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Bruno Kastner

Picture Bruno Kastner
Foto: Alexander Binder (1888-1929)

1890 - 1932

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The actor Bruno Kastner came like most of his colleagues from the theater and wandered with a touring company for years. When the World War I broke out he became his chance to prove to be a good actor for movie and theater. Bruno Kastner was slim, good-looking, young - and unfit for military service. The most men of his age were in the war, the demand for actors was bigger than the offer. He played lovers at theaters but the success didn't turn up immediately. 

Finally the great Asta Nielsen spot him for her movie "Engelein" in 1914. The oddest of all film careers started. Although Bruno Kastner wasn't a very good actor and also no critics left out an occasion to announce it, he conquered the hearts of the female audience in not time. His picture decorated many bedside tables, love letters were transported in laundry baskets by tormented postmen.

In 1921 he was chosen as the best (in reality most popular) German actor - he was even ahead of Harry Liedtke and Max Landa. Each of his movies were money-spinners. To his successful movies belong "Hilde Warren und der Tod" (17), "Der Onyxknopf" (17), "Das Herz des Casanova" (19), "Der Silberkönig" (21), "Das Paradies im Schnee" (23) and "Der Flug um den Erdball" (24).

In 1924 he had a serious accident with his motorcycle and had to take a break for one year. He concealed the consequence of the accident for good reason. Because if the female followers would have known that he wasn't a man any longer literally after the accident, they wouldn't have remained loyal to him. 
In spite of this serious accident he was able to continue his successful film career, he appeared among others in "Der Mann, der sich verkaufte" (25), "Die vom anderen Ufer" (25), "Die Brüder Schellenberg" (26), "Wehe, wenn sie losgelassen" (26) and "Der Orlow" (27).

But by the male audience he was confronted with disapproval. Nicknames like "coat hanger" or "perfume advertising" went the round. In film magazines roused pros and contras Kastner discussions.

But then the star of Kastner sunk very low. With the upcoming sound film he was out at the latest, because Bruno Kastner stammered. Role offers failed to come.

The women who loved him once forgot him. He earned his living with appearances at small organizations in the following years. Eventually he was broken by this anonymity. In 1932 he hung in a hotel room. 
 

Other movies with Bruno Kastner:
Die Tochter der Landstrasse (14) Engeleins Hochzeit (14) Ein kluges Herz (15) Arthur Imhoff (15) Die Stimme des Toten (16) Dynamit (16) Dorritchens Vergnügungsreise (16) Dorrit bekommt eine Lebensstellung (16) Der unsichtbare Mensch (16) Dorrits Eheglück (16) Ein nettes Pflänzchen (16) Für die Ehre des Vaters (17) Das Erbe von "Het Steen" (17) Die Retterin (17) Die Bettlerin von St. Marien" (17) Prinzesschen soll heiraten (17) Das Rätsel der Stahlkammer (17) Die Rache des Avenarius (17) Das Legat (17) Prinz Waldemar und Waldemar Prinz (17) Lori & Co. (17) Die Hochzeit im Excentricclub (17) Das Geschäft (17) Das Gewissen des Andern (17) Katharina Karaschkin (17) Die Krone von Kerkyra (17) Das verlorene Paradies (17) Der schwarze Chauffeur (17) Das Klima von Vancourt (17) Die Kaukasierin (17) Ein Lichtstrahl im Dunkel (17) Die Ehe der Charlotte von Brakel (18) Die Buchhalterin (18) Die Fürstin von Beranien (18) Fünf Minuten zu spät (18) Der Gattestellvertreter (18) Das Gerücht (18) Der Schwur (19) Zwischen zwei Welten (19) Die goldene Lüge (19) Die Bodega von Los Cuerros (19) Eines Mannes Wort (19) Artistentreue (19) Nur ein Diener (19) Der letzte Sonnensohn (19) Der Weltmeister (19) Allerseelen (19) Verbotene Liebe (20) Das Erbe von Carlington (20) Feuerreiter (20) Alfred von Igelheims Lebensdrama (20) Der König von Paris (20) Weisse Rosen (20) Das Brandmal der Vergangenheit (21) Der Graf, die Tänzerin und der Staatsanwalt (21) DasGeheimnis von Schloss Ronay (22) Wenn die Maske fällt (22) Die Lüge eines Sommers (22) Der bekannte Unbekannte (22) Colibri (24) Königsliebchen (24) Der Aufstieg der kleinen Lilian (24) Soll und Haben (24) Die Bacchantin (24) Komödianten des Lebens (24) Die drei Portiermädel (25) Die Frau mit dem Etwas (25) Die vertauschte Braut (25) Die Assmanss (25) Wenn Du eine Tante hast (25) Der Mann ohne Schlaf (26) Wien - Berlin (26) Es blasen die Trompeten (26) Die geschiedene Frau (26) Die Bräutigame der Babette (27) Die schönsten Beine von Berlin (27) Die Dame mit dem Tigerfell (27) Jugendrausch (27) Die Pflicht zu schweigen (27) Luther (27) Mein Freund Harry (27) Du sollst nicht stehlen (27) Freiwild (28) Angst (28) Das Land des Lächelns (30) Tingel-Tangel (30)


 
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