaged for the television. His last great triumph he made with the TV production "Lina Braake" in at Lina Carstens side.

All movies with Fritz Rasp:
Schuhpalast Pinkus (1916) Hans Trutz im Schlaraffenland (1917) Jugend (1922) Time is Money (1923) Der Mensch am Wege (1923) Zwischen Abend und Morgen/Der Spuk einer Nacht (1923) Schatten (1923) Arbella (1924) Komödianten (1924) Die Puppe vom Lunapark (1924) Ein Sommernachtstraum (1925) Menschen am Meer (1925) Das Haus der Lüge (1925) Götz von Berlichingen zubenannt mit der eisernen Hand (1925) Qualen der Nacht (1926) Metropolis (1926) Der Liebe Lust und Leid (1926) Ueberflüssige Menschen (1926) Die Waise von Lowood (1926) Kinderseelen klagen an (1927) Die Liebe der Jeanne Ney (1927) Der geheimnisvolle Spiegel (1927) Der letzte Walzer (1927) Schinderhannes (1928) Spione (1928) Die Carmen von St. Pauli (1928) Frau im Mond (1929) Der Hund von Baskervile (1929) Tagebuch einer Verlorenen (1929) Frühlings Erwachen (1929) Die Drei um Edith (1929) Die grosse Sehnsucht (1930) Dreyfus (1930) Tropennächte (1930) Der Mörder Dimitri Karamasoff (1930) Die Drei-Groschen-Oper (1931) Der Zinker (1931) Die Pranke (1931) Emil und dioe Detektive (1931) Die Vier vom Bob 13 (1931) Der Hexer (1932) Die grausame Freundin (1932) Der sündige Hof (1933) Der Judasvon Tirol (1933) Der Schuss am Nebelhorn (1933) Altgermanische Bauernkultur (1934) Grenzfeuer (1934) Charleys Tante (1934) Klein-Dorrit (1934) Lockvogel (1934) Lockspitzel Asew (1934) Onkel Bräsig (1936) Die Leuchter des Kaisers (1936) Der Hund von Baskerville (1936) Togger (1937) Einmal werd' ich Dir gefallen (1937) Nanu, Sie kennen Korff noch nicht! (1938) Es war eine rauschende Ballnacht (1939) Frau im Strom (1939) Leidenschaft (1940) Alarm (1941) Pracelsus (1943) Irgendwo in Berlin (1946) Skandal in der Botschaft (1950) Haus des Lebens (1952) Hokuspokus (1953) Die Mühle im Schwarzwälder Tal (1953) Magic Fire - Frauen im Richard Wagner (1955) Die Bauernpassion (1955) Squirrel (1955) Der Cornet (1955) Madame Aurélie (1955) Kopf in der Schlinge (1955) Der Revisor (1955) Gottes Utopia (1955) Die Heiratskomödie (1955) Ein Weihnachtslied in Prose (1955) Das Abschiedsgeschenk (1956) Oberst Chabert (1956) Wo war David Preston? (1956) Zwölftausend (1956) Don Carlos (1957) Der öffentliche Kläger (1958) Vor Himmelskörpern wird gewarnt (1959) Der Frosch mit der Maske (1959) Johanna von Lothringen (1959) Land, das meine Sprache spricht (1959) Das mittlere Fenster (1959) Eine Dummheit macht auch der Gescheiteste (1959) Kasimir und Karoline (1959) Der rote Kreis (1960) Der Mann, der Donnerstag war (1960) Am grünen Strand der Spree (1960) Bezaubernde Julia (1960) Gericht über Las Casas (1960) Die Bande des Schreckens (1960) Das schwarze Schaf (1960) Die seltsame Gräfin (1961) Das Rätsel der roten Orchidee/Gangster in London (1962) Der Zinker (1963) Maria Stuart (1963) Herodes und Marianne (1964) Eurydike (1964) Dr. med. Hiob Praetorius (1964) Volpone (1966) Der Prozess der Jeanne d'Arc zu Rouen 1431 (1967) Die Verspätung (1969) Serie "Tatort: Frankfurter Gold (1971) Die Weber (1971) Serie "Der Kommissar: Tod eines Ladenbesitzers (1971) Pero und Jovo (1972) Lina Braake (1975) Dorothea Merz (1976)

Theodor Loos was born in Zwingenberg/Hessen. After first professional experiences in music business and arts and crafts he seized the profession of an actor. He came to Berlin in 1912 via the Theater of Frankfurt and was engaged by Max Reinhardt for the Deutsches Theater.
Theodor Loos' film debut also fell in this time. He already appeared in 1913 in the movie  "Das goldene Bett", it soon followed other cinematic works like "Homunculus" (1916), "Es werde Licht!" (1918) and "Nachtgestalten" (1919).

The 20's were influenced by great theater roles and engagements in some of the most important silent movies of the German film history. Theodor Loos fascniated at the theater with his natural speech art faszinierte am Theater mit seiner natürlichen Sprechkunst, and in his movies he impressed the audience with his striking features and his expressive eyes which intensified his performance in front of the camera. 
Besides "Metropolis" you could she him in classics like "Lady Hamilton" (1921), "Die Nibelungen" (1924) and "Manon Lescaut" (1927) in this decade.

With the arise of the sound film he was also able to contribute his voice into the movies and he acted till 1939 in many movies like "M - Eine Stadt sucht einen Mörder" (1931), "Das Testament des Dr. Mabuse" (1933), "Der Student von Prag" (1935) and "Der Herrscher" (1937), to mention only a few.
Only the outbreak of World War II reduced the manifold creative power of the great actor. He only appeared rarely in movies, among other in the notorious propaganda movie "Jud Süss" (40), besides it he devoted often to the theater where he was engaged at the Staatstheater in Stuttgart from 1945 till to his death.
 

 Das goldene Bett (1913) Die Eisbraut (1913) Sein einziger Bruder (1913) Das Haus ohne Tür (1914) Im Schützengraben (1914) Der Sohn des Ministers (1915) Der zwölfjährige Kriegsheld (1915) Die Rache der Thora West (1815) Doch die Liebe fand den Weg (1915) Maria Niemand und ihre zwölf Väter (1915) Der geheimnisvolle Wanderer (1915) Frau Eva (1916) Homunculus (1916) Abseits vom Glück (1916) Das Haus der Leidenschaften (1916) Das letzte Spiel (1916) Die Richterin von Solvigsholm (1916) Friedrich Werders Sendung (1916) Das Gewissen des Anderen (1917) Die schwarze Lo (1917) Das Licht in der Nacht (1917) Christa Hartungen (1917) Das Buch des Lasters (1917) Edelsteine (1917) ...und führe uns nicht in Versuchung (1917) Es werde Licht! (1918) Nach dem Gesetz (1919) Nachtgestalten (1919) Die Launen eines Milliardärs (1919) Dämmernde Nächte (1920) Das Wüstengrab (1920) Der zeugende Tod (1920) Die Geheimnisse von New York (20) Die Nacht der Prüfung (20) Geschwister Barelli (20) Sehnende Liebe (20) Der Menschheit Anwalt: Das Wunder der Zeiten (1920) Kurfürstendamm (1920) Christian Wahnschaffe: Weltbrand (1920) Steuermann Holk (1920) Der Reigen - Ein Werdegang (1920) Lady Hamilton (1921) Das Haus in der Dragonergasse (1921) Der Schatz der Azteken (1921) Der rätselhafte Tod (1921) Das Gelübde (1921) Die kleine Dagmar (1921) Die Schuldige (1921) Das blinde Glück (1922) Der Kampf ums Ich (1922) Jugend (1922) Schuld und Sühne (1922) Es leuchtet meine Liebe (1922) Hanneles Himmelfahrt (1922) Macht der Versuchung (1922) Othello (1922) Friedrich Schiller (1923) Der Aufstieg der kleinen Lilian (1923) Claire (1924) Soll und Haben (1924) Die Nibelungen: Kriemhilds Rache (1924) Die Nibelungen: Siegfried (1924) Wunder der Schöpfung (1925) Der erste Stand (1925) Götz von Berlichingen zubenannt mit der eisernen Hand (1925) Der tanzende Tod (1925) Was Steine erzählen (1925) Der Herr der Nacht (1926) Frauen der Leidenschaft (1926) Das Lebenslied (1926) Liebeshandel (1926) Zopf und Schwert (1926) Manon Lescaut (1926) Der Veilchenfresser (1926) Bigamie (1927) Metropolis (1927) Die Weber (1927) Prinz Louis Ferdinand (1927) Notschrei hinter Gittern (1927) Luther (1927) Die Hochstaplerin (1927) Petronella (1927) Anastasia, die falsche Zarentochter (1928) Die Sache mit dem Schorrsiegel (1928) Sensationsprozess (1928) Königin Luise (1928) Heimkehr (1928) Atlantik (1929) Diane (1929) Ludwig der Zweite, König von Bayern (1929) Die Nacht des Schreckens (1929) Napoleon auf St. Helena (1929) Vertauschte Gesichter (1929) Blutschande - § 173 St.G.B. (1929) Die große Sehnsucht (1930) Das Flötenkonzert von Sans-souci (1930) Rasputin, Dämon der Frauen (1930) Boykott (1930) Zwei Menschen (1930) 1914, die letzten Tage vor dem Weltbrand (1930) Die andere Seite (1931) Ariane (1931) Im Geheimdienst (1931) Der Fall des Generalstabsoberst Redl (1931) M - Eine Stadt sucht einen Mörder (1931) Ich geh' aus und du bleibst da (31) Yorck (1931) Acht Mädels im Boot (1932) Die elf Schill'schen Offiziere (1932) Das Geheimnis des blauen Zimmers (1932) Schuß im Morgengrauen (1932) Die unsichtbare Front (1932) Grün ist die Heide (1932) An heiligen Wassern (1932) Tod über Shanghai (1932) Marschall vorwärts (1932) Goethe - Gedenkfilm (1932) Was wissen denn Männer (1932) Das Testament des Dr. Mabuse (1933) Ein gewisser Herr Gran (1933) Der Judas von Tirol (1933) Wege zur guten Ehe (1933) Höllentempo (1933) Eion gewisser Herr Gran (1933) Die blonde Christl (1933) Die Freundin eines großen Mannes (1934) Hanneles Himmelfahrt (1934) Ein Mädchen mit Prokura (1934) Wilhelm Tell (1934) Die Spork'schen Jäger (1934) Der Student von Prag (1935) Der alte und der junge König (1935) Der grüne Domino (1935) Das Mädchen Johanna (1935) Das Mädchen vom Moorhof (1935) Viktoria (1935) Stradivari (1935) Schlußakkord (1936) Der Abenteurer von Paris (1936) Die Stunde der Versuchung (1936) Verräter (1936) Weiße Sklaven (1936) Der Herrscher (1937) Monika (1937) Die gläserne Kugel (1937) Das Geheimnis um Betty Bonn (1937) Geheimzeichen LB 17 (1938) Kameraden auf See (1938) Schatten über St. Pauli (1938) Der Maulkorb (1938) Robert Koch, Bekämpfer des Todes (1939) Roman eines Arztes (1939) Parkstrasse 13 (1939) Jud Süß (1940) Falschmünzer (1940) Alarm (1941) Kora Terry (1941) Heimaterde (1941) Andreas Schlüter (1942) Rembrandt (1942) Die Entlassung/Schicksalswende (1942) Die Sache mit Styx (1942) Reise in die Vergangenheit (1943) Gabriele Dambrone (1943) Titanic (1943) Philharmoniker (1944) Shiva und die Galgenblume (1945) Der Fall Molander (1945) Geld ins Haus/Der Millionär (1947) Mordprozeß Dr. Jordan (1949) Die Gefangene des Maharadscha (1953) Sterne über Colombo (1953)

Original autograph of Theodor Loos for sale - click here

The father of Heinrich George (his civil name is Heinrich Georg Schulz) was naval officer and later a official in Stettin. The young Heinrich George, who even as a child was stocky, lived only for his violin play. Later he was sent to serve his apprenticeship with a Stettiner town council. But the dream of George was to conduct a great orchestra. After permanent complaints of his town council Georges father sent him to Berlin. In this town Heinrich George came into contact with the theater as he took on casual works as an extra. His new dream took shape: The acting. His father didn't agree with his wish but his mother assisted his intention. Now his life went on in rapid succession. At the age of 19 he was engaged in Kolberg, half a year later he went to a circus, after another three months he acted in the Stadttheater of Bromberg. At the age of 20 he made a contract with the Hoftheater in Neustrelitz, with 21 he was called up into World War I where he sustained a serious injury. In 1917 he was dismissed on the basis of war unfitness. Further brief successive engagement followed till the great Max Reinhardt engaged him to Berlin.
He soon became established as a complex character actor. It was only a question of time till the film business came to knock at him. 
First he looked at the film business only as a sideline but with his part in "Metropolis" he obtained for the first time a role which interested him beyond the fee.
 His most powerful moments he had when he could play complete passages in one piece. The constant interruptions during the shooting didn't suit him special. 
On account of his great success in Germany he was engaged to Hollywood in 1931 where he acted in two German-language versions of American movies.
After his return to Germany he got married with actress Berta Drews. There was the actor Götz George from this marriage, also a very successful player who comes close to the expressiveness of a Heinrich George.

When the political situation in Germany came to a head, George belonged to those actors who viewed politic as important. Heinrich George had special political ties and was close to the communism. He prefered plays and moview in which was made use of radical ideas. But soon George agreed with the new rulers. It happened that one could find him often on gatherings of the Nazis. He, who despised the Name Hitler in the past, called him now his Führer. In 1933 he played a communist who became convert to the National Socialism in the UFA production “Hitlerjunge Quex”. More propaganda movies followed and George became one of the leading actors in NS pictures. These movies proved to be momentous for his future. 
After the end of the war Heinrich George had been arrested in 1946. He was interned in Hohenschönhausen, later in Sachsenhausen where he was confronted with harassments by Russian officers. The once portly Heinrich George lost a lot of weight and had to undergo an appendectomy becaus of bad food. But the medical treatment was delayed as long as the operation was too late. Heinrich George died two days after the operation.
 

All movies with Heinrich George:
Der Roman der Christine von Herre (1921) Lady Hamilton (1921) Kean (1921) Die Perlen der Lady Harrison (1922) Lucrezia Borgia (1922) Das fränkische Lied (1922) Lola Montez, die Tänzerin des Königs (1922) Erdgeist (1923) Fridericus Rex (1923) Die Sonne von St. Moritz (1923) Der Mensch am Wege (1923) Quarantäne (1923) Steuerlos (1924) Soll und Haben (1924) Zwischen Morgen und Morgen (1924) She/Mirakel der Liebe (1925) Metropolis (1926) Das Panzergewölbe (1926) Ueberflüssige Menschen (1926) Die versunkene Flotte (1926) Das Meer (1927) Orientexpress (1927) Bigamie (1927) Die Ausgestossenen (1927) Die Leibeigenen (1927) Die Dame mit der Maske (1928) Song/Schmutziges Geld (1928) Das letzte Souper/Der Schuss in der grossen Oper (1928) Das letzte Fort (1928) Rutschbahn (1928) Der Mann mit dem Laubfrosch (1928) Kinder der Strasse (1928) Manolescu (1929) Der Sträfling aus Stambul (1929) Sprengbagger 1010 (1929) Der Andere (1930) Dreyfus (1930) Menschen im Käfig (1930) 1914, die letzten Tage vor em Weltbrand (1930) Der Mann, der den Mord beging/Nächte am Bosporus (1930) Menschen hinter Gittern (1931) Wir schalten um auf Hollywood (1931) Berlin - Alexanderplatz (1931) Goethe lebt...! (1932) Das Meer ruft (1933) Schleppzug M 17 (1933) Hitlerjunge Quex (1933) Reifende Jugend (1933) Hermine und die sieben Aufrechten (1934) Das Mädchen Johanna (1935) Nacht der Verwandlung (1935) Stützen der Gesellschaft (1935) Die grosse und die kleine Welt (1936) Wenn der Hahn kräht (1936) Stjenka Rasin (1936) Ball im Metropol (1937) Versprich mir nichts! (1937) Unternehmen Michael (1937) Ein Volksfeind (1937) Der Biberpelz (1937) Es leuchten die Sterne (1938) Frau Sylvelin (1938) Heimat (1938) Das unsterbliche Herz (1939) Sensationsprozess Casilla (1939) Pedro soll hängen (1939) Der Postmeister (1940) Jud Süss (1940) Friedrich Schiller (1940) Schicksal (1942) Hochzeit auf Bärenhof (1942) Der grosse Schatten (1942) Wien 1910 (1942) Andreas Schlüter (1942) Der Verteidiger hat das Wort (1944) Die Degenhardts (1944) Solistin Anna Alt/Wenn die Musik nicht wär' (1944) Kolberg (1944) Frau über Bord/Das Mädchen Juanita (1945) 

Unvollendet blieben die Filme "Das Leben geht weiter" (1945) und "Dr. phil. Döderlein" (1945)

The actor Fritz Alberti began his film career in 1921 with the movie "Menschen im Rausch" (21). In the following years he became a busy actor in normally bigger support roles.
To his most important movies of the 20's belong "Die Nibelungen" (24), "Die Prinzesin und der Geiger" (25), "Brennende Grenze" (26), "Der Student von Prag" (26), "Metropolis" (26), "Der Adjutant des Zaren" (28) and "Manolescu - Der König der Hochstapler" (29).

With the rise of the sound film his career came slowly to an end. Still he took part in some important productions like "Dreyfus" (30), "Mary/Sir John greift ein! (30) by Alfred Hitchcock, "Der Mörder Dimitri Karamasoff" (31) and "Die Finanzen des Grossherzogs" (34).

Filme mit Fritz Alberti:
Menschen im Rausch (21) Die Nibelungen: Kriemhilds Rache (1924) Die Nibelungen: Siegfried (1924) Die Andere (1924) Die Prinzessin und der Geiger (1925) Friesenblut (25) Hanseaten (25) Ich liebe Dich (25) Schiff in Not (25) Wenn die Liebe nicht wär'! (25) Brennende Grenze (26) Herbstmanöver (26) Des Königs Befehl (26) Kampf der Geschlechter (26) Kreuzzug des Weibes (26) Mädchenhandel (26) Der Seekadett (26) Die Sporck'schen Jäger (26) Wien - Berlin (26) Der Student von Prag (1926) Die Schwester vom Roten Kreuz - Ein Lebenslauf (1926) Metropolis (1926) Cafe Elektrik (1927) U 9 Weddigen (1927) Die elf Teufel (27) Die drei Niemandskinder (27) Die Hochstaplerin (27) Der König der Mittelstürmer (27) Liebe geht seltsame Wege (27) Die raffinierteste Frau Berlins (27) Der Adjutant des Zaren (28) Die Dame und ihr Chauffeur (28) Der fesche Husar (28) Majestät schneidet Bubiköpfe (28) Dornenweg einer Fürstin (1928) Flucht aus der Hölle (1928) Fünf bange Tage (1928) Rasputins Liebesabenteuer (1928) Der Tanzstudent (1928) Das Schiff der verlorenen Menschen (1929) Der Adjutant des Zaren (1929) Indizienbeweis (1929) Manolescu - Der König der Hochstapler (1929) Narkose (1929) Vererbte Triebe (1929) Erlebnisse einer Nacht (29) Verirrte Jugend (29) Zwischen vierzehn und siebzehn (29) Dich hab ich geliebt (1930) 1914, die letzten Tage vor dem Weltbrand (1930) Dreyfus (1930) Ihre Majestät die Liebe (1930) Liebling der Götter (1930) Mary/Sir John greift ein! (1930) Der weiße Teufel (1930) Eine Freundin so goldig wie Du (1931) Meine Frau, die Hochstaplerin (1931) Der Mörder Dimitri Karamasoff (1931) Liebeslied (31) Die vom Niederrhein (1933) Drei Kaiserjäger (1933) Die Finanzen des Großherzogs (1934) 

Original autograph of Fritz Albert for sale - click here.

The actor Olaf Storm made his film debut in 1919 with "Der Erbe vom Lilienhof", if followed movies like "Begierde" (20) and "Ratten der Grossstadt" (20). In the next years followed only few more movies in which the talented actor impersonated easily remembered support roles.

Zu his well-known movies of the 20's belong "Fräulein Julie" (21), "Dr. Mabuse, der Spieler" (22), "Der letzte Mann" (24) mit Emil Jannings, "Die vom anderen Ufer" (26), "Metropolis" (26) and "Verbotene Liebe" (27).

Filme mit Olaf Storm:
Der rätselhafte Tod/Mungos (20) Ferréol (20) Ein nettes Früchtchen (20) Der Riesenschmugel (20) Madame Bovary (20) Was tat ich dir? (21) Aus den Akten einer anständigen Frau (21) Deines Bruders Weib (21) Die Fremde aus der Elstergasse (21) Die Minderjährige (21) Die Königin von Whitechapel (22) Zwischen Nacht und Sünde (22) Die Tochter des Wucherers (22) Wem nie durch Liebe Leid geschah (24) Das Strassenmädchen von Berlin (22) Die Stimme des Herzens (24) Falsche Scham (26) Der Meineidbauer (26) Wochenendzauber (27) Die Studentengräfin (27)

One of the most important substitutes of the German silent movie was undoubtedly director Fritz Lang. Already in an early time it showed his artistic talent. He visited the Academy of Graphic Art in Vienna and lived as an artist in Paris in 1913/1914.
After the outbreak of World War I he volunteered in Austria and was put in at front of Russia, Romania and Italy where he was wounded for several times. He obtained different decorations and bravery medals. During his time in the military hospital he wrote his first scripts and one of them was in all probability realized for the Stuart-Webbs serial of director Joe May. Since 1917 Joe May adapted several scripts of the young Fritz Lang for the succession serial Joe Deebs as well as melodrama like "Hilde Warren und der Tod" (1917).
In 1918 Lang met the great film producer Erich Pommer who engaged him to Berlin. There he wrote more scripts and played as an actor.
He made his debut as a director in 1919 with the movie "Halbblut" and continued with "Die Spinnen", which has a big resemblance with the Indiana-Jones movies in the 80ies. 
In 1920 Fritz Lang met author Thea von Harbou and got married in 1922.  The duo was responsible for many unforgettable heydays of the early cinema. Lang was reputed in Berlin as a man of world, the monocel seemed to be a fixed component of his face, because of his figure and his narrations he was considered as a winning companion. But his employees also knew the other side of Fritz Lang, that one who stood in the studio at 7 a.m. and worked till 11 p.m., sometimes later. He was deadly unhappy when a scene didn't get out exactly the way he imagined, correspondingly he urged on the actors to a top performance and precision. 
After a journey to America Fritz Lang shooted his probably most famous work "Metropolis" in 1925/1926. As in his earlier movies he turned out to be a extreme strict director who demanded everything from his actors. Several repetitions of different scenes happened often. Fritz Lang "enjoyed" soon was reputed to be a tyrant. But in order to realize such pictures as he did, it was a necessity to lead with a resolute hand. 

Together with the sound movie it presented Fritz Lang new possibilities to express himself. His first sound film with the simple title "M" (1931) became a smash hit, the leading actor Peter Lorre became a star. The film stumbled on an additional interest because Germany was especially sensitive to this subject on account of the cases of the mass murderers Kürten and Haarmann

In 1933 Propaganda-Minister Joseph Goebbels invited Fritz Lang to a talk. Goebbels offered him the leadership of the German movie business. Lang delayed his answer and went to Paris at the same evening. His marriage with Thea von Harbou - they lives separated since 1931 - became divorced. 
In France Fritz Lang shot several pictures and then went to America via London. There he founded together with other people the Anti-Nazi-League. His first Hollywood film was "Fury" (1936). His career in America resumed nearly smooth. He directed many great movies, e.g. "Hangmen Also Die" (1942) "The Woman in the Window" (1944) "The Blue Gardenia" (1953) and "The Big Heat" (1953). 
In the late 50ies Lang returned to Germany where he tried to go on from his earlier successes with "Das indische Grabmal" (1959) or Die tausend Augen des Dr. Mabuse" (1960) but failed. 

In 1976 Fritz Lang died, nearly went blind, in his house in Beverly Hills.

All movies of Fritz Lang

1. Direction:
Halbblut (1919) Der Herr der Liebe (1919) Die Spinnen (1919) Harakiri (1919) Das wabdernde Bild (1920) Kämpfende Herzen (1921) Der müde Tod (1921) Dr. Mabuse, der Spieler (1922) Die Nibelungen (1924) Metropolis (1926) Spione (1928) Frau im Mond (1929) M (1931) Das Testament des Dr. Mabuse (1931) Liliom (1934) Fury - Raserei (1936) You Only Live Once - Du lebst nur einmal/Gehetzt (1936) You and Me - Du und ich (1938) The Return of Frank James - Rache für Jesse James (1940) Western Union (1940) Man Hunt - Menschenjagd (1941) Hangmen Also Die - Auch Henker sterben (1942) Ministry of Fear - Ministerium der Angst (1944) The Woman in the Window - Gefährliche Begegnung/Die Frau im Fenster (1944) Scarlet Street - Strasse der Versuchung (1945) Cload and Dagger - Im Geheimdienst/Mantel und Dolch (1946) Secret Beyond the Door - Geheimnis hinter der Tür (1947) House By the River - Das Haus am Fluss (1949) American Guerrilla in the Philippines - Der Held von Mindanao (1950) Rancho Notorious - Engel der Gejagten/Die Gejagten (1951) Clash By Night - Vor einem neuen Tag (1952) The Blue Gardenia - Gardenia, eine Frau will vergessen (1953) The Big Heat - Heisses Eisen (1953) Human Desire - Lebensgier (1954) Moonfleet - Das Schloss im Schatten (1955) While the City Sleeps - Die Bestie (1955) Beyond a Reasonable Doubt - Jenseits allen Zweifels (1956) Der Tiger von Eschnapur (1959) Das indische Grabmal (1959) Die tausend Augen des Dr. Mabuse (1960)

2. Script:
Die Peitsche (1916) Die Hochzeit im Excentricclub (1917) Hilde Warren und der Tod (1917) Die Rache ist mein (1919) Bettler GmbH (1919) Halbblut (1919) Wolkenbau und Flimmerstern (1919) Totentanz (1919) Die Spinnen (1919) Die Pest in Florenz (1919) Die Frau mit den Orchideen (1919) Lilith und Ly (1919) Das wandernde Bild (1920) Kämpfende Herzen (1921) Das indische Grabmal (1921) Spione (1928) M (1931) Liliom (1934) Fury - Raserei (1936) Hangmen Also Die - Auch Henker sterben (1942) Der Tiger von Eschnapur 81959) Das indische Grabmal (1959) Die tausend Augen des Dr. Mabuse (1960) 

3. Actor:
Hilde Warren und der Tod (1917) Der Herr der Liebe (1919) Le mépris - Die Verachtung (1963) 

4. Producer:
Spione (1928) Frau im Mond (1929) You and Me - Du und ich (1938) Hangmen Also Die - Auch Henker sterben (1942) Scarlet Street - Strasse der Versuchung (1945) Secret Beyond the Door - Geheimnis hinter der Tür (1947)

Thea von Harbou began very early to be active literary. Already as a young girl she wrote different stories about animals for the province newspaper. In 1902 first poem were published by the author, the first novel followed in 1905 in the "Berliner Deutschen Zeitung" with the title "Wenn's Morgen wird". 
At the age of 18 Thea von Harbou came in contact with the theater for the first time. At one of her engagements she met the actor Rudolf Klein-Rogge married him in 1914.
When Thea von Harbou could celebrate her first great literary success with "Die nach uns kommen" (1910) and "Der Krieg und die Frauen", she retired from the acting and concentrated herself total to the art of writing. 
Harbou and Klein-Rogge moved to Berlin in 1918 where the books of Harbou could be market much better. In 1919 her first script for a movie was written for the director Joe May. During preparations for the film "Das indische Grabmal" she met director Fritz Lang. After her divorce from Klein-Rogge they got married. They became an opalescent couple in Berlin in the 20ies.
There were countless German film classic from this marriage before they got divorced in 1933. Fritz Lang emigrated abroad, Thea von Harbou continued her career in Germany and became one of the busiest writers of the Third Reich.
After the end of the war she was interned for a short time by the British occupying forces, later she wrote synchronous scripts for the "Deutsche London Film" (The Third Man, The Thief of Bagdad). 
In the 50ies she could realize only three scripts and wrote serials in German newspapers.
In 1954 one of her first movies - "Der müde Tod" (1921) - was showed in Berlin once more. Thea von Harbou was present as a guest of honor as well. When she left the cinema she slipped in such an unfortunate way that she died some days later as a result of the fall. 

All movies with Thea von Harbou:

1. Script:
Die heilige Simplicia/Die Legende von der heiligen Simplicia (1919) Das wandernde Bild (1920) Die Frauen vom Gnadenstein (1920) Kämpfende Herzen (1921) Der müde Tod (1921) Das indische Grabmal (1921) Der brennende Acker (1922) Dr. Mabuse, der Spieler (1922) Phantom (1922) Die Prinzessin Suwarin (1923) Die Austreibung - Die Macht der zweiten Frau (1923) Die Finanzen des Grossherzogs (1923) Die Nibelungen (1924) Zur Chronik von Grieshuus (1924) Michael (1924) Metropolis (1926) Spione (1928) Frau im Mond (1929) M (1931) Das erste Recht des Kindes (1932) Der Läufer von Marathon (1933) Das Testament des Dr. Mabuse (1933) Hanneles Himmelfahrt (1934) Was bin ich ohne dich! (1934) Prinzessin Turandot (1934) Der alte und der junge König (1935) Ein idealer Gatte (1935) Der Mann mit der Pranke (1935) Ich war Jack Mortimer (1935) Die unmögliche Frau (1936) Eine Frau ohne Bedeutung (1936) Der Herrscher (1937) Versprich mir nichts! (1937) Der zerbrochene Krug (1937) Mutterlied (1937) Jugend (1938) Verwehte Spuren (1938) Die Frau am Scheidewege (1938) Hurra! Ich bin Papa! (1939) Lauter Liebe (1940) Wie konntest Du, Veronika! (1940) Am Abend auf der Heide (1941) Annelie (1941) Mit den Augen einer Frau (1942) Gefährtin meines Sommers (1942) Die Gattin (1943) Eine Frau für drei Tage (1944) Via Mala (1944) Fahrt ins Glück (1945) Es kommt ein Tag (1950) Dr. Holl (1951) Dein Herz ist meine Heimat (1953) 

2. Direction:
Elisabeth und der Narr (1933) Hanneles Himmelfahrt (1934)

Erich Pommer ranks with the most important personalities of the German silent movie era and he was participated in the worldwide success. No other producer had so influenced the German film like Erich Pommer. 
Pommer started his film career as film agent for Gaumont in Vienna, since 1912 for the "Film- und Kinematographen GmbH Eclair". When this company company started to produce movies under the name "Wiener-Autoren-Film", Pommer became their production manager. This marked the beginning of a unique career. 
In 1914 Pommer was called up to the West front and after a wound he was assigned as recruit instructor. In 1917 he changed to the film and picture office where he was in charge of week shows and documentaries.
Already in 1915 he founded the "Decla-Film Gesellschaft" and during his absence the leadership was protected by his borhter Albert Pommer and Erich Morawsky. The production company frourished and finally merged with the "Deutsche Bioscop AG in 1920 to "Decla-Bioscop AG. During this time were created several movie classics and Pommer consolidated his reputation as an ambitionated producer. In 1923 Pommer was elected into the board of directors of the Ufa and pulled now the most important strings of the German movie production. 
Many internationally successful but also cost-intensive films were created, e.g. "Die Nibelungen" (22), "Der letzte Mann" (24) and "Metropolis" (26). Especially the costs for"Metropolis" surpassed everything so far. This was also one of the reasons that the contract of Pommer wasn't renewed.
Pommer went to the USA where he produced two movies for paramount with the actress Pola Negri, before he signed on for the Ufa again.
At the beginning of the sound film Pommer achieved an unexpected success with "Der blaue Engel" (30), through which Marlene Dietrich began her great career. But also the films "Die Drei von der Tankstelle" (30) and "F.P.1 antwortet nicht" (32) set new standards.

1933 - the year when the Nazis came into power - the Ufa began to cancel the contracts with their Jewish employees, also the one with Erich Pommer. Pommer emigrated to Paris where he produced severel films, afterwards he arrived at Hollywood where the movie "Music in the Air " (34) came into being. 
But not the USA but England became the country of his choice. There he founded a new production company together with actor Charles Laughton. Between 1937 and 1939 were movies like "Vessel of Wrath" (38) and "Jamaica Inn" (39) produced, always with Laughton as leading actor.
When World War II broke out Pommer was located in New York and decided to stay in the USA. After some movies Pommer fall ill serious in 1941, his contract with RKO wasn't renewed any longer. In 1944 he got the American nationality. Pommer got into financial difficulties so that he and his wife had to work in a porcelain factory. They had no structured settlements or savings to live off.

After the war Erich Pommer returned to Germany as a film officer with the order to reorganize the German film production.
In 1951 he founded the "Intercontinental Film GmbH" in Munich where he could realise some remarkable movies (Nachts auf den Strassen (51) Kinder, Mütter und ein General (55). But the restrictions he became dictated led to his return to California. Physically badly shaky - a leg was amputated and therefore he was confined to a wheelchair - his career as a producer ended.
In 1966 Erich Pommer died at the Motion Picture Hospital in Woodland Hills, LA.

All movies from Erich Pommer: (there are listed all movies of the production company where Erich Pommer was responsible for the production, regardless whether he was participated in it personally - because it is no longer duplicatable retrospectively)
Das Geheimnis der Lüfte (13) Tabak und Liebe (13) Zwischen zwei Feuern (13) Ein Schritt vom Wege (13) Der Todesritt auf dem Riesenrad (14) Der Herr ohne Wohnung (15) Berlin im Kriegsjahr (15) Wien in Kriegszeiten (15) Der Glaube siegt (15) Brot! (15) Die Masuren (15) Carl und Carla (15) Der deutsche Sport (15) Der Barbier von Filmersdorf (15) O diese Männer! (15) Die Goldquelle (15) Ein Schrei in der Nacht (15) Ein unbeschriebenes Blatt (15) Das Gewissen (15) Die Stimme des Toten (16) Dynamit (16) Der Weg der Tränen (16) Streichhölzer, kauft Streichhölzer! (16) Papa soll nicht heiraten (16) Das Licht im Dunkeln (16) Der Thug (16) Das Geheimnis des Sees (16) Komtesse Hella (16) Das Lied des Lebens (16) Der Tod des Erasmus (16) Der Schwur der Renate Rabenau (16) Die Spinne (17) Dummy sucht seinen Verstand (17) Wer küsst mich? (17) Der Königssee (17) Wenn die Lawinen stürzen (17) Die Glaswand/Der Klub der Neun (17) Das Hochzeitsgeschenk (17) Das Goldfischchen (17) Der Mann im Havelock (17) Das Defizit (17) Die Faust des Schicksals (17) Das Mädel von nebenan (17) Das Buch des Lasters (17) Der Jubiläumspreis (17) Zwei blaue Jungen (17) Die Fremde (17) Harry lernt Radfahren (17) Das Spiel vom Tode (17) Komtesse Hanne (17) Und wen ich lieb', nimm Dich in Acht! (17) Tot und lebendig (17) Die Königstochter von Travankore (17) Harry als Badeengel (17) Harry will energisch werden (17) Baronesschen auf Strafurlaub (17) Die Tochter der Gräfin Stachowska (17) Die gute Partie (17) Die Kraft des Michael Argobast (17) Heide-Gretel (18) Genie und Liebe (18) Harry wird Familienvater (18) Lebendig tot (18) Der Volontär (18) Das verwunschene Schloss (18) Das Glück der Frau Beate (18) Inge (18) Harry wird Millionär (18) Harry als Detektiv (18)
Harry lernt Gruseln (18) Die sünde (18) Der Cowboy (18) Die fromme Helene (18) Baronesse und Vetter Fritz (18) Hanne und ihre sieben Freier (18) Frau Gräfin (18) Harry als Wachsfigur (18) Harry lernt Billardspielen (18) Harry Glücksschirm (18) Clown Charly (18) Der Weg, der zur Verdammnis führt (18) Die Krone des Lebens (18) Arme Lena! (18) Der Wilderer (18) Bergfrühling (18) In den wilden Schroffen des Hochgebirges (18) Die Frauen des Josias Grafenreuth (18) Das Lied der Mutter (18) Hotel Wasserhose (18) Marionetten des Hasses (18) Das bemooste Haupt (18) Die Rache ist mein (19) Bettler-G.m.b.H. (19) Die sieben Schwaben (19) Halbblut (19) Wolkenbau und Flimmerstern (19) Die Insel der Glücklichen (19) Das ewige Rätsel (19) Der falsche Schein (19) Die Frau mit den Orchideen (19) Die Spinnen (19) Pesst in Florenz (19) Die blonde Loo (19) Harakiri (19) Die Ehe der Frau Mary (19) Opfer (19) Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari (20) Frauenruhm (20) Johannes Goth (20) Das Blut der Ahnen (20) Tötendes Schweigen (20) Die Frau im Himmel (20) Toteninsel (20) Sieger Tod (20) Genuine (20) Maulwürfe (20) Der siebente Tag (20) Die Augen der Maske (20) Die Jagd nach dem Tode (20) Der Richter von Zalamea (20) Die Tophar-Mumie (20) Die Nacht der Königin Isabeau (20) Die sieben Todsünden (20) Das Haupt des Juarez (20) Das Zeichen des Malayen (20) Die Kwannon von Okadera (20) Das Geheimnis von Bombay (20) Die Dreizehn aus Stahl (20) Kämpfende Herzen (21) Irrende Seelen (21) Die treibende Kraft (21) Hazard (21) Schloss Vogelöd (21) Der Erbe der van Diemen (21) Um den Sohn (21) Das Spiel mit dem Feuer (21) Das Mädchen, das wartete (21) Die schwarze Pantherin (21) Der Roman der Christine von Herre (21) Der müde Tod (21) Violet (21) Der ewige Fluch (21) Zirkus des Lebens (21) Der Mord in der Greenstreet (21) Die Intrigen der Madame de la Pommeraye (21) Dr. Mabuse, der Spieler (22) Bardame (22) Phantom (22) Der steinerne Reiter (23) Ein Glas Wasser (23) Die Prinzessin Suwarin (23) Die Nibelungen (23) Tatjana (23) Der Evangelimann (23) Die Austreibung (23) Seine Frau, die Unbekannte (23) Der verlorene Schuh (23) Die Finanzen des Grossherzogs (23) Der Sprung ins Leben (23) Zur Chronik von Grieshuus (24) Michael (24) Komödie des Herzens (24) Der letzte Mann (24) Dekameron-Nächte (24) Der Turm des Schweigens (24) Pietro, der Korsar (25) Die Frau mit dem schlechten Ruf (25) Die gefundene Braut (25) Die Prinzessin und der Geiger (25) Blitzzug der Liebe (25) Tartüff (25) Liebe macht blind (25) Das Mädchen mit der Protektion (25) Varieté (25) Der rosa Diamant (25) Ein Walzertraum (25) Herrn Filip Collins Abenteuer (25) Metropolis (26) Manon Lescaut (26) Der Geiger von Florzen (26) Die Brüder Schellenberg (26) Die drei Kuckucksuhren  (26) Faust (26) Hotel Imperial (26) Barbed Wire - Stacheldraht (27) Heimkehr (28) Ungarische Rhapsodie (28) Asphalt (29) Die wunderbare Lüge der Nina Petrowna (29) Melodie des Herzens (29) Liebeswalzer (30) Der blaue Engel (30) Liebling der Götter (30) Die Drei von der Tankstelle (30) Einbrecher (30) Der Mann, der seinen Mörder sucht (30) Voruntersuchung (31) Bomben auf Monte Carlo (31) Der Kongress tanzt 831) Stürme der Leidenschaft (31) Der Sieger (32) Quick (32) Ein blonder Traum (32) Ich bei Tag und Du bei Nacht (32) F.P.1 antwortet nicht (32) Ich und die Kaiserin (33) On a volé un homme - Der gestohlene Millionär (34) Liliom (34) Music in the Air (34) Fire Over England - Feuer über England (36) Farewell Again (37) Vessel of Wrath (38) St. Martin's Lane (38) Jamaica Inn - Riff-Piraten  (39) Dance, Girl, Dance (40) They Knew What They Wanted (40) Nachts auf den Strassen (51) Illusion in Moll (52) Eine Liebesgeschichte (54) Kinder, Mütter und ein General (55)