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Ludwig Stössel


Foto: Alexander Binder (1888-1929)

1883 - 1973

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The actor Ludwig Stössel belongs to the interesting support actors of the German film who was able to launch a second career in the USA.

Er began his career at the theater where he made his first experiences at Josef Jarno. He soon became a successful character actor and played for the most important stages of Germany, among other at Max Reinhardt in Berlin, at the Barnowsky-Bühne and at the German Künstlertheater.
Moreover he managed the Thalia-Theater in Breslau together with Paul Barnay.

Ludwit Stössel came relative late to the film. His first movie came into being in 1926 with the title "In der Heimat, da gibt's ein Wiedersehn!" (26). In the next years followed other silent movies like "Herkules Maier" (27), "Aus dem Tagebuch eines Junggesellen" (28), "Der Günstling von Schönbrunn" (29) and "Katharina Knie" (29).

His roles became more extensive with the rise of the sound film and he took part in some important productions. To his well-known movies of those years belong "Skandal um Eva" (30), "Die Koffer des Herrn O.F." (31), "Die Gräfin von Monte Christo" (32), "Der Rebell" (32), "Das Testament des Dr. Mabuse" (33) and "Eine Nacht in Venedig" (34).

He was driven out from Germany by the National Socialists because of his Jewish origin. He went to Austria and appeared in few movies but his main activity was at the theater. He was engaged at the Raimundtheater and at the Theater in der Josefstadt.
When the National Socialism arrived in Austria in 1938 he emigrated together with his wife via Paris and London to Hollywood. There he was able to continue his film career as a support actor in many American movies.
As it was usual in the USA in those days the victims of the National Socialists had to play their tormentors. Ludwig Stössel also acted in some propaganda movies agains Hitler like "The Strange Death of Adolf Hitler" (43) and "Hitler's Madman" (43).

But Ludwig Stössel didn't let nail him down to such movies and he took part in many other genres. To his well-known movies of the 40's belong "Four Sons" (40), "Jennie" (40), "Woman of the Year" (42), the classic "Casablanca" (42) - in which he impersonated the German emigrant Mr. Leuchtag, "Bluebeard" (44), "Dillinger" (45), "House of Dracula" (45), "Cloak and Dagger" (46), "A Song Is Born" (48) and "The Great Sinner" (49).

Although the war was over in Europe long ago he didn't return to Germany. He stood in the USA which became his second home.
In the 50's followed more often engagements for television but he still appeared in some feature movies. To these productions belong "The Merry Widow" (52), "White Goddess" (53), "Tales of Frankenstein" (58), "Me and the Colonel" (58) and "From the Earth to the Moon" (58).

To his last cinematical work belong "G.I. Blues" (60) with Elvis Presley and an episode of the TV serial "The New Phil Silvers Show: The Little Old Gluemaker, Me!" (63).

The name Ludwig Stössel is no longer a concept for most people in Germany, but in the USA he is still well-known. Beside his role in "Casablanca" he also became famous with a serial of promotional films for the winegrowing estaten Gallo for which he impersonated the figure "Little Old Winemaker" for one decade.
 

Other movies with Ludwig Stössel:
Serenissimus und die letzte Jungfrau (28) Möblierte Zimmer (29) Bockbierfest (30) Ein Burschenlied aus Heidelberg (30) Die Privatsekretärin (31) In Wien hab' ich einmal ein Mädel geliebt (31) Opernredoute (31) Elisabeth von Österreich (31) Strich durch die Rechnung (32) Hände aus dem Dunkel (32) Der Läufer von Marathon (33) Morgenrot (33) Heimkehr ins Glück (33) Rund um eine Million (33) Nordpol - Ahoi! (33) Johannisnacht (33) Der Pfarrer von Kirchfeld (37) Dead Man's Shoes (39) The Man I Married (40) Dance, Girl, Dance (40) Return to Yesterday (40) The Flying Squad (40) Man Hunt (41) Underground (41) Great Guns (41) Marry the Boss's Daughter (41) All Through the Night (42) Who Done It? (42) The Pride of the Yankees (42) Iceland (42) Pittsburgh (42) The Great Impersonation (42) Tennessee Johnson (42) Kings Row (42) What We Are Fighting for (43) They Came to Bow Up America (43) Hers to Hold (43) The Climax (44) Lake Placid Serenade (44) Her Highness and the Bellboy (45) Yolanda and the Thief (45) Girl on the Spot (46) Miss Susie Slagle's (46) Temptation (46) The Beginning or the End (47) This Time for Keeps (47) Song of Love (47) Escape Me Never (47) Corky of Gasoline Alley (51) No Time for Flowers (52) The Sun Shines Bright (53) Call Me Madam (53) Serie "Schlitz Playhouse of Stars: Guardian of the Clock (53) Serie "Cavalcade of America: The Tenderfoot" (53) Serie "The Public Defender: The Case of the Parolee" (54) Serie "The Adventures of Falcon: Borderline Case" (54) Serie "Hallmark Hall of Fame: Lady in the Wings" (54) Serie "The Public Defender: Destiny" (54) Serie "December Bride: The Sentimentalist" (54) Serie "The Ford Television Theatre: Slide, Darling, Slide" (54) Geraldine (54) Serie "Casablanca" (55) Serie "Lux Video Theatre: Love Letters" (55) Serie "Big Town: The Grand Almost" (55) Serie "Science Fiction Theater: Spider Inc." (55) Serie "TV Reader's Digest: A Bell for Okinawa" (56) Serie "Crusader: Man of Medicine" (56) Serie "Lux Video Theatre: Temptation" (56) Serie "General Electric Theater: The Glorious Gift of Molly Molloy" (56) Serie "Science Fiction Theater: The Sound That Kills" (56) Serie "Father Knows Best: The Angel's Sweater" (56) Serie "Perry Mason: The Case of the Black-Eyed Blonde" (58) Serie "Man with a Camera" (58) The Blue Angel (59) Serie "Perry Mason: The Case of the Shattered Dream" (59) Serie "Shotgun Slade: Flower for Jenny" (60) Serie "Shotgun Slade: The Fabulous Fiddle" (60) Serie "The Donna Reed Show: Variations on a Theme" (61) Serie "My Three Sons: A Perfect Memory" (61)


 
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