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Olaf Fönss

Picture Olaf Fönss
Foto: Alexander Binder (1888-1929)

1882 - 1949

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When the silent movie began to take the world in storm in the 10's, Denmark was a world power in the international film business. Many great stars like Asta Nielsen or Pat & Patachon influenced the film scene. 

In this time came many Danish actors to Germany and gave a fresh impetus. One of them was Olaf Fönss who shot movies since 1912 and already belonged to the famous actors before he took part in German productions.

With his appearance in "Atlantis" (13) for the Danish Nordisk company he could achieve his biggest triumph till then which made him famous in whole Europe. In the next two years then followed more undemanding adventure and circus movies but with "Ned med vaabnene - Die Waffen nieder!" (14)  (after a novel by Bertha von Suttner) he played again in a demanding movie.

In 1915 he went to Berlin where he looked for new challenges. His first movie in Germany was "Homunculus" (16), a production which got an enormous success. But his intention to gain a foothold in Germany didn't come off.
The great actor Valdemar Psilander committed suicide in Denmark and Olaf Fönss was engaged as the new art director of the Psilander-Film company. Fönss accepted the offer and returned to Denmark.

Olaf Fönss filmed in the following years most in Denmark, still he came back to Germany at the beginning of the 20's in order to act in three movies - "Der Gang in die Nacht" (20), "Ehrenschuld" (21), "Der Tiger von Eschnapur" (21) and "Das indische Grabmal" (21).
At the end of the 20's followed the German movies "Spitzen" (26), "Die Waise von Lowood" (26), "Die seltsame Vergangenheit" (29) and "Ich lebe für Dich" (29).

But with the talkies was his zenith exceeded he only appeared sporadically in movies, later on he ended his filmcareer.
 

Other movies with Olaf Fönss:
Dodsridtet (12) Bryggerens Datter (12) Zigeunerorkestret (12) Konfetti (12) Alt for Faedrelandet (12) Af en Opdagers Dagbog/Den Gyldne Rose (12) Pressens Magt/Et Bankru - Der Pressepirat/Wer andern eine Grube gräbt (13) Den store Operation/Kornspekulanten - Spekulanten (13) Under Mindernes Trae/Den damle Baenk (13) Bristet Lykke (13) Broder mod Broder/I Flyvende Trapez - Zwei Brüder (13) Trolos/Goglerblod (13) Grev Zarkas Bande - Graf Zarka (13) Vasens Hemmelighet/Den kinesiske Vase - Das Spiel mit dem Feuer (13) Skyldig - ikke skyldig/Dietrich Strobäus - Die Tat des Dietrich Strobäus (13) Den mystiske Fremmede - Der mysteriöse Fremde (14) En storkere Magt/Den staerkeste - Die innere Stimme (14) Guldkalven - Das goldene Kalb (14) En Dod i Skonhed/Beate eller det tabte Paradis (14) Den hvide Rytterske/Den hvide Hest - Die weisse Reiterin (14) Lille Teddy - Der Zirkus in Flammen (14) En ensom Kvinde/Hvem er han? (14) Syndens Dater/Den, der sejrer - Glaube an mich/Gestrandet (15) Cowboymillionaeren/Diamantkongens Dod - Der Fluch des Diamanten (15) Gentlemansekretaeren/Manden, der kom for at stjaele - Elfchen Sonnenschein (15) Verdens Undergang/Flammesvaerdet - Das jüngste Gericht (15) Lotterieseddel No. 22152/Den blinde Skaebne - Die Gerechtigkeit siegt! (15) Guldringens Hemmelighed/Hendes Ungdomsforelskelse - Der Ring der Pharaonen (15) Naar Hjerterne kalder/Det nye Spraengstof - Tote Augen (15) Dem omstridte Jord/Jordens Haevn - Die Rache der Erde (15) Selskabsdamen/Sonofferet - Das Sühneopfer (15) Barnet fra Opfostringshuset - Papa X (15) Gengaeldsens Ret (17) Du skal aere (17) Laegen/Pesten (17) Fangen fra Erie Country/Tugthus (17) Dommens Dag/Tigeren (17) Praesten fra Havet (17) Skaebnesvangre Vildfarelser (18) Bajadser (18) Lykkeper (18) Haeveneren (18) Scenens Börn (18) Dommer ikke (18) En Aftenscene (19) Samvittighedskvaler/Moderen - Gewissensqualen (19) Timeglasset (19) Republikaneren (19) Munkens Fristelser/Forsagelsens Vej (20) Hendes Fortid (20) Die Sendung des Yoghi (21) Fra Piazza del Popolo (25) Spitzen (26) Die Waise von Lowood (26) Die seltsame Vergangenheit (29) Ich lebe für Dich (29) Den store Dag (30) Under den gamle Fane (32) 


 
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