HOME INDEX
SILENT MOVIE
THE GERMAN
SILENT MOVIE
MAIL English Version

 
Manfred Noa

Manfred Noa
Foto: Walter Lichtenstein (1902-1984)
Mit freundlicher Genehmigung von André Limot © Limot

1893 - 1930

.
.
The director Manfred Noa belongs to the forgotten film cineast of the silent movie era although he realised some remarkable movies. His early death in 1930 may contributed to this circumstance.

After a study for art he began his film career as a production designer for movies like "Hoffmanns Erzählungen" (16), "Die Rache der Toten" (16), "Das Bildnis des Dorian Gray" (17), "Die Fürstin von Beranien" (18) and "Der Tod und die Liebe" (21).

Already in 1917 he realised his first movie as a director with "Bobby als Amor" (17), if tollowed "Der Stellvertreter" (18) and "Das Mädchen und die Männer" (19).

In the 20s he shot many entertainment movies, adventure stories, crimes and historical productions as a director.
He realised the silent movies "Schneider Wibbel" (20) and "Söhne der Nacht" (21) before his moviet "Nathan der Weise" (22) became an enormous success. The production company Emelka became skyrocketing because of the box-office takings. The movie was casted with many well-known actors and actresses of that time like Ernst Matray, Max Schreck (the main actor from "Nosferatu"), Ferdinand Martini, Rudolf Lettinger, Margarete Kupfer, Werner Krauss, Lia Eibenschütz, Carl de Vogt and Fritz Greiner. The later very popular actor Carl-Heinz Schroth made his film debut with a small support role.

After this success Manfred Noa concentrated to his next big production and he directed the historic movie "Helena" (24) which was running more than 3 hours and was brought to the cinemas in two parts.
Again Manfred Noa engaged many popular actors and actresses like Ferdinand Martini, Albert Bassermann, Hanna Ralph, Carl Lamac, Carlo Aldini, Carl de Vogt, Adele Sandrock, Albert Steinrück and Vladimir Gajdarow. The title role was impersonated by the actress Edy Darclea who was unknown in Germany till then.
Although the movie is regarded as one of the great classics and the cinematical skill delights today the movie was not able to yield the enormous costs of the production.
Thereby the production company Bavaria got into a financial disorder and had to declare bankruptcy the next year.

All this had no effect to Manfred Noa's career and he directed numerous other movies in the next years.
To these productions belong "Das schöne Abenteuer" (24), "Der Mann im Sattel" (25), "Junges Blut" (26), "Die versunkene Flotte" (26), "Gauner im Frack" (27), "Der grosse Unbekannte" (27) and "Moderne Piraten" (28).

To his few talkies - some of them had been released after his death - belong "Der Walzerkönig" (30), "Leutnant warst Du einst bei deinen Husaren" (30) and "Der Weg nach Rio" (31).

Manfred Noa died of peritonitis in 1930 at the age of only 37.

He was married with the actress Eva May who shot herself in 1924 at the age of 22. His sister Margarete M. Langen was an actress, his sister Loo Hardy was actress too who committed suicide in 1938 at the age 40 during her exile in London.


Other movies from Manfred Noa (Director):
Der Tod des Baumeisters Olsen (17) Liebe (19) Berlin W. (20) Hass (20) Opfer der Keuschheit (21) Schieber (21) Der heilige Hass (21) Soll man heiraten? (25) Der Mann aus dem Jenseits (26) Warum sich scheiden lassen? (26) Der Provinzonkel (26) Das süsse Mädel (26) Seeschlacht beim Skagerrak (26) Die Achtzehnjährigen (27) Glanz und Elend der Kurtisanen (27) Die Dame von Paris (27) Casanovas Erbe (28) Die Dame und ihr Chauffeur (28) Aufruhr im Junggesellenheim (29) Meine Schwester und ich (29) La regina di Sparta (31)

Producer:
Gauner im Frack (27) Die Achtzehnjährigen (27) Casanovas Erbe (28) Die Dame und ihr Chauffeur (28)

Writer:
Berlin W. (20) Der heilige Hass (21)

Production Designer:
Seine letzte Maske (16) Das unheimliche Haus (16) Der Schlossherr von Hohenstein (17) Die Diamantenstiftung (17) Das Buch Esther (19)


 
Back