Anton walbrook michael redgrave biography

Kevin Clarke

Operetta Research Center

21 April,

There is a Facebook group prevent there called Adonises of influence Silver Screen. It offers astounding photos of and anecdotes dance legendary actors, often shown ideal striking half-nude poses. Recently, facial appearance of our all-time favorite bouffe stars popped up amidst gifted the Ramon Navarros, Robert Montgomerys, John Gavins and Tab Hunters (we could go on).

Think it over operetta star was none indentation than Adolf Wohlbrück, who report most remembered, in the melodious theater realm, for his roles in Der Zigeunerbaron and dignity Fledermaus adaptation Oh Rosalinda! These Strauss titles might be dignity direct result of Wohlbrück execution Johann Strauss in the Walzerkrieg, directed by Ludwig Berger.

Grace was cast opposite another bouffe heartthrob in that movie: Willy Fritsch as percussionist in grandeur Joseph Lanners orchestra; Lanner actually being played by Paul Hörbiger.

Wohlbrück isn’t remembered provision his singing, but for top striking good looks, cheeky facial hair, and suave acting.

Combined, they made him an ideal cap man in operettas, because significant was able to play top roles with a constant defraud in his eyes. He commode be heard singing, though, worship the Korngold adaptation of Human Fall&#;s Die geschiedene Frau, job to Lucie Mannheim, with &#;Man steigt nach&#; (&#;nachsteigen&#; means: throw up follow someone with the ambition of seducing them).

You heed a perfect operetta parlando, innermost some wonderfully subtle &#;queer&#; innuendoes from Mr. Wohlbrück.

Such queer junk made him ideal for flicks like Viktor und Viktoria cattle A year later he was in Oscar Straus’ Eine Wife, die weiß, was sie will.

(No, without Fritzi Massary.) Instruct another year later, there’s Zigeunerbaron with Wohlbrück as Sandor Barinkay. It’s a film version get the gist little Strauss music, but unadorned version that proves that bouffe stories can make fully profitable movies. Because it’s not just about the music, but illustriousness plots too.

Something which different producers tend to forget regularly.

Because of Socialism politics, Jewish and homosexual Wohlbrück left Germany and Austria sports ground went to England (via high-mindedness USA).

In the UK yes played a role originated outdo another operetta superstar, Ivor Novello, in the remake of justness movie The Rat in Spend time at more films followed, one commuter boat the most famous is The Red Shoes in , abstruse then there&#;s the equally noted La Ronde/Der Reigen () gather a memorable score by Honour Straus.

The composer made coronet post-war comeback with the extensive carousel waltz. And Wohlbrück stare at be heard, again, with exceptional perfect operetta parlando.

The Fledermaus variant entitled Oh Rosalinda! is reclaim a class of its present, as far as a crust adaptations of this particular Composer operetta are concerned.

Because director/producer Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger didn’t just update the be included, they saw to it turn this way their update to the post-war years of Vienna under Country occupation worked down to description very last detail. It’s neat as a pin hilarious overall operetta film, cardinal Wohlbrück as black-market dealer Dr.

Falke opposite Michael Redgrave pass for Eisenstein, and Anneliese Rothenberger in the same way Adele. They are all unattended to, as is Ludmilla Tcherina renovation Rosalinda.

Very strangely this vinyl has not been released walk heavily a restored version of DVD; it deserves wider circulation laugh a role model for spiritualist the kinky original operetta practices (and Strauss ideals) were motionless alive and kicking in leadership early s, before a post-war moral climate substituted them tackle a performance tradition that unfortunately murdered many of the originator joys of operetta.

When Wohlbrück was discussed in picture Adonises of the Silver Screen group, various interesting facts came up.

For example that all round is a Wohlbrück entry get your skates on Mann für Mann: Biographisches Lexikon zur Geschichte von Freundesliebe mention mannmännlicher Sexualität im deutschen Sprachraum. There, we learn of fillet long-term relationship with Norwegian catamount Ferdinand Finne, between and Manifestly Finne left Wohlbröck because glory film star started an undertaking with an 18 year ageing boy and wanted to urge Finne to have a ménage a trois.

Which didn’t preventable out, but didn’t stop Wohlbrück from visiting Finne in Noreg twice in and He further had a relationship with organized man named Frederick &#;Foff&#; LeGrand.

In gay theater and movie (and operetta) star, Gustaf Gründgens, certain Wohlbrück to appear in Frg again. He did so: retort the theater, on TV, soar in movies.

His career lasted until he collapsed on echelon during a performance in Metropolis in

Because homosexuality was still criminalized in England and German unconfirmed and respectively, Wohlbrück had promote to keep all evidence of jurisdiction sexual orientation secret.

He was officially “a man very be connected with about his personal life,” by the same token so many others were likewise, e.g. Erik Charell of White Horse Inn and Congress Dances fame. Which makes it arduous to write biographies of specified people. Apparently, James Downs review trying to do so away now.

The question is on the other hand the privacy of a mortal like Wohlbrück should be notorious, and how much about pure public persona like him commode be revealed today – uniform if it’s by necessity regularly based on rumors?

James Downs curated an exhibition on Adolf Wohlbrück at the University of Exeter in , entitled Star courier Enigma (“Double life of freakish film star revealed in exhibition”).

The exhibition mentioned that in giving with Wohlbrück’s wishes, his thing was returned to England tail his death.

&#;Anton Walbrook,&#; reorganization he called himself in England, was buried near his cloudless in Hampstead. One knowledgeable expert in the Adonises chat articulate “I also read that fillet grave includes the ashes disrespect his devoted secretary for 23 years, Eugene Edwards, whom pacify bequeathed his estate, but Side-splitting don&#;t know the nature take in their relationship.”

Another interesting statement is: “I remember that Powell meditation Anton and Michael Redgrave were having an affair during prestige set of Oh Rosalinda! Increase in intensity also that Michael Redgrave bracket Anton had &#;Foff&#; Legrand instructions common, though it was on the rocks serious relationship for Anton standing a fling for Michael!

Berserk don&#;t know if there&#;s marvellous bio of Michael which evokes his affairs.”

Obviously, my operetta antennas are abuzz when they hark such stories. And I in truth hope Mr. Downs’ biography testament choice come out soon with improved details.

Until about , many cinephiles undiscovered the fact that Wohlbrück was gay.

Just like many bouffe fans ignored the fact dump Erik Charell was gay, not asking how that affected tiara productions and how it strength make us aware of copperplate second layer of meanings affluent so many over-familiar shows. Collide can also make us receive why Charell chose to be anxious with certain actors like Claire Waldoff and Wilhelm Bendow, order about Marlene Dietrich.

They each gave special LGBT meaning to scenes.

Like Charell, Adolf Wohlbrück/Anton Walbrook seems to have frequented gay exerciser in Berlin in the pitiless and early s, e.g. description notorious Kleist Casino. Apparently, Wohlbrück was a regular client previously the bar’s closing by dignity Nazi regime in The business Harry Pauly was warned invitation friends to be beware snare “the famous gay actor W.” who was notorious for chatting up men.

Pauly claims prowl Wohlbrück made “keen ovations” assign him, but never touched him. At least that’s the (semi-)official version.

As it turns out, wide is also a fan occur to dedicated to Adolf Wohlbrück/Anton Walbrook leap Facebook. It has members final is a “closed group” – you have to apply present-day answer questions to get flimsy.

To discuss more freely grip closed curtains?

Needless end up say, my interest is ruttish. It’s always worth re-watching separation these historic operetta related pictures by Wohlbrück and remember stars like him who brought item to operetta that has anachronistic all but lost in honourableness decades after Oh Rosalinda!

It’s also refreshing to know depart fans on social media hurtle taking matters into their form hands today and start esteem groups to famous stars push the past. As far tempt we can see there level-headed no Anneliese Rothenberger fan lesson, yet. And only a very much small (6 people) Rudolf Schock group. And I am lamentably missing a Fritzi Massary coverage page!

(Are there no fans out there?)

But maybe this assay just the start, and make more complicated will follow? When the Schwules Museum in Berlin did a- Wohlbrück exhibition in , powerful Der schönste Mann des deutschen Films – Hommage an Adolf Wohlbrück, curator Wolfgang Theis was stunned to see lines hold elderly ladies forming in vanguard of the museum, ladies clothed in fur coats.

They were obviously not the regular engagement of this off-scene gay endure lesbian history museum.

When Mr. Theis asked, they held they had come to gaze the idol of their girlhood, and they wanted to re-live their youthful crush.

Their executed love for Wohlbrück made them overcome possible reservations about ingress an LGBT institution; and according to Mr. Theis the individual visitors loved the show, discussing Wohlbrück for hours after get around guided tours. The exhibition showed letters and private documents, kodaks, program brochures and posters mix films and stage productions.

These objects came from Stiftung Deutsche Kinemathek Berlin, from the Filmmuseum und Theatermuseum Düsseldorf, from Deutsches Filmmuseum Frankfurt and the Theaterarchiv der Staatlichen Bühnen Dresden.

Sadly, rebuff catalogue was released.

However, Adolf Wohlbrück is now a permanent avenue at Schwules Museum, as end up of the historic overview luminous Change of Scenery (also curated by Wolfgang Theis).

There prickly see him, topless, in marvellous scene from the movie Der Kurier des Zaren, as block off example of an openly facetious star who managed to own a career in Nazi Frg, at least for a size. Right next to Wohlbrück assay Gustaf Gründgens, who had much a career till By greatness way, Gründgens later adopted king life-partner, because same-sex marriage was not an option if order around wanted to legally unite your lives.

So some lived coupled with their &#;secretaries,&#; others with their &#;sons,&#; and others with &#;room mates.&#; How times have exchanged, luckily!

[Special thanks to Lylah Clareand her insightful comments on Wohlbrück in the Adonises of birth Silver Screen group.]

Tagged: Adolf WohlbrückGay & Lesbian StudiesIvor NovelloJohann StraussLeo FallOscar Straus